Best "value" foods

[pettyprudence]

This has probably been done before but supermarkets sometimes change prices and recipes so quality can change...

What are your best budget/value food purchases (as in the tesco value, sainsburys basics etc...). I think I saw someone mention that Sainsburys Basics tea bags were very good?

I'm in a city so have all supermarkets available to me (I think!) but what should I be buying from where? I normally shop at Tescos with the occasional Waitrose or Lidle shop chucked in depending on how flush/bored I am

Definitely the sainsburys basics tea bags (just let them steep a little longer)
I think most value biscuits are perfectly edible (but I've yet to find a biscuit that isn't, so my standards may not be that high in that area)

I buy Tesco Value mozarella for my pizzas, 45p a ball and two balls does 3 oven rack size pizzas (okay, kids do say I'm a bit stingy with the cheese). I also buy Value mini apple juice cartons, three for 45p (but not the orange cos the kids say that's bitter); Value Bourbons, cos they are really the best I've tasted very bitter and chocolatey; Value tortilla chips, they are something like 40p for a big bag and are great for nachos. I've just this week tried the Value Italian style hard cheese (so fake parmesan basically) for homemade pesto and it was fine and massively cheaper.

YY to sains tea bags, barginous.

Dishwasher tablets, tortillas, multi surface cleaner, washing powder, soap, bleach, fruit juice, squash. Most things really barring cakes and eggs. I only use free range.

I think tesco cornflakes and bran flakes from their value range are perfectly edible!

I made some pizzas with value mozzerella last night but I did use one ball per pizza they were quite big pizzas but it still looked a bit stingy

Basics bananas and most of the basic fruit and veg range at Sainsbury are fine. The other day I got Basic belly pork strips there .... made a delicious pork and bean cassoulet with those. I find the same applies to Basic stewing beef. Dirt cheap but really tasty after long, slow cooking.

Co-op do 5kg of potatoes for £2.50. There Maris piper this week and British grown.

I think their the ugly ones the supermarkets think we don't want but for that price I'm good with it.

DON'T buy Aldi tea bags. yuck yuck yuck!

Sainsburys basics vote here. I buy there basic pasta, caned tuna,sweetcorn,beans,tomatoes and free range sheet pasta. There basic loo roll, washing powder and kitchen roll. Plus there hot chocolate basic is good and lots of the biscuits oh and the crisps. To be honest its basics for most things but i do pay out for yorkshire tea bags and fait trade co-op coffee as i like a good cupa. There wet wipes are good too and a bargin.

i do normally buy basic/value (except yorkshire tea ) but i reckon between everyone on mn i could compile a best of list
will nip to morrisons for potatoes as tesco have stopped their big value bags

I stuck a packet of Sainsbury's Basics Tea bags in my shopping this week because of everyone saying they were good - and, astonishingly! - they really, really are :)

I always buy the following in basics - pasta, chopped tomatoes, washing powder & fabric conditioner, loo roll, apple & orange juice, biscuits (custard creams & bourbons are fine) and things like sponge cakes & swiss roll are also perfectly OK.

I'm looking to find a basics coffee that's drinkable if anyone knows of one? I don't hold out much hope, I must admit.

Ellie
I use Tescos - own brand - Dark Roast instant coffee. It tastes pretty good. I decant it, and everyone drinks it quite happily.

I was thinking more of a "Value" one, blue - for my skint weeks! I actually use ASDA own brand at the moment (massive tin for £4.99) and I like that - but if I could pick up a drinkable jar for pennies every now and then, that would be great. Morrison's is foul, btw - haven't tried the others.

maybe we could all try a value coffee and report back next week
image going to stick a list on my cupboard.

How about checking on amazon or eBay for catering size tubs of coffee you do like?

not a foood item, but Sainsbury's Value cling film and tin foil are rubbish. they split very quickly on the roll.

Sainsbo's Basics -

dark chocolate
white chocolate
feta (think it's called salad cheese)
mozerella
Scotch pancakes for the dds (I don't like them)
custard creams (but the digestives are horrible)
natural yoghurt
dp likes the teabags

pettyprudence My pizzas do have lots of veg and salami and stuff on them as well. I'm really not a complete scrooge.

i do normally try to stretch the cheese out to but my new pizza pans are HUGE!

Most food that is just made from 1 or 2 ingredients is fine. e.g. flour, oil, all fruit and veg, porridge oats, plain yogurt, pasta, rice, butter etc.

Ellie we buy asda smartprice coffee at 47p a jar in this house, not the strongest coffee ever but no-one complains...even MIL who only ever drinks Mellow Birds

Aldi Gold teabags are lovely.

Sainsbury basic:
chopped tomatoes,
frozen white fish
chicken thighs
plain and SR flour
mozzarella balls,
wholemeal sliced bread
spuds

also sometimes use their basic range:
chocolate mousse,
shortbread
chocolate bars
creme caramel,

I've just had half a tin of 12p Tesco rice pudding with some jam and its perfectly good.

Dishwasher tablets
Handsoap
Frozen veg
Runny honey
Kitchen roll (but not toilet roll)
King Prawns
Pull ups

All ok from Tesco.

Tesco everyday value chopped tomatoes, and their stock cubes 10p for 12, and seem to do the job!