Pre-packaged minced meat

[HangryBrickShark]

Is it just me or is the vacuum packaged mincemeat hard to cook with?

I find it really hard to separate, I've tried cutting it with scissors, or a knife of pulling apart with my fingers but it just seems to clump together and it's a bit gritty too in my opinion. I've tried it from various supermarkets but really hate cooking with it.

Anyone have any tips to 'declump' it or should I just deff saving the planet and buy the non vacuum plastic packaged stuff instead?

I’m not a fan either, I make my own meatballs / burgers and mince seems much harder to work with. I just need to mix through the seasoning then reform into patties but it’s so b clumpy.

This is a very oft repeated thread, especially since most of the supermarkets do this now.
I hate this new packaging and don't buy mince that comes like that, I rarely buy mince anyway but I used to buy it around once a month but now I only do if I am at the farm shop or somewhere that doesn't shrink wrap it.
Someone will probably pop up in a minute to lecture everybody on the environment and claim it tastes/break up no differently BUT I made chili for DS (who hasn't the first idea about packaging) and he asked why the mince was a funny texture

If I get any clumps of mince when cooking,I lift them out with a slotted spoon on to my chopping board and chop it up with a sharp knife before returning it back to the pan. It's absolutely fine.

I used to own a café and people loved chill. I'm not a fan of mince full stop, but I found Asda 5% fat frozen mince was best and 'broke up' very well with no horrible clumps.

Oh I quite like it as you can get it really well browned/caramelised before breaking it up into smaller bits.

I buy my mince (and the rest of my meat!) from my local independent butcher. It's far superior to anything you'll get from a supermarket...

I hate it! It may use less plastic, but the mince is horrible.

I now only shop at M&S and Waitrose, and Ocado as they still do "proper" mince or use a local butcher.

I no longer eat meat, but when I did, I always used frozen mince. The chilled stuff is just a nightmare!