Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Mince meat never ever ever buy

31 replies

Ivykaty44 · 31/01/2010 21:03

tesco basic mince meat, it was the worst meal ever and it all went in the bin.

I usually buy sainsbury basic mince and it is fine - so had to do a quick shop in tesco as itis closer to home, brought tesco basic mince meat, thinking it would be fine. made the same ragu sauce I made two weeks ago and whereas the irst time it was fab - this was greasy, I had drained the fat from the meat when i had browned it - it was still very very greasy, so i put a little flour but it just ruined the meal.

I have learnt my lesson

OP posts:

gaelicsheep · 31/01/2010 21:05

I bought it once. Never ever again. Even the regular Tesco stuff is pretty yuck tbh. I always buy the lean Scottish mince, and that's not a patch on the mince from the butcher.

diedandgonetodevon · 31/01/2010 21:15

Mince is something that is worth paying a bit extra for- heaven only knows what cuts go into a 'basics' mince.

Original poster

Ivykaty44 · 31/01/2010 21:15

I was wondering if it was just us being fussey. I just thought it would be the same quality as sainsbury, it was the same price.

I was so I don't think i have ever had to throw a meal away before and after cooking it all to put in the bin..

We are munching fruit and bread

OP posts:

lambanana · 31/01/2010 21:38

Yep you deffo get what you pay for.

We have stir fry and salmon once a week when we are being healthy and I normally pay about £2.80 for a ready done pack from m and s. Yesterday I made a mistake bought the tesco mushroom one for a pound. God it was vile.

NumptyMum · 31/01/2010 21:51

The few times I've shopped at Tesco I've always been disappointed. Just as well it's not my local store; I'd trust Morrisons or Sainsburys (or M&S) loads more - esp if there are BOGOF deals on.

Still, can't beat the time I ruined a meal by putting Baileys into it. I was trying to aim for a nice creamy alcoholic mix: it REALLY didn't work! At least you didn't ruin the meal because of the way you cooked it...

Original poster

Ivykaty44 · 01/02/2010 11:33

I shall be sticking to sainsbury in future and not be tempeted to save time and then waste a whole 2 days dinners...

But it wasn't even the money - I just don't understand how they can sell something so vile

OP posts:

gaelicsheep · 01/02/2010 23:09

I only wish I had a choice not to shop at Tesco. With three Tescos already we are finally getting another decent-sized supermarket - Asda. Yippee - I'm sure I'll get better quality meat there, not.

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:13

you need to cook the cheaper minces for (much) longer as they come from tougher parts of the cow and use less oil to cook it too as it's usuallly got more fat in as well..

I've learnt from experience - usually I buy the more expensive lean mince, but when I'm on a serious economy drive and having to save money I buy the cheaper ones

Mind you having said that I've never had Tesco cheap mince, only Morrisons and Asda.

WorzselMummage · 01/02/2010 23:21

All tesco mince is pretty grim. I dread yo think what hoes in it.

I had some nice mince last week from aldi.

bibbitybobbityhat · 01/02/2010 23:23

Mince is pretty cheap anyway. Not worth economising on meat, imvho.

SolidGoldBrass · 01/02/2010 23:24

Have you got a roomy freezer? If so, haunt the skint cabinet at the supermarket and grab any premium mince that's reduced for quick sale, and bung it in the freezer.

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/02/2010 23:25

Urgh at cheap mince. DP went to teh shops once and came back with basics everything - inccluding sausages, mince and chicken. I could have cried.

Agree bibbity not worth economising on mince - the decent stuff doesn't cost that much more, and at least it isn't full of gristle.

MattBellamysMuse · 01/02/2010 23:26

I used to buy frozen mince when I was a poor student. That stuff is barely fit for human consumption. It turns to brown slop when you cook it. Vile.

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:27

bibbity - when you're on a tight budget, and need to save more money £2 less per kg makes a difference.

gaelicsheep · 01/02/2010 23:28

I economise with mince by bulking out with veg (and lentils too if necessary). It's the lean steak mince that I buy, so at least I can be fairly sure (I hope) that it doesn't contain cow's eyeballs and the like. But it still has sooo much more fat in it than the butcher's mince. Butcher's mince is too expensive though, even with bulking out.

The only problem with the skint cabinets in Tesco SGB is that the meat often looks decidedly dodgy by the time it gets there. I've had meat from Tesco go off 2 days before it's b/b date.

MattBellamysMuse · 01/02/2010 23:28

I buy Sainsbury's steak mince when they have it on offer and freeze it. My freezer has always got a few packets of mince in it.

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/02/2010 23:29

I'd rather eat chickpeas than cheap mince tbh.

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:30

yeah well I usually chuck a tin of chickpeas (or similar) in with the mince as well in an attempt to bulk out to feed my lot .

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:32

cheap mince usually just comes from the cheap cuts of meat (ie the sort that you'd buy to make stews or casseroles), hence it's fattier, but if you're used to making stews and casseroles out of the cheaper cuts of meat you soon learn how to make it work (less oil to cook, longer cooking time).

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/02/2010 23:32

Agree if you are cooking for a load steak mince is expensive.

I used to live near a lovely butcher whose normal mince (as opposed to steak mince) was very reasnable and was so tasty, plus all the meat came from local farms. Not a poncetastic butcher, just a proper one in the old tradition.

Now I live about 20 miles away from a butcehr so have to go to Sainsbos. It aint the same

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:38

nah not cooking for lots - just for a few that eat like horses pmsl.

the things you find on google (one bloke reckons don't buy ANY shop mince lol)

bibbitybobbityhat · 01/02/2010 23:38

I think cheap mince comes from the more offally parts of the cow, tbh.

When I say its not worth economising on meat, what I mean is that if I can't afford good quality free range meat then I don't buy it. I go veggie.

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:40

we eat mostly veggies (meat 2/3 times a week) - but I end up spending just as much on veggie meals as I do on meat meals so makes little difference on the budget.

ToccataAndFudge · 01/02/2010 23:44

you don't get gristle in offal .

not that there's any thing from with offal. Lets face is if it's an organic cow it's organic isn't it - whether it's a brain or a sirloin steak

Actually I can't stand offal from any animal - the mere smell of it makes me feel sick, the DS's love it, H will often cook up the (edible) giblets from the chicken for himself and ends up sharing it with them

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/02/2010 23:48

I also have a disgusting DP who cooks giblets and eats them.

I like offal - liver and kidneys - howeber cannot for the life of me cook it. Tried to cook a cakves liver once - I looked a it at length on a plate, decided it was spooky and had a life of its own a nd slung it in the bin!

Really love liver and bacon but gawd knows anyone who would cook it. MIL refuses to cook offal as well. DP would cook it but his cooking skills leave a lot to be desired.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread