Supermarket Basics / Value Food

[Nicola B]

In this age of high rising food prices, anybody have any good or bad experiences of 'value' ranges in supermarkets.

The worst thing I ever bought was a value sweetcorn, it was just the crappy, chewy bits. The one I buy most now is Sainsbury's 2L bottles of sparkling water. At 17p for a 2L bottle its great value and seems to keep its sparkle a lot longer than some expensive counterparts.

[zoony]

Unless I was in an absolutely dire financial position, I wouldn't touch these basic brands with a barge pole.

[Red Star]

I've always found basics range to be a bit hit and miss - baked beans seemed fine whilst cereals need to be avoided (cornflakes tasted like carboard when compared to kellogs)

[Fishy]

never touch them...

[Matt2112]

Just compare the nutritional values between "basic" foods and their slightly more expensive counterparts.  It's actually quite frightening.

Some of the chicken slices, for example, are barely two-thirds chicken and one-third water, salt and trash - and taste like it.  Stomach-churning. 

[zoony]

Just compare the nutritional values between "basic" foods and their slightly more expensive counterparts.  It's actually quite frightening.

Some of the chicken slices, for example, are barely two-thirds chicken and one-third water, salt and trash - and taste like it.  Stomach-churning. 

Yes matt, that's why they're cheap mate. You get what you pay for folks.

[Matt2112]

Yes matt, that's why they're cheap mate. You get what you pay for folks.

True in general mate, but considering the increase in quality, I think the extra you shell out for the "silver" label ranges in Tesco, Co-op etc is actually very reasonable value.

[pdw1]

Avoid the frozen burgers

[NeilP]

I could tell some stories of the high end supply chain...

[Matt2112]

I could tell some stories of the high end supply chain...

Presumably they're difficult to swallow...?   

[NeilP]

[Andrew_Haldane]

Hilary Briss recipe?

[döm]

Some things are just fine in the value price range.  Our local chain supermarket, Supervalu has a daily basics range.  I steer clear of most of it but the rice is absolutely fine - I really can't discern any difference from the more expensive brands.  And rice is rice isn't it ?  i doubt it contains any horse-meat anyway.

[Matt2112]

This looks a must-buy - a really good red wine for £3.59?  Apparently so, according to The Independent:

Aldi's own-brand Spanish Toro Loco Tempranillo excelled in blind taste tests alongside reds costing nearly 10 times as much. It's fruity and rounded – perfect for entertaining.

[Matt2112]

Got a couple of bottles and working through one now.  No doubt that it's very good value, it's not bad at all.  But there's still much better to be had for only three or four quid more in my opinion.