Finest ranges not so fine?

[TechMinerUK]

As a recent spike in my curiosity I have tried some of the "finest" meal for two selections from Tesco, M&S etc.

However I have been a bit confused as despite the M&S range being more expensive and rated by most as better quality I found it to be a bit tasteless (Especially the Crème Brûlée which I have made myself before) Yet the Tesco/Sainsburys ranges although being cheaper, tasting superior compared to the M&S dish.

So I ask you what your experiences have been with these "finest" ranges

 

[TechMinerUK]

Tesco pork and leek ones aint too bad. Got some asda ones in the freezer but generally had em before and were nice enough.

Yes, those are pretty good but I purchased a beef chianti from them and it was definitley a poor representation of the actual dish. But their chicken pie wasn't too bad.

Some of them are okay but it's almost unfair to compare decent home made vs ready meals. Your home made stuff will always be better (assuming you're a decent cook ).

True, but I just expected some of them to be of similar quality due to their reputation. Also many say they're fantastic and although some are nice others are substandard.

All crap. Like so much pre made food.

However there's always those tomes we can't be bothered.

Finest ranges just tend to have a bit more meat content and little else.

The irony is the meal I purchased from M&S had hardly any meat in it at all.

I suspect the finest ranges are just an opportunity to downgrade the quality of the regular food...

Or to make a quick profit on those who believe price = quality

 

[TechMinerUK]

Which or some similar consumer organisation run blind taste tests of these and the other ranges every now and again and it seems that some are worth the extra, e.g. yoghurts with much greater fruit content but some are rated worse than the basic value ranges (when tested blind).

It reminds me of buying chicken thighs versus chicken thigh fillets in Tesco, it takes longer for me to clean up the bodged thigh fillets (bits of bone and skin left attached that cannot be seen after they have been rolled up and packaged) than it does for me to debone and clean the normal thighs; don't necessarily believe what is on the label

Yes, it's just disappointing as I don't understand how they can make such a disaster of what should be a decent meal

 

[TechMinerUK]

It's all junk. Made to last the longest it can and taste midly okay. About the only range I can eat without heaving is waitrose curry range.

Yep, I'm starting to feel like it is now as they seem to offer little over the budget ranges. I would rather just add the effort to cook the meal myself after having some of the "finest meals".

What are aldi and lidl's premium sausages like compared to asda/tesco?

About as good as you'd expect. To be honest they probably equal to the supermarket standard range.

Asda's extra special are very nice imo and I eat a lot of sausages. The pork and caramelised red onion are a particular favourite in my house. They stopped the Welsh dragon which disappointed me greatly.

I've got no problem with the uncooked/unprepared finest foods. Just the meal deal offers they do occasionally. I too enjoy ASDA finest sausages.

Sainsburys do some nice sausages in plain packaging, pretty much just shrink wrapped to a black tray with a printed white label. In our local one there's an end with these plus some burgers, better quality chicken breasts, thighs etc all packaged the same. They don't seem to be in all stores however.

I've seen those, they have them at our local Sainsburys as well. All in all they are very nice.

 

[TechMinerUK]

Sainsbury's finest (or taste the difference - which one is which?) scotch eggs are superb.

Not as good as home made or decent farmers market ones, but only £1.20 each and streets ahead of the awful bog-standard ones.

Similarly, their premium chilled burgers are great.

Can't say I buy actual ready meals all that often. Supermarket curries are usually perfectly passable though.

The curries aren't that bad but I can't stand the cardamon pods that they leave in them. They also seem to over power flavor with heat. As for the scotch eggs I know what you mean. The box standard variety taste like re-fried sick rolled around jelly.... yuck

 

[TechMinerUK]

Rarely eat ready-meals, though had a Moussaka from M&S (dine in for two) the other day that was actually rather nice. Perhaps made more so as I haven't had Moussaka in years.

I'm a big fan of ASDA's extra special steaks. I'd go so far as to say their Ribeyes are better than any steak I've bought from a butcher. Unfortunately that probably says less about ASDA's provenance than it does about the shambolic quality of most butchers in Scotland (that I've found).

Must admit I do like ASDA steak but I have yet to find a steak that beats those from Costco/Kirkland. Also I haven't tried their Musaka but the chicken pie that I had recently was definitely lacking.

 

[TechMinerUK]

They are all made to a price point so all cut corners one way or another.

Although I wouldn't know what they taste like, don't even have a microwave and my oven is stuck at Gas Mark 1 for at least 5 years now.

They're not really microwaveable meals. Also how do you cook/eat with a gas mark 1 oven? Do you just use the toaster?

 

[TechMinerUK]

I use the stove?

The grill still works though, I think the adjustment valve broke inside the oven, or something simple.

Oh yeah, I've been meaning to see what that was *derp*

They taste better than the 'basic' ranges, that much is a certainty, but they are still not as good as freshly made from ingredients. This is common sense though.

Yes, I suppose I was just expecting a bit more with all the hype M&S and the other finest ranges have built up for themselves.

 

[TechMinerUK]

My Dad is a production manager at Bakkavor now, my advice... buy the finest stuff.

All you can eat flatbreads when I go home is nice though.

Damn, I envy you although it must be garlicky the next day