Aldi... what do you recommend?

Mervyn Skidmore · 16-12-2020 12:48am

Anyone have an opinion on a rolled and boned turkey? Aldi will have some in stock from the 20th. I'll be cooking for 3-5 people this Christmas and looking at alternatives to the full bird. Also want to make life easier on myself. Never tried rolled and boned before.

Suckit · 16-12-2020 12:52am

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

I was nearby so went back to Aldi to check.

All of the packets of pate I looked at said to use within 2 days of opening.

I had a look myself and it said that on all the ones I checked too, but 'real' pate is definitely good for up to a week, so they may just be being over cautious. But if it says it, I wouldn't risk it (probably wouldn't buy it that short).
My mother used to make it for a business, which is how she had/has recipes etc..
A similar company to these:
https://3pigs.com/heritage/faqs
Her place was bought out and merged with others. It still exists in some forms.

Regardless, if the Aldi one spoils quicker, then follow their recommendations.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The pastry parcels are back in my Aldi, - red pepper and the other asparagus ones. I bought them in case they go again. They also had Butternut Squash ones that I hadn't seen before and mushroom ones that I think are part of christmas stock. They are nice. but I think also a lot of calories..

There was a lot of seafood offers today, I didn't get a good look at anything that I fancied.
I also wanted to get a bottle of the New Zealand Freemans Bay Sauvignon Blanc that they recommend and a friend said it was lovely too, but I couldn't see it anywhere and the alcohol section was busyish with a till queue forming into it, so I left it.

.red. · 16-12-2020 9:26am

youcancallmeal wrote: »

2nd weeks in a row I've gotten the beef stir fry and the meat is rotten 2 days before it's use by date

Always give the pack a good squeeze before you pop it into your basket. If there's any bit of give it means there's a pin hole somewhere and the meat will loose freshness very quick.
If the seal is good there's usually no reason for it to turn if its in the fridge. Did you bring it back unopened to them?

McMurphy · 16-12-2020 12:21pm

They are selling Canoli's at the minute, they've a hazelnut chocolate version (looks like a small croissant) and a white chocolate version (like rolls of pastry with filling)

I bought a packet of each last night for "research purposes", and can confirm they're both delicious.

The white chocolate one has the edge.

Absolutely delicious.

youcancallmeal · 16-12-2020 12:22pm

.red. wrote: »

Always give the pack a good squeeze before you pop it into your basket. If there's any bit of give it means there's a pin hole somewhere and the meat will loose freshness very quick.
If the seal is good there's usually no reason for it to turn if its in the fridge. Did you bring it back unopened to them?

Yeah you're right about the sealing, I only noticed most of the meat had turned brown and stank after I opened it. I know I'm well within my rights to bring it back but I couldn't be bothered for the €1.80 refund they'd give me. I remember years ago I had to stop buying mince in Aldi for 6 months because they had a problem with the packs not being sealed properly and going rotten even while sitting in their own fridges.

McMurphy · 16-12-2020 1:17pm

McMurphy wrote: »

They are selling Canoli's at the minute, they've a hazelnut chocolate version (looks like a small croissant) and a white chocolate version (like rolls of pastry with filling)

I bought a packet of each last night for "research purposes", and can confirm they're both delicious.

The white chocolate one has the edge.

Absolutely delicious.

Forgot to upload photo.

SmallTeapot · 16-12-2020 1:58pm

McMurphy wrote: »

Forgot to upload photo.

I also will try these for ‘research purposes’

Where are they located, McMurphy? I’m assuming in the fridge....?

I actually found a link for them online (https://shop.diforti.com/shop/food/diforti-pastries/diforti-sicilian-cannoli-filled-with-hazelnuts-chocolate-cream-150g/) from the company that makes them

McMurphy · 16-12-2020 2:16pm

SmallTeapot wrote: »

I also will try these for ‘research purposes’

Where are they located, McMurphy? I’m assuming in the fridge....?

I actually found a link for them online (https://shop.diforti.com/shop/food/diforti-pastries/diforti-sicilian-cannoli-filled-with-hazelnuts-chocolate-cream-150g/) from the company that makes them

In my local, they're in the middle aisle, I think the very first section from where the tills are, opposite the spring water etc.

So if you're facing the back of the store, water would be on your right, they're on the left.

wonski · 16-12-2020 2:28pm

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Anyone have an opinion on a rolled and boned turkey? Aldi will have some in stock from the 20th. I'll be cooking for 3-5 people this Christmas and looking at alternatives to the full bird. Also want to make life easier on myself. Never tried rolled and boned before.

I think it is rolled large turkey breast. Definitely easier to cook than whole bird. I think they were around 800g-1kg last year... Should be enough if you are not big fans of turkey.

Recliner · 16-12-2020 4:56pm

wonski wrote: »

I think it is rolled large turkey breast. Definitely easier to cook than whole bird. I think they were around 800g-1kg last year... Should be enough if you are not big fans of turkey.

Sounds ideal for us this year.

Ryath · 16-12-2020 5:14pm

Space Dog wrote: »

They only do a mixed pack now - 6 prawn and 6 veg gyoza. They are my favourite Aldi item, we always stock up - got 5 packs for the freezer when we finally found them.

Got two packs yesterday. You must have raided the first aldi I tried! :P They are mixed in with Thai crab cakes on the shelf this year.

Do you let them defrost before steaming them? Pack says they can be microwaved from frozen but I ain't doing that to them!

Space Dog · 16-12-2020 5:53pm

Ryath wrote: »

Got two packs yesterday. You must have raided the first aldi I tried! :P They are mixed in with Thai crab cakes on the shelf this year.

Do you let them defrost before steaming them? Pack says they can be microwaved from frozen but I ain't doing that to them!

You snooze, you lose! :pac:
We usually defrost them but we've also pan-fried and steamed them straight from the freezer, no difference be honest. We don't use the microwave, they go into the pan frozen and are fried and steamed then.

fin12 · 16-12-2020 8:08pm

Got the Atlantic Wheaten today and nice long bb date on it, 4 days.

Oh if anyone spots the panna cotta wreath that supposed to be coming in, can u post here please.

Dial Hard · 16-12-2020 8:48pm

Ryath wrote: »

Got two packs yesterday. You must have raided the first aldi I tried! :P They are mixed in with Thai crab cakes on the shelf this year.

Do you let them defrost before steaming them? Pack says they can be microwaved from frozen but I ain't doing that to them!

The Lidl ones can be microwaved from frozen. Completely cover them in water, zap for 5 minutes, then drain and finish in a dry pan and they're genuinely as good as any gyoza I've had in Japanese restaurants here.

I tried it more out of curiosity than anything and was instantly converted.

Ryath · 16-12-2020 9:47pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

The Lidl ones can be microwaved from frozen. Completely cover them in water, zap for 5 minutes, then drain and finish in a dry pan and they're genuinely as good as any gyoza I've had in Japanese restaurants here.

I tried it more out of curiosity than anything and was instantly converted.

Might chance a few of them then. Was just going by my experience of reheating anything with prawns in the microwave they end up rubbery no matter how gently heated!

Lobsterlady · 17-12-2020 9:17am

I tried the new Cherry Compote with Almond Sponge (Cherry Bakewell) topping in the fridge section by the sticky toffee sponge is.
Really delicious, light and not overly sweet.

fin12 · 17-12-2020 10:19am

Anyone try the mushroom and chicken vol u vant , it’s in the fridge section where the sandwiches are. Vol u vent pastries on one side and then the mushroom and chicken sauce in the other side of the packet.

dinneenp · 17-12-2020 10:48am

McMurphy wrote: »

Forgot to upload photo.

Are these available nationwide? Couldn't see them on the Aldi app.

sillysocks · 17-12-2020 11:36am

dinneenp wrote: »

Are these available nationwide? Couldn't see them on the Aldi app.

Saw them in Waterford earlier in the week. Just in special buy baskets , not on normal shelves.

RocketRaccoon · 17-12-2020 11:58am

dinneenp wrote: »

Are these available nationwide? Couldn't see them on the Aldi app.

Got these in dunnes last night

Alun · 17-12-2020 12:04pm

I've never tried canoli, but as an avid fan of the Inspector Montalbano series I've always wanted to try one. For those who have never watched it, there's a rather stroppy and obese pathologist called Dr. Pasquano who seemingly needs constant bribing with gifts of canoli by Montalbano to do anything.

McMurphy · 17-12-2020 2:22pm

Alun wrote: »

I've never tried canoli, but as an avid fan of the Inspector Montalbano series I've always wanted to try one. For those who have never watched it, there's a rather stroppy and obese pathologist called Dr. Pasquano who seemingly needs constant bribing with gifts of canoli by Montalbano to do anything.

Any fans of the sopranos (guilty as charged here) will be familiar with the boys sending for, buying, or eating cannoli. That's where I first heard of them anyway.

Alun · 17-12-2020 3:42pm

McMurphy wrote: »

Any fans of the sopranos (guilty as charged here) will be familiar with the boys sending for, buying, or eating cannoli. That's where I first heard of them anyway.

Just bought some and they're tiny. Compared to the ones on Inspector Montalbano anyway. They were the size of toilet roll tubes!!

scotchy · 17-12-2020 6:45pm

McMurphy wrote: »

Any fans of the sopranos (guilty as charged here) will be familiar with the boys sending for, buying, or eating cannoli. That's where I first heard of them anyway.

Think there's a scene in one of the God father movies too.

Beanstalk · 18-12-2020 10:01am

They really are lovely cannoli, worth stocking up on as they have a long we BBE date but whether or not you can manage to not eat them is another thing!

igCorcaigh · 18-12-2020 8:47pm

Did not see the cannoli in Cork, Elysian

What aisle are they sold in?

Mervyn Skidmore · 19-12-2020 2:06am

Anyone buy the pre cooked christmas hams before? I've had 2 people tell me that the pre cooked sliced ham is great. Might be an option for an easier Christmas day cook.

Cheshire Cat · 19-12-2020 2:53pm

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Anyone buy the pre cooked christmas hams before? I've had 2 people tell me that the pre cooked sliced ham is great. Might be an option for an easier Christmas day cook.

I've bought pre cooked the last few years. Not the spiral-cut (we like thicker slices) but this one: https://www.aldi.ie/irish-cooked-traditional-ham/p/047050440134702

It's lovely!

Alun · 20-12-2020 4:40pm

Can I ask a question about the Saturday pizzas? I bought one for the first time the other day, found it in the freezer section, so popped it in the freezer and went to cook it last night. Looked at the cooking instructions and it said to cook it at 220C for 5 minutes. I thought that was a bit on the short side so kept an eye on it and after 5 minutes it didn't look cooked so left for another 5 minutes, so 10 minutes in all. Looked ok'ish but soon discovered after biting into it that parts were still frozen. Ended up blasting it in the microwave for a minute.

Anyway, took another look at the box and it states "Suitable for home freezing" which isn't something you usually see on something that's already frozen, do I'm wondering what the story is here. Are they supposed to be in the freezer section or in the chilled section?

Alun · 20-12-2020 4:42pm

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Did not see the cannoli in Cork, Elysian

What aisle are they sold in?

In my Aldi they were in the middle aisle on the left side up near the tills, with the other food specials.

RocketRaccoon · 20-12-2020 4:45pm

Alun wrote: »

Can I ask a question about the Saturday pizzas? I bought one for the first time the other day, found it in the freezer section, so popped it in the freezer and went to cook it last night. Looked at the cooking instructions and it said to cook it at 220C for 5 minutes. I thought that was a bit on the short side so kept an eye on it and after 5 minutes it didn't look cooked so left for another 5 minutes, so 10 minutes in all. Looked ok'ish but soon discovered after biting into it that parts were still frozen. Ended up blasting it in the microwave for a minute.

Anyway, took another look at the box and it states "Suitable for home freezing" which isn't something you usually see on something that's already frozen, do I'm wondering what the story is here. Are they supposed to be in the freezer section or in the chilled section?

5 minutes??? Surely that can't be correct.

Alun · 20-12-2020 4:54pm

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

5 minutes??? Surely that can't be correct.

That's what I thought, but could be right if it wasn't frozen. They appear to be at least partly cooked, and are quite thin. The box is on the recycling bin, so can't check, but I'm sure I didn't misread it.

HeidiHeidi · 20-12-2020 4:56pm

Alun wrote: »

Can I ask a question about the Saturday pizzas? I bought one for the first time the other day, found it in the freezer section, so popped it in the freezer and went to cook it last night. Looked at the cooking instructions and it said to cook it at 220C for 5 minutes. I thought that was a bit on the short side so kept an eye on it and after 5 minutes it didn't look cooked so left for another 5 minutes, so 10 minutes in all. Looked ok'ish but soon discovered after biting into it that parts were still frozen. Ended up blasting it in the microwave for a minute.

Anyway, took another look at the box and it states "Suitable for home freezing" which isn't something you usually see on something that's already frozen, do I'm wondering what the story is here. Are they supposed to be in the freezer section or in the chilled section?

RocketRaccoon wrote: »

5 minutes??? Surely that can't be correct.

It would be if they were meant to be sold fresh.

Had one a while back, and wasn't overly impressed with it (can't remember why now, but I've never been tempted to buy another one)

Alun wrote: »

In my Aldi they were in the middle aisle on the left side up near the tills, with the other food specials.

Damn, I'm just back from Aldi and never thought to have a look for these. Probably just as well, saved me from myself in the long run! :pac:

Suckit · 20-12-2020 4:57pm

I have found 5 minutes to be perfect unless left in freezer. Then they are a bit soggy and probably need a longer cooking time.

gooner99 · 20-12-2020 6:01pm

Freezer in our local Aldi. 220c for 5 mins.

Suckit · 20-12-2020 6:18pm

gooner99 wrote: »

Freezer in our local Aldi. 220c for 5 mins.

Same as that, but must be a different setting than my home freezer, as I like them, but not after they have been in my freezer at home and then cooked.

Alun · 20-12-2020 7:06pm

Suckit wrote: »

Same as that, but must be a different setting than my home freezer, as I like them, but not after they have been in my freezer at home and then cooked.

That's weird. I assumed the freezers in shops were at the same temperature as domestic ones, i.e. around -18C.

Muahahaha · 20-12-2020 7:10pm

5 minutes cooking time from frozen definitely sounds very low. The Milano pizzas I get the odd time say 12 minutes if they are being cooked from frozen and they're a pretty thin pizza.

anewme · 20-12-2020 7:14pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

5 minutes cooking time from frozen definitely sounds very low. The Milano pizzas I get the odd time say 12 minutes if they are being cooked from frozen and they're a pretty thin pizza.

From their website.

By cooking them in your conventional electric oven at a higher temperature and for less time than other frozen pizzas, you achieve a superior result - the next best thing to our brick oven, wood-fired pizzas!

I always cook mine very high in pre heated oven and for only 5-6 mins and comes out fab.

Suckit · 20-12-2020 8:21pm

Alun wrote: »

That's weird. I assumed the freezers in shops were at the same temperature as domestic ones, i.e. around -18C.

Could just be that I need a new freezer :pac:

Alun · 20-12-2020 8:42pm

anewme wrote: »

From their website.

By cooking them in your conventional electric oven at a higher temperature and for less time than other frozen pizzas, you achieve a superior result - the next best thing to our brick oven, wood-fired pizzas!

I had a look on their website and couldn't find anything like that, very little information at all in fact.

Maybe my oven is banjaxed?

rubadub · 20-12-2020 9:28pm

Alun wrote: »

I had a look on their website and couldn't find anything like that, very little information at all in fact.

the website shows them putting a floppy/unfrozen pizza into an oven and watching a timer on his phone set to 5mins.

Not to say that is correct, some of these video makers go and do their own thing. The packaging and blurbs sound like they are meant to be sold frozen.

I find supermarket freezers to be less cold.

HeidiHeidi · 20-12-2020 9:33pm

rubadub wrote: »

I find supermarket freezers to be less cold.

Supermarket freezers spend half of their time open if the doors aren't spring- loaded, which aldi ones aren't.

bassy · 20-12-2020 9:35pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Supermarket freezers spend half of their time open if the doors aren't spring- loaded, which aldi ones aren't.

i,ve often been in aldi and lazy ppl leave the sliding freezers tops open,talk about stupid...............................

anewme · 20-12-2020 9:36pm

Alun wrote: »

I had a look on their website and couldn't find anything like that, very little information at all in fact.

Maybe my oven is banjaxed?[/

It might have been in some interview and not in their website.

I will say my Oven is good, it’s one of those Neff air circulator things and cooks very evenly.

Leg End Reject · 20-12-2020 11:52pm

I had one of those pizzas, from memory I think you're supposed to take them out of the freezer 10 minutes before you cook them. They're very light and thin, so the 10 minutes at room temperature, then into a preheated oven might explain the discrepancy.

rubadub · 21-12-2020 12:35am

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I had one of those pizzas, from memory I think you're supposed to take them out of the freezer 10 minutes before you cook them. They're very light and thin, so the 10 minutes at room temperature, then into a preheated oven might explain the discrepancy.

That makes sense. I was trying to find a photo of the back of the pack and found nothing, I really hate these companies and their crappy marketing, thousands of euros squandered on fancy videos and you cannot even find a image of the back of the pack or cooking instructions. Or nutritional info or ingredients lists.

I very often let my frozen pizzas defrost in the fridge or on a counter. But some of the more recent "takeaway" ones really do have raw dough so become a right mess.

Mervyn Skidmore · 21-12-2020 12:41am

The Saturdays pizzas are really nice but I picked up a Gino D'acampo pizza in iceland a while back and I thought it was nicer. Cheaper too.

Alun · 22-12-2020 10:39am

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I had one of those pizzas, from memory I think you're supposed to take them out of the freezer 10 minutes before you cook them. They're very light and thin, so the 10 minutes at room temperature, then into a preheated oven might explain the discrepancy.

I had a look in Aldi yesterday. Nothing on the packaging about taking it out of the freezer first.

Debub · 22-12-2020 10:58am

We cook the Saturday pizza straight from the freezer to a hot pre-heated oven for around 7/8 minutes at 220/225 and it’s perfect ... watch it from 6 odd minutes onwards for the char marks ... also depends what you place the pizza on, a good cordite pizza ‘stone’ works best but can place on a rack as well for the hot air to circulate and heat the base

Aldi... what do you recommend?

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