When feeding a family on a tight budget, beef mince serves as a versatile kitchen staple, forming the foundation of countless dishes from hearty bolognese and chilli con carne to homemade burgers and comforting cottage pies. Many shoppers instinctively avoid economy ranges, concerned that higher fat content will cause the meat to shrink dramatically during cooking, leaving little substance behind. To determine whether cheaper mince truly represents good value, we conducted a rigorous comparative test of the lowest-priced 500g packs available from seven leading UK retailers: Aldi, Asda, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
Our Testing Methodology
Each 500g pack of beef mince was fried in a pan for eight to ten minutes until thoroughly browned. Following cooking, we meticulously weighed the remaining meat and measured the volume of liquid fat rendered to assess exactly what consumers receive for their money. Finally, the mince was incorporated into a classic bolognese sauce to evaluate its final texture and flavour profile when used in a typical family meal.
Our tester, Birmingham Live writer Zoe Chamberlain, typically opts for leaner mince to avoid draining excess fat, though she acknowledges this choice usually comes at a higher price point. "I wanted to establish whether purchasing a cheaper pack would genuinely deliver better value," she explained, "or if the meat content would diminish so significantly that it ultimately proved less economical."
The Supermarket Mince Results
Aldi Everyday Essentials Beef Mince (£2.59)
Shelf life: 8 days | Nutrition per 100g: 9.4g saturated fat, 17.7g protein, 0.45g salt
Final weight after frying: 350g | Fat rendered: 60ml
Score: 3.5/5
Verdict: This pack demonstrated excellent meat retention, losing relatively little weight during cooking. While the texture leaned slightly dry, the mince emitted an appealing aroma while frying and delivered good flavour without becoming unpleasantly chewy.
Asda Just Essentials Beef Mince (£2.51)
Shelf life: 9 days | Nutrition per 100g: 13g saturated fat, 23g protein, 0.22g salt
Final weight after frying: 325g | Fat rendered: 74ml
Score: 5/5
Verdict: Despite containing 25% fat, this mince emerged as the tastiest of all tested. It broke apart easily, browned perfectly and delivered a juicy, high-quality burger-like flavour. It represents the optimal balance of price and taste according to our tester.
Lidl Simply Beef Mince (£2.49)
Shelf life: 12 days | Nutrition per 100g: 10.6g saturated fat, 16.5g protein, 0.18g salt
Final weight after frying: 325g | Fat rendered: 89ml
Score: 2/5
Verdict: Tied as the cheapest option, this pack produced the greatest volume of fat. Although it browned attractively and smelled delicious during cooking, the final result was disappointingly dry and bland, requiring considerable seasoning to enhance its flavour.
M&S Beef Mince (£3.00)
Shelf life: 6 days | Nutrition per 100g: 7.2g saturated fat, 17.5g protein, 0.25g salt
Final weight after frying: 350g | Fat rendered: 59ml
Score: 3.5/5
Verdict: The most expensive pack tested offered good flavour and the lowest saturated fat content. Its texture remained loose without clumping, but the meat proved unexpectedly chewy, detracting from the overall experience.
Morrisons Savers Beef Mince (£2.49)
Shelf life: 5 days | Nutrition per 100g: 9.7g saturated fat, 16.9g protein, 0.15g salt
Final weight after frying: 250g | Fat rendered: 75ml
Score: 3/5
Verdict: While cheapest per 100g, this mince shrank by exactly half during cooking. It achieved a lovely dark brown colour and delivered a robust, long-lasting flavour without requiring additional seasoning.
Sainsbury's Beef Mince (£2.70)
Shelf life: 12 days | Nutrition per 100g: 8.5g saturated fat, 23.7g protein, 0.3g salt
Final weight after frying: 350g | Fat rendered: 60ml
Score: 3.5/5
Verdict: Performing similarly to Aldi regarding shrinkage, this represented a solid, middle-of-the-road option. It browned well but tasted somewhat bland unless seasoned.
Tesco Beef Mince (£2.69)
Shelf life: 6 days | Nutrition per 100g: 9.8g saturated fat, 18.4g protein, 0.4g salt
Final weight after frying: 310g | Fat rendered: 59ml
Score: 1/5
Verdict: This mince emitted a pleasant aroma during cooking and produced noticeably less fat. However, its chewy texture and bland flavour earned it the lowest score in our test.
Overall Conclusions
"I was genuinely surprised by how significantly the beef mince packs varied between different supermarkets," remarked Zoe Chamberlain. Sainsbury's, M&S and Aldi exhibited the least shrinkage, while Morrisons' offering, though cheapest, underwent the greatest weight reduction. Lidl's mince failed to match others on taste.
The clear favourite was Asda's Just Essentials beef mince. Priced at £2.51 per 500g, it proved highly economical while offering an extended shelf life, reduced-plastic packaging that opened easily, and a delicious flavour profile. "I believe the higher fat content actually enhanced its taste," Zoe noted. "I would definitely purchase this again, and I even saved the drained fat to use for roasting potatoes."
This test demonstrates that budget beef mince can deliver excellent value and flavour, though performance varies considerably between retailers. Shoppers seeking the best balance of price, taste and meat retention should consider these findings when selecting their next pack.
