A Week On Tesco Value DAY 7

[@SpAMCAN]

Good trick with cheap/value chocolate: Always get the dark stuff. Dark chocolate has a minimum legal cocoa requirement, whereas milk chocolate doesn't.

[@AgentTasmania]

SpAM_CAN There’s still minimums to call it chocolate at all.

[@wickedwildwallace]

@@AgentTasmania white chocolate?

[@SSMateuszSS]

@@wickedwildwallace energy chocolate, fizzy chocolate

[@Tensen01]

ALL pre-grated cheese contains potato starch, regardless of price, it's to keep it from clumping. It also prevents cheese from Melting properly.

[@advenum]

Tensen01 even one for 399?

[@nathanielfoo7835]

Supxreme yes

[@turnip5359]

What's with all these freaks harping on about wood pulp? Is that an American thing or just some old myth?

[@Leanne_w]

Exactly!

[@ChrisMadd96]

They can use cellulose from wood shavings to do the same thing. It's processed first though, obviously, into a starch

[@KyleRDent]

I've always frozen bread because yes when you're poor and living alone a whole loaf is cheaper but you'll never eat it in time before it moulds up. I used to take a couple of slices out the night before if I knew I'd want a sandwich rather than toast the next day. Just don't take more than that out or the slices stick together and get soggy. You won't get a great sandwich, but you'll get a sandwich.

[@SakuraAvalon]

I know this all too well.

[@henkdevries7634]

Be sure to treat yourself to some nice bread with lots of little nuts and seeds on it from time to time. I used to never eat bread because I thought it was tasteless and boring. Then I fell in love and my partner can eat bread all freaking day and night. But he buys these breads for twice the price of the value bread, and I now like bread too. It keeps inviting me to eat another slice until I am stuffed, so you will finish a whole loaf in just two days. Nice and crispy on the outside, soft melting-in-your-mouth-deliciousness on the inside. You can make all kinds of meals with it too. And if you like the bread there is nothing wrong with eating it three times a day for two days once a month or so. It's still good if you freeze it though, no worries.

[@elitegaming4506]

KyleRDent microwaves have an option to defrost, put a few slices in on defrost for about 8seconds, its better than taking it out the night before

[@1x56]

I put my bread in the fridge and it lasts for about 3 weeks and there's no need to defrost. I guess it depends on how quickly you go through a loaf

[@jessica23claire]

I'm a big believer in the frozen bread thing. If I want the bread now I'll defrost it in the microwave, otherwise I'll toast from frozen or let it defrost if I'm prepping sandwiches.

[@habib6910]

Nevill's bread = £0.45 Chocolate spread = £0.80 Chilli con carne = £0.55 Lightly salted tortilla = £0.46 Grated cheddar = £2.50 8 beef burgers = £1.35 Way cook chips = £0.99 Sugar free lemonade = £0.17 Milk chocolate bar = £0.45 Total = £7.72 BARGAIN.

[@ajg5585]

And a heart attack is free of charge after.

[@mc16_horizon]

Let me correct the 8 beef burgers to 8 pieces of dog sh*t 😂

[@zdaviation]

You can get Everyday Value fruit and veg. Tesco do sell it. And I'm not funding your book until you buy a camera tripod.

[@Yardoun]

For real how does he not have a tripod. Counter tops and sofa arms dont count.

[@JamiJR]

What he needs is a GoPro or GoPro-like camera so he doesn't have to open things one handed.

[@Markemoji]

How much did the food shop for the week cost in total?

[@tortureforbeauty]

Salty much?!! @CabinDoor

[@user-hg9id1qo8b]

its been 2 years, still no tripod

[@timmy41]

The reason why cheap food comes in cheap looking packaging is, well, because it's cheaper to produce. Ever noticed how simple the designs are kept with value products? That's because the less ink you need to print, the cheaper you can produce your packaging. Frankly I'm all for cheaper packaging, much butter for the environment in the long run.

[@henkdevries7634]

timmy41 the cheapest and any other non-brand thing is probably the same anyway. Like Nutella is the brand and has a different recipe, but any other two chocolate spreads are exactly the same. At least it is in the Netherlands. And all washing detergents are the same. The only difference between them is the aroma that is in it. That goes for all of the western countries.

[@cornjobb]

yes, i agree, there should be lots more BUTTER in the environment

[@timmy41]

Cornjob McGee lol I didn't notice the typo, I'm leaving it in though :D

[@EvanXDev]

Who cares about the packaging, the "food" is disgusting.

[@JamesPhillipsOfficial]

"cheap" i.e lazy, half assed product designed to ruin your life and increase stress.

[@TnT_F0X]

Basil knows what his fans want, camera comes on he shows off the cat butt and sass. Like a feline Brittney Spears. Just look at that flawless Catwalk.

[@funkyfatandfrocked]

TnT FoX this comment literally made me die, I love it!

[@chaeburger]

The less they pay for branding, the less they charge for the products. Generic brands in the US are so much more expensive because supermarkets spend money to make their generic brands look like name brands.

[@dr666demento]

Several supermarket chains tried offering 'generic' or 'plain label' goods. Not much cheaper than store brand - and often not as good as the store brand either. The brand name adds another markup for the product from the manufacturer. You'd be surprised how many store brands come the same company as the 'big name' brands. Those Tesco corn flakes could well have been Kellogg's with different box printing.

[@spicypeppermushroom8708]

Ben Foster ur right aldi's own hoola hoops are made by same factory that make real hoola hoops but different packaging and prices

[@prpwnage9296]

Dr Demento no because "Kellogg's don't make cereal for anyone else"

[@colleenmooney10]

Chae Howard very true my dad painted a pizza factory and he said that all pizza the same ju at went into different brand box's .....

[@OfficiallySanctionedKATG]

@@prpwnage9296 kellogs dont make cereals for anyone else, except they have a subsidiary company operating under a different name (as do most brand name companies) that subsidiary company do produce cereals for other companies. Aldis beans are made by heinz using the beans that are either too big or too small to be heinz beans.a yogurt factory i worked in years ago put the same yogurt into the kwiksave (remember them?) 6 yogurts for 39p pots as they put in to the marks and spencers 4 for £1.39 pots.this is going back 15 years but its still the same type of thing going on today.

[@tdp2612]

Here's an idea for the next one: A week on Poundland. So a mix of tinned stuff, bottled drinks and again 0 fresh food

[@moozicforLIFE]

tdp2612 I'd watch that so fast. Poundland deals are very satisfying! 😅

[@elliemae4820]

Great idea

[@TehWhiteTiger]

Yes! But only cheap brand stuff of course.

[@1x56]

I think he'll die if he tried that

[@bkr_418]

The poor man, have some mercy.

[@clairegoodenough9800]

Tesco does do a sort of version of everyday value fruit and veg, and also meat. They just put a different name on it, like the bread. The meal is called something like Boswell Farm and the fruit/veg is Rosedene Farms. I don't know if it counts, but I thought I'd mention it. The dried pasta and like £1 ready meals are now called Hearty Food Co. too. It's just to trick people who wouldn't buy something with 'everyday value' written on. Although any reason to get rid of the beige packaging makes sense in my book

[@fanime1]

It's funny that you said you think Tesco's branding looks cheap because I found their brand design really nice looking as an American. Because the cheap brands here are usually very bland. It's so obviously cheap. But with Tesco, I like the background with the animals and food. Reminds me of the brands here that are organic and stuff.

[@Albinowolfen]

fanime1 Yeah was thinking the same thing. Usually they are plain just with the store name and brand's color. Thats it.

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

I think it's quite a nice design. Simple but recognisable.

[@SakuraAvalon]

I agree. Where I am in Canada, it's all this ugly bright yellow.

[@WhyMe4747]

Yeah but you don't have the same bad associations with that design as someone from the uk would have

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

I'm from the UK, but they had a different design back when I lived there. It was No Frills stuff.

[@AgentTasmania]

I quite like the design on the Tesco Value packaging.

[@bigzy8183]

AgentTasmania am I missing something here? What design?

[@AgentTasmania]

J's Supreme The grid of minimalist, single-colour images of generic food items and related.

[@LWolf12]

The reason most of the packaging looks similar is the standardized look helps keep prices lower. No need to hire designers to design out custom packaging for each product, plus the place the produce the packages have fast turn around because everything is pretty much the same outside of the names.

[@IWrestleBearsForFunn]

Mike, I have that same toaster. If you just press defrost when you push it down it toasts as normal when frozen.

[@LyingSecret]

I would have thought that was pretty obvious too, and I don't own that toaster, but apparently not.

[@MagnaRyuuDesigns]

All grated cheese you buy from the store, any brand, has potato or corrn starch to keep the cheese from sticking together in the bag

[@Robintheboywonder4]

What you said about Tesco Value being unappealing is I suspect why a LOT of tesco value stuff is being replaced by 'farm brands'

[@AdamThePianist]

3/10 not enough basil. unsubbed. reported.

[@thomaskelly4855]

AdamThePianist lol

[@zaffre_]

I couldn't taste it too

[@martynachrzanowska6331]

Zaffre what? He meant the cat...

[@zaffre_]

Martyna Pyzolinska Whoosh

[@uTubeNoITube]

The "reported" bit made me laugh xD

[@scorpioscots9692]

How much was your weekly shopping before you hit the value and how much was it for the week value shopping

[@aaronzvz]

Great job on surviving another "week on". You should reward yourself (and us) by getting a tripod for your camera/phone ;)

[@smokeme23]

aaronzvz exaclty

[@-callum-2037]

aaronzvz sly insult nice

[@Tedris4]

The flaw in the plan is to get cheap Nutella you have to look for hazelnut spread, not chocolate. Also grats on pronouncing tortilla correctly.

[@ConanRider]

It has hazelnuts in it.

[@DJEylisium]

I think every British person pronounces Tortilla like that. Or at least every single person i have ever met does anyway.

[@qwerty8382]

Yeah we all say tortilla like that. Don't forget the Spanish are European fam.

[@qwerty8382]

*and by Spanish I mean cause they speak Spanish in Mexico

[@TapeCollageForEloise]

I don't know, I've come across a few people in my time who pronounce it "Tor--til-ah". Usually the same sort of people who pronounce Jalapeño as "Jar-la-pee-no".

[@LadyBrightcynder]

Mike: "It looks like *insert disgusting thing here*" I need to stop watching these videos when I'm eating...

[@joannegray5138]

Well done for getting creative with the chilli. Asda do "wonky veg" boxes - I think they're about £3 to £5, but they sell a limited number each day and it's not every store that sells them. How about your next "week on..." you go try Quorn and/or Linda McCartney or supermarket own brand veggie meals?

[@fanime1]

Joanne Gray I LOVE Quorn!

[@joannegray5138]

Me too :)

[@JulieWallis1963]

Both Linda McCartney’s and Quorn contain palm oil. We don’t buy anything with palm oil in as we like the idea of orangutans having somewhere to call Home.

[@eustacequinlank7418]

I use canned chillis as a cheat sometimes (actually a lot of the time recently) I fry off 400g some mince and a handful of chopped frozen onions with some spices like cumin, paprika, chilli and mexican oregano add that to the canned chilli on the stove pot then add half a can of crushed tomatoes and a decent bouillon cube, add some frozen sliced mixed peppers and half a can of mixed beans (in Sainsbury's they call it 'bean salad') beans being optional for chilli snobs of course, and simmer for about five minutes. It takes a quarter of the time it takes to make one from scratch (or the way I used to anyway). Having made ones that take well over 2 hours before in the past, it's not bad. A rather decent chilli in less than 20 minutes. Freeze the leftovers as there will likely be some. Fuck, I'm domesticated.

[@TheCyberwoman]

Man Beadle the only thing I really question is the cube, it's all so high in sodium, even with the extra veg. I would probably sub that for a cup of low sodium beef broth. Also, if you're somewhere that you can get frozen New Mexico chili, it's an amazing hack for making chili from scratch quickly. But if not, even a can of enchilada sauce adds a slow cooked flavor without the slow cooking. That, and hear me out, a bit of soy sauce and half a can of beer. Can't taste it with all the seasoning, but if you add those in with your browning beef, it makes a fast throw everything in the pot chili taste like a meticulous all day chili.

[@eustacequinlank7418]

Yeah, perhaps ditch the bouillon if it's high in salt. I have frozen blocks of reduced homemade stock in the freezer I confess 10 to 1 litre reductions. Pretty strong stuff that boosts flavour like mad with no added salt. Although, the rough guide would make maybe 4 or 5 servings of chilli so the salt would be distributed throughout the stew. I've put splashes of soy sauce in chilli before too, the umami kick, you don't know it's there but you can taste a difference if that makes sense (well of course you do). I shall try the enchilada sauce suggestion!

[@SolanusDracon]

Might want to consider a tripod with a cell phone mount. One handed buggery is rough business.

[@beckykent435]

Agreed

[@leannie2513]

One handed buggery with the cat 🐈 😂😂😂

[@rockoperajon]

The one-handed buggery is part of the charm!

[@markiangooley]

There’s a touch of “Brand X! Brand X! It’s simple and plain!” to Tesco Value. In other words, sometimes as bad as Foodfight. I think you lost weight because many of those meals were so tiny.

[@JamesHetfieldIsGod]

Nostalgia Critic fan ?

[@thisfishiscoolashell]

Not a chance he lost 0.7 lb a day from this. You'd need such a large calorie deficit to do that.

[@SaberusTerras]

The potato starch in the cheese is basically cheap flour to keep the shreds from congealing in the package. It's just what happens when shredded cheese gets even slightly warm.

[@canadmexi]

"Stop kissing tables" That wasn't even 'bout food but that was my favourite line.

[@SlackerKite]

Nice avatar, Pal!

[@xedalpha1]

A week on Asda Smartprice/Aldi/Lidl at some point perhaps? Which major chain does it best?

[@NorggroN]

that melted cheese looks like a flat texture in a video game

[@connornealon1112]

Looks like something from doom but actually quite tasty 😂

[@Mohegan13]

I would certainly hope the burgers are lifeless other wise them horses would be running round the field still. Did I say horses? I probably meant cows, or not.

[@dr666demento]

Might be horse... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_horse_meat_scandal

[@alexisfiligree9116]

+Dr Demento The joke ------> Your head

[@TashWigley]

Not that there is really any fundamental difference.

[@TronciM]

Horse tastes so good, you'll know if you've ever tried it

[@TheDevilWillBurn]

Blue Dragon Top comment. 👍

[@scrunglenut6222]

mike u frickin PLUG YOURSELF AS MUCH AS U WANT. if ppl don't like it because they've heard it already they can just skip thru it...

[@EvanXDev]

shut up

[@MaverickBaking]

Really enjoyed this series, just come across your channel! I'm moving out of my parents house soon and I'm getting a glimpse into my new reality haha!

[@ShariGetsIt]

Maverick Baking lol, I thought I was the only one 😂

[@MrsRen]

The way you're talking about the branding, that's what they do in the States. Target especially is well known for their "hidden" brands. Store brands usually mimic name brand designs too, they don't have a specific look except within items. Wal-Mart brand canned goods look the same, but their packaging looks way different than the cheese packaging.

[@LimDul]

The potato starch in the cheese is used as a kind of edible talc powder so that the grated cheese strips don't stick together. Nothing to be alarmed about there.

[@nicolaischweizer2788]

Even though it is not harmful it doesn't help the taste either. If you try freshly grated cheese you will notce a big difference to the stuff you can buy in bags.

[@blairashby7334]

How much did you spend

[@AverageJoe2020]

Can't argue, the value food is okay, and Tesco home delivery has been a great service to me- always on time and really nice staff delivering stuff to me, Try it.

[@EvanXDev]

Only an "average joe" would be stupid enough to think this "food" is "okay".

[@josephbarker2615]

well in reality people have to live on this, don't mock it.

[@VermilionRua]

About what I expected really. I've eaten a lot of Great Value (Walmart's similar brand to Tesco Value), and can say pretty much the same thing. Although GV isn't quite this inexpensive.

[@amanda912701]

Tesco I think you should fund Mike's book. He deserves it for advertising your products all week. I may get some chicken kiev myself... Basil needs a companion. Well done Mike

[@beelzzebub]

Microwaving the chilli cheese and tortillas was a bad call. Should have: - Done the chilli on the job (or microwaving it on its own would be fine - Bake cheese + tortillas in oven, cheese melts better and tortillas crisp up

[@accountnumber90]

Was the sound of the wrappers this week agonizing to anyone else? Do all Tesco wrappers sound that awful and loud?

[@Seirunir]

It's his camera. It has awful microphones that can't handle crinkling and start to pop like crazy. You can hear it in every video with some kind of crinkly packaging. It does not help, of course, that he is alway up close to the products while handling them.

[@calicodan1556]

accountnumber90 love the sound of wrappers and stuff, but the lip smacking and chewing gets to me

[@jeffreyfike3384]

"Stop kissing the table and give me a fist bump." Lol!

[@beavis6363]

Burgers are the item that turned me off from our local equivalent to your Tesco. I realized that some of the bargains weren't bargains at all. Just got to the point where you found them repulsive as well. Could have warned you.

[@Whiskeyklone]

I have enjoyed these videos. He should write a book or something

[@-callum-2037]

Whiskeyklone he has

[@ZipplyZane]

You seem to miss that Tesco doesnt want people to buy their value branded stuff unless that's all they can afford. It's called price discrimination. Get the poorer people buying something, but keep the richer people buying the more expensive stuff

[@MrGreenYeti]

How come Tesco gives out more clubcard points if you buy own brand stuff over branded stuff?

[@ZipplyZane]

Because giving out points and such is also about price discrimination. The people who would be most influenced by such offers? Poorer people who need to stretch a -buck- pound. If money's not tight, then the small rewards won't mean much. The same idea is used with coupons. In this case, it's the hassle that discourages people who can afford it not to bother, while those who need the help will use them. All of it is just to keep the customers buying stuff from your store. Even if a poorer person doesn't have much money on their own, being the place where "poorer people shop" can turn a tidy profit. Being the place where people associate your stuff with value (even if they wind up buying more expensive stuff) can be good for your image. Maybe you don't even have the best price on stuff all the time, but reward points can mean people look at your store first.

[@ZipplyZane]

Pre-grated cheese needs some sort of powder to keep it from sticking together. Even the fancy brands have it. Just be happy that cheap didn't mean using cellulose, which would mean sawdust.

[@fireriffs]

Cellulose is not sawdust. Sawdust has cellulose but so does any plant. Cellulose is the cell wall of a plant. It's likely from something leafy.

[@ZipplyZane]

No, when it is listed as a powdered ingredient in food, it is quite literally food-grade sawdust. It just looks bad to call it what it actually is, so they use a more generic term. It's true it could come from other sources, but sawdust is an extremely cheap waste material. It makes economic sense to use the cheapest form you can. I'm not saying it's particularly bad for you. It's not. It is, ultimately, just undigestible material. But that is what cellulose usually means on a food label. Especially on value brands.

[@fireriffs]

Even so, fiber is essentially cellulose, so it can serve as a source of fiber, however unappetizing it may sound.

[@dariusrobotson6872]

We need to get Mike a GoPro so he can use both hands.

[@RandomAmerican3000]

Where is the fun in that?

[@thomraider9193]

He actually pronounced Tortilla correctly! It's Learning!

[@aljr357]

The chocolate looks good. I prefer darker milk chocolate which is something we get in Canada along with regular milk chocolate and dark chocolate in different percentages starting with 63% dark chocolate all the way up to 95% dark chocolate which isn’t that good because it has no sugar added.

[@mapesdhs597]

Tesco's own non-value dark chocolate is very good. I used to buy Bournville but Tesco's is better. For a nice home-made buscuit, buy a pack of their custard creams, lay out on baking paper, melt a bar of the dark choc, spread over & cover with a knife, cool in fridge. Yum. 8)

[@vickishaw6053]

asda sells a bar of value chocolate for 30p and it's bloody nice

[@Jboy2000000]

clarty in British (ˈklɑːtɪ , Scottish ˈklærtɪ) adjective Word forms: clartier or clartiest Scottish and Northern England dialect dirty, esp covered in mud; filthy

[@utrapzab]

with all the book sales you need to buy an air fryer Mike, the way forward

[@MrGreenYeti]

It'd be a good thing it toasters had a specific button to toast stuff from frozen called 'defrost'. Oh wait they do.

[@berdonburns]

MrGreenYeti 1) depends on your toaster. 2) he wasn’t trying to defrost it, he was trying (and managed) to toast it

[@md_vandenberg]

My toaster doesn't have a defrost setting. It's a Sunbeam, built in 1922. Maybe don't run your mouth.

[@MrGreenYeti]

The defrost setting also toasts it, it's meant to toast frozen bread, yet somehow he managed it without using it.

[@reskar1918]

Matthew VandenBerg oh my god shutup please he was trying to point out something in the video maybe you shouldn’t run your mouth or at least run back to when your toaster was made

[@Leanne_w]

Mathew, but yet you’re running your mouth!

[@Mrmidtown1]

The potato starch keeps the cheese from sticking together. Most brands use it - even higher end ones. Always grate your own cheese, if possible. Melts smoother.

[@iamastupidkat6662]

I must admit, I like the cat more than the youtuber. 😂😂

[@KyleJamesFrazer]

I wouldn't mind the pizza and garlic bread if I put peppers on the pizza and had a side serving of veg to go with it; you can get Value mince from the fridges to mould into burgers with some egg and spring onions. Value is half-decent stuff if you combine it with low-cost veg; I always put lemon in the lemonade and cola, for example, to give the food some nutrients and vitamins.

[@assadi89]

Let's open a gofundme page to collect money for a tripod or a go-pro for Mike

[@gyqz]

Better yet: use that money and go to unbound to support his book!

[@Albinowolfen]

gyqz Well there are people who enjoy his videos but not his books so I think its fair to want to support the video quality and not his own passion projects.

[@gyqz]

Y....Well there are people who think all things in life are free.....those are the the people that do not not want finance others to be doing what they really want in life....

[@Albinowolfen]

gyqz I dont agree with that I just think some of his audience would rather stick to the thing they know they enjoy. His videos. And pay for those instead of his books when im sure not a lot of them usually read and may not like the book to begin with. Im glad he is doing his own thing and hope he gets funded I am just saying some personally would rather support a patreon that goes into video making. Theres always a slight risk when funding a project you are unsure of. Supporting his videos is less of a risk as a funder since you already know the general quality and can assume itll just get better from there. Im mainly speaking on terms of risk in financing, not people just wanting things for free.

[@FoxParasyte]

I highly disagree with that also. I work hard for a living and i'm paid well enough for it. I don't mind donating a little bit of money to help others, however if i don't agree or like a project i'm not going to donate to said person. Even if the person is someone i enjoy (like Mike), i just wont do it. For example I was a massive fan of AVGN back in the day. When he started promoting his movie that he was going to make with the help of donations from fans. I did not back that movie because i didn't think it was going to be good... for various reasons.. I'm glad i didn't too because I recently watched that movie and if i'm being blunt i thought it was pretty terrible. Anyway I'm all for self promotion, that isn't a issue for me, I've done it on my own channel. You can be proud of what you achieved or what you are making, that's cool with me. However the way you go about promoting said product speaks volumes. I don't think Mike is going about the promotion in the best way. But that is just my opinion.

[@AbsoluteMiniacGena]

Excellent! I just looked to Unbound to see your book is 118% funded so well done. I hope to see it on iBooks at some point which is the only way I seem to read books now, as I am able to lie in bed using my iPad in the dark. As for your favourite meal in the week, the Kiev’s... there is no regulation which states how much chicken should be in a kiev and so manufacturers make the most of this and only put a teeny bit in. My children loved them although I no longer buy them. I actually got annoyed with Tesco as they used to have their very cheap range in the red and blue printing on the white label, and then they had an intermediate own brand which was pretty damn good. I was crazy for their Tesco Select Cheese & Onion crisps. So what they did was combine both the value and their next level goods and relabel it as Everyday Value whilst also increasing the prices so it was quite a con as many people just thought they relabelled the Value range. Thankfully I’m not in a situation for value stuff now and we always buy either King’s Mill or Warburtons loaves of bread.

[@harryemmott8597]

The potato starch in the grated cheese is to stop it from clumping together - that would be most unappealing...

[@wildgooseman7047]

Interesting week of videos. Re the packaging: I used to work for a food processing company that made value range items for all of the supermarkets. The packaging is so bland because while supermarkets want to be seen to be offering value, they don't actually want people to buy them as the entire range is a loss leader. By making the packaging so plain/cheap it makes people feel self conscious about buying it, something you hinted at yourself. The reality is the ingredients do tend to be mostly the same it just tends to be the lower quality grades used. For example the canned garden peas will be produced using the same crops as the more expensive canned/frozen peas but the moisture content will have been lower making the raw material a little firmer/tougher.

[@tsekscenski]

"...some of it is really good, it doesn't deserve to be kind of a "value, crappy, cheapy" item. Those Chicken Kievs were amazing, Nothing value about those bad boys." - So, are value labeled items suppose to be crappy? Mike, you are asking Tescos to lower their standards. They will upgrade the packaging on the value Chicken Kiev to indicate that it's a premium product, thereby lowering their standard for the better products and allowing them to bring in a crappy replacement to be the value item.

[@entromix]

There's usually some kind of starch on pre-schredded cheese. It's so that the cheese doesn't come out in one big lump. That is also why shredded cheese doesn't turn out great when using it on pizzas etc.

[@Crobat-queen]

Loved this week on! I don't have the cash to back ya, Mike, but I don't mind your promoting. I do like it better when it's at the start and/or end of the video and not in the middle though! but personally it doesn't phase me. live your dream, dude.

[@raychelfoden1164]

What did u do with the food you have left over

[@Guciom]

Mike, you should invest in a go pro or something so you can use both your hands.

[@chuckyb295]

What do you do with the stuff you buy during these week ons? Obviously you eat them but that’s a big jar of spread for example. Do you just continue to use it or do they sit on the shelf for years

[@SigEpBlue]

You lost FIVE pounds, and probably _saved_ money? Damn man, you should turn this week-on into your regular lifestyle! Congrats!

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

They all have really high salt and fat levels and stuff, and he kept saying he was still hungry. Probably not good for life. Looks like the chips, chicken kievs and stuff are worth getting though.

[@SigEpBlue]

Eh, true. Would do wonders for him if he exercised regularly, though. He might already, so I could be wrong. +1 on some of this food being edible. lol

[@Jessica-uv9sp]

Honestly, it wouldn't work wonders. It would wreak havoc on his body, raising his blood pressure and clog his arteries. You have to have a better diet than Tesco Value to be able to get the energy to excercise regulary.

[@MAYKKO_]

He also saved 5 pounds!... Sorry I had to make that joke

[@Jwilk.o]

Jessica He could have eaten a way better diet on tesco value, they do fruit and veg, he just ate stodge.

[@reckley]

Tesco value grated cheese seems at odds with the concept. Do they have TV cheese that you can grate yourself at half the price?

[@jonathanpeden9930]

Good point about the branding, but buy a damned tripod!

[@alexisfiligree9116]

Chili cheesey chips are much better if you start by cooking the chili on the stovetop, then add the cheese near the end and stir it until it's a cheesey, chili blend...then you keep the chips separate...only dipping them into the bowl. Trust me...it's not much more work and it's much better. I'd also recommend adding a bit of refried beans and salsa to the dip mix and cooking them in as well. If you want a bit of spice, I'd recommend sprinkling a bit of cayenne as well. Oh...also, the foods you get everyday from Tesco value are cheaper than clearance food items and secondary clearout food shops in California. Seriously...that box of corn chips you bought is the cheapest price for a box of cereal I have ever seen. The same box would be at least $1.50 anywhere here (about £1.07).

[@frankenmuth1]

For some reason cheap cheese doesnt melt like better quality cheese . I got some stuff from a dollar store in the US and that cheese just wouldn't melt.

[@CharlieFlemingOriginal]

Cheese of any quality should melt as cheese is cheese... I think what you bought may have been pretending to be cheese.

[@PooleyX]

The reason for supermarket 'value' brands having easily recognisable packaging is *precisely* what you felt. It's meant to make you feel uneasy and stigmatise you. They don't really want you to buy it, and particularly not to fill your basket with nothing but it. It exists to bring down the average price of produce and give them 'cheap' stats over all.

[@SolanusDracon]

Actually, 70%/30% meat to fat content is considered the ideal mix for burgers. You're not far off from that with this.

[@AgentTasmania]

That is nearly double the fat of the fattiest beef mince I could buy, you'd have a pan full of oil with some tiny medallions floating in it

[@Deadmau5l]

grated cheese has something on to stop it sticking together in the bag which also stops the cheese from melting. gotta grate your own for some melty meltsss

[@JamesTaylor-mt4re]

The Tesco value lemonade is great chilled and mixed with squash, like the value orange squash.

[@kap79]

How does this compare, price and quality wise, to selections at Aldi's?

[@emileeeeee5305]

My cat -also a black cat with a tiny meow - saw Basil at the beginning, and spent the rest of this video watching the screen. He never watches TV.

[@elliottchappell1260]

Potato starch is in grated cheese to stop the cheese from sticking to each other. I recommend grating your own.

[@steely666]

Yes, you can toast frozen bread. Some toasters have a frozen button.

[@TartanFerret]

his toaster does... *eyeroll*

[@sidewaysdanny]

I always toast frozen bread. It's about all I used sliced bread for. If I want bread I get some fresh crusty baguette

[@nootacat]

How much did that whole shopping cost for the week then?

[@bridgetleekobold9979]

nootacat someone get on that

[@LoverofLiszt]

CLARTY North east english term for wet and muddy ground conditions Oh no the ground is really Clarty out after all the rain #wet #muddy #dank #moist #damp

[@jamesallinson8633]

LoverofLiszt I read this comment the exact time he sad the word lol

[@cleverB634]

They also sell value chicken, beef, pork, rice, flour, butter, vegetables and fruits. I alway buy a lot of value products and make delicious food. But I know how to season and flavour with herbs and spices

[@shannonfriet6291]

Hello basil the cat!!!! Beautiful black cat!!! Love his meow and personality!!!!

[@RazgulTheKind]

Luckily Basil is a cat then ;)

[@barajones1935]

This is such a wholesome comment

[@michaelheeheejackson7255]

Something Completely Different its a cat not a fucking robot

[@charleston7717]

The potato starch is there to prevent the cheese sticking together it's very minute. Other cheese also use cellulose from plants to prevent this.

[@macmacox]

cheese and then chili.. the fat from the cheese will preserve a slight bit of crispiness from the chips that way.

[@itsgentry]

May i ask how much you spend for a weeks shop?

[@haliehope7067]

tesco seems like school food. maybe better quality. I do love that you fist bump your cat. I do the same. I just adore the fact you have a black cat. As my cat belladonna loves to come over to watch when she hears basil.

[@Starchild91]

From what I've experienced, one of the reasons cheap products like that "look cheap", with boring packaging, is because that is a part of what makes it so cheap. Good looking packaging is really expensive in itself. To get good packaging, you need some human psychology involved (which colours brings which feelings, which fonts to use, colours, etc.) and for that you need to hire someone that knows a thing or two about it; designers of packaging for food. And then you need to hire someone to actually make it. On top of that, you also need to make sure the different packaging all look similar so you know they are the same line of products, without being too similar to the point where they can get mixed up - and therefor create a negative association with the products. This requires extra work, if you want more exciting looking packaging. At least that's what it's like here in Norway. Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume it's the same in other countries too. Cheap brands like that will often have food that tastes just fine (usually, though not always) and will sometimes even take the exact product of other brands and package it into a cheap packaging, spend no amount of money whatsoever on advertisement, and sell it super cheap. I used to work in a small grocery shop, and have spent a lot of time unboxing the food. And the fancy smoked salmon and the cheap smoked salmon came from the exact same manufacturer. In other words: it was the same product, in different packaging. But they could sell it super cheap, because they spent so little money on the "useless stuff" like packaging and advertisement.

[@MrRadar]

At least your shredded cheese melted, unlike the "cheese" sold at some dollar stores in the US: imgur.com/F6WvIaf Attempt at melting: imgur.com/jaZklh8

[@Albinowolfen]

MrRadar Thats terrifying. The vegan cheese I use melts better than that.

[@RazgulTheKind]

Ah the glorious 'cheese product'. It even contains actual cheese... somewhere, let me know if you find it :)

[@FormidableNemesis]

"Can you toast frozen bread?" Defrost button on toaster in view.

[@ZachBlackforest]

Mike... SEASON YOUR FOOD!

[@gemmawilson3226]

Would help a GREAT deal with some foods he's eaten :)

[@Rowankeenanx3]

Tesco don't do value seasoning. He stuck to only value all week.

[@francox2526]

Rowankeenanx3 they have salt and pepper at least

[@mapesdhs597]

www.missmysupermarket.com/user/products/large/VALUE_DRIED_MIXED_HERBS_34G.jpg

[@JulieWallis1963]

Don’t you think the cheap food has enough salt in it already?

[@hyperaije]

Do people typically just eat a plain beef patty with nothing on it?

[@medicami]

dry, cheaper salisbury steak

[@ZipplyZane]

Sometimes, given that it had onions and such in it. It's called hamburger steak. Bad idea with value stuff, though. It needs fresh or frozen real veggies on it.

[@Truman5555]

He should shave made it stovetop with Worcester sauce.

[@hyperaije]

Typically if I do just a patty I try to add some gravy and make salisbury steak or make a burger, not just have the patty by itself. I suppose if Tesco doesn't have value gravy or something you can't really do much though.

[@xOxOHaeee]

He probably couldn't find tesco value buns and condiments lol however he could have smothered it with the tesco cheese and made it better

[@fireriffs]

I can't get over that lemonade is carbonated in the UK. I'm sure you've had our lemonade when you've been in the states but if you haven't someone needs to send you some.

[@gatoneko]

Their Lemonade is our Sprite/7-Up etc... here in the States.

[@Albinowolfen]

gatoneko What is hand squeezed lemonade there then? Just a juice?

[@fireriffs]

Assuming the sell it there. Our lemonade really isn't that different than a juice. Cranberry juice cocktail, like Ocean Spray sells, is part juice, water and sugar. Lemonade is generally no more than 15% juice if you like it tart, then sugar and water. You could call it Lemon Juice Cocktail but Lemonade sounds more appealing.

[@Albinowolfen]

fireyf Ok gochu just curious. I like my lemonade super tart so id understand if its closer to 15% it might be called a lemon juice cocktail or something of that nature.

[@maryade]

Never come to Ireland, you’ll hate it here. Our traditional (but getting increasingly hard to find) lemonade is not only fizzy, but it’s red too!

[@rowenafletcher-wood4436]

If you make gypsy toast (which you can dry fry if oil-less) it's less weird without butter.

[@jackdolby3409]

I have total respect for you doing this. I found it hilarious, but totally saddening. I've lived in poverty, and have come far since then. Reminds me of some right grim meal times as a kid. But overall, your sense of humour is eternally optimistic! Keep doing what you do bro! Got my subscription! 🍕🍟✌✌✌

[@abbieellis278]

the potatoe starch in the cheese is jsut to keep it from clumping together better than the standard wood shavinging thats in some pre grated cheeses

[@CharlieFlemingOriginal]

I love your channel and what you do, but please pop to Argos for a tripod for your camera. Velbon £35ish is really good. I put it off too long and viewers said that on TV my videos sometimes made them feel sick as even slight movements turn huge onscreen "Blair Witch Project effect". I don't mean to sound bossy or owt, just trying to help :)

[@GothicVampyra2]

Last time I did my regular shop at Tesco instead of Sainsburys, including some everyday value, it tasted so sweet and salty in comparison. We threw lots away. Interesting experiment. Maybe it needs a month on it to really know how you feel physically and mentally?

[@aljr357]

I’ll never buy already shredded cheese because of what they put in with it to keep it from sticking together. Potato starch is one of the better things they use. Wood pulp is the worst they do use and there are other things they use as well so I just won’t buy it.

[@modelt8951]

allan fulton well they didn't in the Tesco value, so what's the issue

[@PO1S0N-1]

allan fulton wood pulp? ? ? !!!

[@regencysolid]

The potato starch is also the reason it didn’t melt together and looked stringy

[@jennyd747]

They put potato starch in the expensive stuff too, it doesn't make a difference to the flavour. Also wood pulp?? Please feel free to tell us which brand.

[@aljr357]

Jenny D well you can buy shredded cheese if you want but I'll keep buying my cheese in bricks or rounds and shred it myself. Kraft is the brand I was told used the wood pulp by someone who works there.

[@loreleiarianamya]

i dont know if its just your store but ours do vaule fresh apples, carrots, banana n pears and tomatos+ the value frozen fruit and veg is pretty good

[@SigEpBlue]

Wonky Veg would be a great name for a book....

[@ellebee2419]

Be careful what you wish for with the supermarket packaging. In Australia the Duopoly have figured out that repackaging cheap brand foods under 'fake' brand names fools people into buying the cheap brands. Bearing in mind that I deliberately buy many savings brand foods cause they are just good. This does not mean that I wish to have to look on the back of every new product and squint at the fine print to figure out where my money is going to. Its devious and underhanded IMO.