When it comes to buying fresh meat produce, I am always a little sceptical about own brand stock, particularly when it comes to something such as chicken. However, we regularly buy this chicken breast meat from Tesco, and are rarely disappointed.

The packaging is basic, as you would expect from any Value product. A plain plastic tray with a film lid, and the familiar blue and white labelling on the packaging telling you what you're getting. It's hard to see exactly what you're getting inside, as although you can see the top, the smooth breast, it's often what's on the underneath of it that is the real cause for concern, and what tells you whether you're getting meat or gristle and fat.

Don't be dissuaded though, because once you have opened up the packaging, then you find that the quality of the meat isn't that bad at all. There may be little bits that you might want to cut off, such as stringy pieces and a bit of fat or gristle, but it's hardly anything, and you barely lose any meat at all. Dicing the meat up, as we often do, it feels of good quality, and cooking it there is no discernible difference to any other chicken breasts we have tried.

The breasts are chunky and you do get a substantial amount with this product. The worry is that there won't be much there at all, that you'll merely get a think breast and half of it will be bits you don't really want to eat. I do find that the Value drumsticks or wings or thighs can be a bit disappointing, but these breasts are a surprise gem.

Usually, we'll have these to dice up and put in for a curry, but occasionally we cook it whole and use for a meal requiring the breast to be whole. Either way, we have never had a problem with the breasts we have bought from this range. We have tried getting other ranges, which inevitably cost more, and no doubt the way the chicken has been treated is different, or the sourcing is better, but there was no noticeable difference with them in comparison to this chicken.

Tastewise, well, it tastes like chicken! There's no dry texture or any indication you're getting something of lesser quality, and I'm more than happy to continue buying this product. It's good for dicing up and using in curries, or for making whole meals.

There's clever pricing as well. I find it really useful that for a packet of 2 breasts, it's going to cost you £2. Then they package 4 breasts, and this is £4. There is also a £6 package, which usually has 5 or 6 breasts in it. They do work it out on weight, and this generally means that if there is a particularly big breast, then you get 5 as opposed to 6, and very occasionally the £4 packet gives you 3 breasts, but generally, the number of pounds is the number of breasts. It makes it very practical shopping when you're trying to work out how much a meal is going to cost you.

I really don't have any negatives about this product. For what it is, it's a great bargain. Quality tasting chicken in practical packaging with practical pricing. I highly recommend getting it if you're on a budget, which I know plenty of people are all the time. The quality of the chicken may not be as good as other ranges, I really don't know. All I know is what my limited cooking and preparation skills can tell me, as well as what I think tastes good, and this is good as far as I am concerned. It represents good value, and I think that is just as important as anything else. Recommended