MoneySavingExpert.com homepage
Cutting your costs, fighting your corner
Founder, Martin Lewis · Editor-in-Chief, Marcus Herbert
Search bar closed.

Cheap Vegetables deals

Ongoing

In larger stores only

If you head into selected Sainsbury's stores (find your nearest), you can pick up a 'Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me’ box of surplus fruit and veg for £2, while stock lasts. The boxes contain fresh fruit and vegetables that would have otherwise gone to waste.

Sainsbury's says the boxes are a permanent feature, though they will be subject to availability. Look out for them in larger stores, rather than Locals (you can't get them online). 

If boxes are available, they'll be in the fresh produce aisle. What you'll actually get is completely random, though Sainsbury's did say typical contents could include: apples, bananas, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, oranges, peppers, plums, red cabbage, and swede. 

Sainsburys_TasteMeDontWasteMe

To give you a rough idea of how much of a saving you could make, we've made some calculations based on the products mentioned above:

  • One pack Imperfectly Tasty Gala apples (six in pack) – normally 90p (15p each)

  • One pack Fairtrade bananas (five in a pack) – normally 71p (14p each)

  • One loose broccoli – normally £1.92

  • One loose cauliflower – normally 95p

  • One pack courgettes (500g) – normally £1.29

  • Loose orange – normally 30p

  • Loose red pepper – normally 50p

  • One punnet of plums (400g) – normally 95p

  • Loose red cabbage – normally 65p

  • Loose swede – normally 65p

Based on the price of each individual item in the box, we've calculated that it would cost about £9 to buy it all separately – so we reckon buying a box for £2 is a good deal.

Don't live near a Sainsbury's? Try Lidl's similar fruit and veg box.

MSE Georgia-May says:

I managed to get my hands on a Sainsbury's veg box back in February and it had:

  • One pack of spinach (260g) – normally £1.50

  • Five loose easy peelers  – normally 30p each

  • Two loose peppers – normally 50p each

  • Two loose bananas (five in a pack) – normally 79p (16p each)

  • One loose avocado – normally 75p each

  • One loose broccoli – normally £1.92

  • Three loose plums – normally 30p each

  • Nine loose potatoes – normally £1.25 for one pack pack (2.5kg)

Based on what these items would usually roughly cost to buy individually, the total value came to £9.92. The side of the box advised it should be displayed until 26 February (I bought it on 20 February), so with a shelf life of six days I think this is great value.

Sains_fruitvegbox
Ongoing

Slightly past its best, but still edible. In stores nationwide, excluding Northern Ireland

If you head into a Lidl store (find your nearest) you can pick up a 5kg 'Waste Not' box of fruit and vegetables for £1.50, while stock lasts. The boxes contain 'edible but not perfect' fruit and veg, which are slightly past its best, but still safe to eat. This is currently an ongoing offer with no end date, but we'll update you here if that changes. 

These are available in stores in England, Scotland and Wales only, and found near the checkout area. However, they are subject to availability, so if you want one you'll need to be quick as there are only a limited number of boxes available each day, from the time stores open until midday. Any unsold boxes will be donated to local good causes.

What you'll actually get is completely random as the boxes are made up on the day with whatever fruit and veg is looking past its best in each store. Some could be damaged or discoloured, but you'll be able to see what you're getting before you buy.

Lidl_Too_Good_To_Waste%20 Lidl_fruitvegbox2023_2

A box we spotted in Aug 2023 in a London branch of Lidl

To give you a rough idea of how much of a saving you could make, when we picked up a box to check this deal out, we got:

  • One 250g punnet of raspberries – normally £2.99

  • Two x bananas – normally 37p for two (£0.78/kg)

  • Five x apples – normally 89p for a 5-pack (17p each)

  • 13 x satsumas – normally 95p for a 500g bag (£1.90/kg)

  • Two x pears – normally 95p for a 550g bag (£1.72/kg)

  • One 500g pack of leeks – normally 69p for a 500g pack (£1.38/kg)

  • Two x aubergines – normally 69p each

  • Three x lettuce – normally 69p for a 2-pack (34p for one)

  • 13 x potatoes – normally 91p for a 2.5kg bag (36p/kg)

  • One punnet of black grapes – normally £1.09

Lidl_fruit_veg_box

Based on the price of each individual item in the box, we've calculated that it would cost over £10 to buy it all separately – so buying a box for £1.50 really does save a bunch.

Don't have a Lidl near you? Try Sainsbury's similar fruit and veg box.

Ongoing

Often includes wonky potatoes, wonky peppers, wonky peas & more

If you go in-store or online to Morrisons*, you can get selected vegetables and fruit branded 'wonky', which may be slightly irregular in shape or appearance, but totally fine to eat.

In most cases it makes Morrisons veg cheaper than all other major supermarkets - including Aldi and Lidl - but what's available will depend on the season and stock in your local store.

It's worth noting that all of these fruit & veg are provided in non-recyclable packaging.

Martin's Money Mantras

Use them

Before spending

If you answer 'NO' to any of the following questions, don't buy.

Are you

Not skint? Ask:

Will I use it?

Is it worth it?

Are you

Skint? Ask:

Do I need it?

Can I afford it?

Free protection for all shopping!

There's a little-known piece of legislation that turns any credit card into a financial self-defence superhero. 'Section 75' of the Consumer Credit Act means your plastic must protect anything you buy for more than £100 for free, so if there's a problem or the company goes bust, you can still get your money back.
And although Section 75 doesn't apply to debit cards, there is something else to fall back on if you've paid using a debit card, or used a credit card for a purchase under £100. Known as Chargeback, this is part of banks' and card companies' internal rules and not a legal requirement. Read full details of Section 75 or Chargeback, plus how to claim, in our guides.
What the * means above
If a link has an * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site. It's worth noting this means the third party used may be named on any credit agreements.
You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed
Tip Email

For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today - it’s spam free!

Tools and calculators

Clever ways to calculate your finances

Find your odds of getting top cards
Find your odds for getting a cheap loan
Compare broadband, phone & TV deals
Compares thousands of mortgages
Eight calcs to help you work out the cost
We ensure you’re on the cheapest tariff