Bremer Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich

I am an admitted meat + cheese fan. Yes, I know processed meats aren’t the best for you. They’re still a favorite, even if they’re something I have more in moderation now than I used to. I like a lot of the different combinations, from ham and Swiss to turkey and provolone. I like multimeat subs, too, even if they are even less healthy.

There is something special about roast beef and cheddar. I don’t know if I can quite pinpoint why. Perhaps it’s the way the two flavors come together without the need for much doctoring. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve seen too many Arby’s commercials. Whatever the reason, it’s hard for me not to take notice when someone sells the two in combination.

Aldi recently did just that, releasing a limited-buy two-pack of roast beef sandwiches. I grabbed a box.

The Bremer Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich is an Aldi Find. It’s only in stores for a short time, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. If you can’t find them in your local store, you’re out of luck for now. Aldi doesn’t offer online ordering if this is sold out at your local store. While these are in stock, you’ll find them in the freezer aisle.

At the time of this post, the 2-pack of sandwiches, totaling 10 ounces, cost $4.99. That comes out to about 50 cents an ounce and about $2.50 per sandwich. You’re paying for some convenience here, as you could no doubt make your own for less.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way right now: these are not good for you.

Each sandwich has 400 calories, 20 grams of fat (26% of your recommended daily value), 9 grams of saturated fat (45%), and 930 milligrams of sodium (40%). The ingredients are highly processed with plenty of additives like xanthan gum, dextrose, and modified food starch. Four allergens are listed: wheat, egg, milk, and soy.

In our view, this is a moderation food.

Let’s talk about preparing the sandwiches to eat. The box offers two methods, microwave or oven.

To microwave, open the wrapper slightly to allow moisture to escape. How long you microwave it depends on if the sandwich is frozen or thawed: 60-90 seconds frozen, 45 seconds thawed. Allow to cool for 2 minutes prior to eating.

To bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the frozen sandwich from the wrapper and wrap in aluminum foil. Place the sandwich on the middle rack and bake for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool for 2 minutes prior to eating.

We figure most people will take the speed of microwaving, so that’s what we did. We opened the wrapper on one end and placed it on a microwave-safe plate. (If you’re concerned about plastics you could easily remove the sandwich from the plastic and wrap it in a paper towel.) Ours was frozen, so we split the time difference and heated it for 75 seconds. It was definitely hot enough.

On the plus side, it is tasty. The bread has plenty of flavor, while the roast beef is nicely seasoned. The cheddar cheese accents the roast beef just right. In short, it’s a good roast beef and cheddar experience.

As for cons? It is a little soft, as you might expect for a frozen-to-microwave sandwich. In addition, some of the cheddar melted off onto the plastic wrap during microwaving.

On the whole though, not bad.

The Verdict:

Want a flavorful roast beef and cheddar sub ready to go in less than 90 seconds. This sandwich checks off the boxes. It heats easily (if at the cost of some cheese) and tastes great. It’s a processed food, though, and it isn’t as cheap as if you made it yourself. For us, that makes this an occasional food … and because it’s an Aldi Find, that’s exactly what it will be for most people.