Is there such a thing as a decent ready meal?

I know that economies of scale keep prices down for food retailers but I dread to think what is in the Iceland £1 lasagne.

I find that all ready meals have too much salt in them to my taste, so the only meals I ever buy that I don't cook from scratch are m and s battered haddock and chips, and very occasionally a ready made pie, usually pukka veggie or vegan ones, especially the vegan 'mince' ones, not very healthy but I really enjoy them on a winters day with some instant gravy - also because I literally can't make pastry myself anyway

62Granny

I used a company called Wiltshire Farm Foods for my mother when she became unable to cook they come as a complete meal with vegetables with a wide range of meals from traditional to something a bit special and you can order desserts also, they have healthy / Gluten Free/ vegetarian options and are delivered to your door there did not used to a delivery charge but they may have a minimum spend but not high. They have a catalogue you can request and you can either order online or on the phone and speak to a real person. This firm was recommended by occupational therapist in hospital. I have just looked at the website and they say over 300 dishes.

My mother used these as well, they were recommended by the local hospital. Then the local Age U.K. suggested a local company who were catering ,even breakfast if you wanted it.
She really liked both and found the ranges good and the price.

GrammaH - my opinion is based on trying them and not liking any - I thought Parsley the worse. I don’t enjoy cooking anymore which is a pity. I usually eat something I’ve done - but eating is not a pleasure anymore. Tonight it’s Spinach topped with a poached egg!

We quite like some of the ready meals from M%S. Chicken and broccoli in a cream sauce with mash on top. Lasagne, cottage pie and shepherds pie. I like to do fresh veg and then they are a nice meal. Can't be bothered much now cooking from scratch just for the two of us. We lead a busy life and in our free time we like to go walking. still do a Sunday lunch at teatime but not always on a Sunday. Depends on the weather

Aldi do a very nice smoked haddock in cheese sauce dish, cook in oven. Good price too but can't remember how much offhand!

I think M&S do the best quality but I go along with previous poster who said check out the ingredients. It’s inevitable that food prepared in factories will have additives such as preservatives. I don’t want to think where the chicken comes from for example, but for occasional convenience think they’re ok.

Charlie Bigham Chicken Korma is delicious but now costs £8.50! We only have it as a special treat. When we first discovered it, it was £5.50 and that's only a couple of years ago.

Are you speaking from experience Shelagh6 or do you just have an opinion? I try to make from scratch most of the time but I don't always have the inclination or the inspiration. In those situations, I go firstly for Cook as their food is superb. I do like Chatlie Bigham's stroganoff & Marks do some tasty things as well.

I used a company called Wiltshire Farm Foods for my mother when she became unable to cook they come as a complete meal with vegetables with a wide range of meals from traditional to something a bit special and you can order desserts also, they have healthy / Gluten Free/ vegetarian options and are delivered to your door there did not used to a delivery charge but they may have a minimum spend but not high. They have a catalogue you can request and you can either order online or on the phone and speak to a real person. This firm was recommended by occupational therapist in hospital. I have just looked at the website and they say over 300 dishes.

I don’t think there is such a thing as a ‘tasty ready meal’?

No help to OP, but this thread reminded me of 1972. We had just bought our first house, a new-build with a sloping builders’ tip for a garden.
Although we didn’t intend to move in until we were married the following year we would drive up there every weekend to level and seed the garden. It was like a holiday - no furniture, just camping stuff and a tranny, but for dinner we’d have Vesta Chow Mein, Vesta Spag Bol, etc, and back then you’d have thought we were enjoying fine dining! Feasts! How times change …

You may have to buy & try but yes there’s some nice ones. We have occasionally and one that husband likes is Aldi’s ham & mushroom tagliatelle, it’s far nicer, creamier & cheaper than Lidl’s and Sainsbury’s one. And they use shredded smoked ham hock, as opposed to cheap ham. Give some meals a go!

If you order food delivery from Ocado, they sell M & S foods too.

We all have differing taste but since I developed Arthritis in my hands it has been difficult to prepare a meal, put it in the oven & take out of the oven without lots of moaning & clearing the mess on the floor. So my daughter in law suggested Wiltshire. I like the fact that I can pick a meal the right size for me, have them delivered by a friendly gentleman, store them in the freezer & microwave & dish up without the floor cleaning! As I said different tastes for different people but I find them handy, nutritious & better in my stomach than on the floor!

We’ve just tried Breda Murphy’s restaurant quality frozen meals and thought they were excellent. We’d previously eaten in her restaurant so knew what to expect. Jay Rayner has recommended her in The Guardian.

Quite expensive but worth it for a special night.

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions, it seems that there are decent ready meals to be had. In the meantime I’ve just discovered that Waitrose do a frozen soffrito (not sure of the spelling) and a pack of chopped Mediterranean veg which will speed my home cooking up.

Saggi

Sainsburys ‘ Taste The Difference ‘ range . lovely ….and approx £3-£3.50 for 1 or £6- £6.50 for a double serving, both of which we find plenty. Very generous and I think reasonable price. Just as good as M&S and lot cheaper. We have then twice a week.

I agree - and the Tesco Finest range are good too. They do a great chicken kiev - whole breast with the wing bone in. Yum.

Should have added it is M&S …

I sometimes buy those small meals as I don’t like big meals. I like their cod in parsley sauce with mash and peas … I couldnt even make it for the £2 it costs. I also like their fruity chicken curry.

I like the Iceland beef lasagne, only £1 and for the price, its not bad at all. I cut it in half (hard work frozen) and have half with McCains lightly Spiced Wedges and a few frozen peas. I defrost the lasagne and wedges then it isnt so long in the oven. I put the peas in an oven proof dish with some water and I put a pyrex jug full of water in the oven too. Everything cooks in the oven and I have hot water from the jug to wash up the few pots. Iceland's Chinese Chicken Stir Fry is very nice, it is £3 or 2 for £5. I split the bag into 3 portions and add some extra rice to bulk the meal a little. It is very easy to cook from frozen - stir fry style. Another I have tried is Chicken & Bacon Pasta, again splitting it into 3 portions then cooking extra pasta to make it more of a meal. It wasnt long ago they were £2 each. I love a piece of cake and my friend told me about Iceland's frozen Victoria Sponge Sandwich. I keep it in the freezer and just cut a piece when I want one. Makes 6 good pieces, has been £1.50 and just looked and it has gone up to £2. I also buy Mr Kipling fruit pies and have them with Ambrosia custard in the winter. Tesco's tinned Chicken Curry isnt bad at all considering it is in a tin (£1.50) with some rice, a noggin of Mango Chutney and Naan Bread from Aldi. I sometimes have a piece of fresh Smoked Haddock from Aldi and pop one piece in the freezer and poach the fish in water with a big noggin of butter and eat with a slice of brown bread and butter, really nice.

I used to cook some lovely meals from scratch when I was with my husband but now separated so cant be bothered half the time. I wont starve!

ReadyMeals

Most ready meals don't include the veg. I remember years ago "TV dinners" that had all the trimmings in a little tray like you get prison food in. But nowadays you can get lots of different veg for the freezer that are ready prepared to heat in the microwave in their bags. Carrots, sweetcorn, broccoli, cauli, spinach... you name it. So you can definitely avoid preparation

Yes the pouches of vegetables you steam in the microwave are excellent. Aldi do several different varieties.

Took me a second to figure out what “ready meals” were. We call them frozen dinners!

The co-op, Tesco and Asda sell hunters chicken.

It’s two pieces of chicken in a lovely barbecue sauce. Ready to cook in a foil tray.

Very convenient.
I have one piece with frozen roast spuds, and fresh veg.
The other piece I have the following day with salad.

Try it.

If you have access to Occado deliveries you can order a good range of M&S food, including ready made