Is there such a thing as delicious ready meals?

I buy Cook from our local store and they always have a decent selection to choose from, the puds are expensive but indulgent. Also always try to have some homemade bolognaise sauce and a portion or two of casserole in the freezer.

My right side fractured shoulder ruled out preparing food for 5 weeks. I’m just beginning to cautiously shop and slice. Char;ie Bingham expensive but imo best of ready meals

I too eat a lot of fish because it’s quick and easy. I’ve tried ready meals from M&S but they were bland (even the curries) and very disappointing. I like fish pie but I do like to have some actual fish in it! Looked at Charlie Bighams but they seem expensive for what you get.

I make my own ready meals but I package them in small foil containers with lids. This means that I can take them out and heat through or if I use the microwave rather than the air fryer, I just upend into a suitable dish. They are quick and it just takes the couple of hours needed to make the initial meal, last one for me was lasagne, time before was a lovely lamb stew.

I try to have two varieties in the freezer plus easy foods like salmon. I pop the salmon in a sistema microwave dish, together with all the veggies, which a have already prepared and keep in vac canisters in the fridge. For me it is also down to not having much washing up, so I can enjoy my food and also get on with the nice things

I live alone on a pension

As for fish pies from what I have had in pubs in the past ( I never order them now) or seen over the years there is a bare minimum of fish with far too much cheesey sauce.
I woukd prefer plenty of fish with rather less sauce, hence we make our own and freeze, it works well and you always know what’s in them.

I use one or two caterers for different occasions.
When I would need meals cooked up, I have every intention of buying from them.

silverlining48

As for fish pies from what I have had in pubs in the past ( I never order them now) or seen over the years there is a bare minimum of fish with far too much cheesey sauce.
I woukd prefer plenty of fish with rather less sauce, hence we make our own and freeze, it works well and you always know what’s in them.

We had fish pie at a local pub/restaurant the other week - it was absolutely delicious and packed full of various types of fish and prawns. I usually make my own too, but this was superb - a real treat.

NotSpaghetti

Do you like curries?

These are very good though have only tried the vegetarian ones - I have also gifted their vegetarian "bundles" at about £50 and friends and family also like them.

www.chefakila.com/

Wow, those look superb, NotSpaghetti. I'm not the world's greatest fan of ready-meals but if these are as good as they look, then they may find a niche in my freezer.

Not what you’ve asked so ignore if it doesn't apply.

I’ll occasionally batch cook and then freeze portions. Then I get a yummy meal with minimal fuss on a day I can’t be bothered!

I'm like you, on my own, can and do cook fresh daily. Tried various ready meals, but honestly haven't cared for any of them. However aldi do a fish pie which I love, I couldn't make it for the same price, if you like that sort of thing give it a try .

I used to get my elderly Mum a couple of ready meals for emergencies. She liked the Bisto ones best. Cottage Pie etc.

My BIL is now a widower and says he lives on ready meals but is fed up with them. He tries them from most supermarkets. He is a vegetarian and says some of the curry ones are OK.

I have seen top end ready meals in posh stores but they are £12-£14 each.

I totally get what you mean about cooking fresh! It's the best way to ensure flavor and quality. Thanks for the tip about Aldi's fish pie – sounds like a great find! Speaking of which, has anyone tried their chicken pot pie? I'm curious if it's as delicious as their fish pie.

Cook have quite a big range marked GF, I have never had any problem eating them

My top ready meal of all is the M&S Gastro Pub Moussaka. I could eat it for every meal, sensibly though, I don't. I agree that the best widely available are Cook and Charlie Bingham. I've had a few disappointing buys from M&S over the last year, they've lost their lead.

I can’t batch cook as OH hates anything frozen. He reckons it looses the flavour.
Do love M and S extra hot chicken tikka masala but not many branches sell it. Their best ever chicken tikka masala is pretty tasty.

No, never yet tasted a decent ready meal. by the time you have increased the seasoing and added a few extra ingredients you might as well have cooked from scratch.

I find the texture of most of them horrible, pasta is always grossly overcooked.

I fnd it is easier just to cook too much on days Ido cook and freeze the rest, then when Ido not feel like eating, I just get someothing out of the freezer and put that in the microwave.

Like you, I was also looking for delicious and healthy ready meals that are easy and quick to prepare. I love Indian food, so I started searching for ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat options. Recently, I found the new All Purpose Tikka Gravy Masala and used it to make Chicken Tikka Masala. It was heavenly! I had it with naan, and it was so satisfying to have a full meal at night. It’s really easy to cook—just add 150 ml of water and your choice of boiled or sautéed chicken (or vegetables, if you prefer), and cook for 15-20 minutes. Being a non-vegetarian, I used chicken, but you can use any vegetables with the gravy base. I recommend trying their other products too; you can explore new flavors and experiment with different veggies.

I used to cook a great deal and now I don't .
I buy a mixture of ready meals and add vegetables and salads to them .
I do make a proper salad occasionally .
I try to ring the changes .

I don't like any ready meals, even the top notch ones. They all have an aftertaste and a sort of sweetness which I can always detect. I also agree with M0nica, the texture of the meat and pasta is just wrong somehow. I'd rather eat a nice bit of bread and cheese if I couldn't be bothered to cook.

My DH was recently in hospital for 12 days whilst I was recovering from bronchitis. After nearly 60 years of cooking nearly every day I just get fed up with it, especially if I've lost my appetite. I did not make a pot of tea during that period and just one pot of coffee. I existed on bananas or apples with yoghourt and salads and just drank water. All perfectly healthy. I just wasn't hungry.

My point is that you don't have to eat a proper meal every day.

My DH has lost a few kilos and I decided to weigh myself, something I haven't done in a long time. Imagine m surprise when the scales told me that I'd lost 16kg. Fantastic. Two days later I go back on the scales to find that I'd only lost 1 kg. I was gobsmacked!

When you ladies batch cook and take a meal out of the freezer, do you defrost it before heating it up ?
I've never batch cooked but I would like to.
Also, if cooked from frozen or defrosted do you microwave, oven, air fry?
Thanks.

I always defrost anything I’ve batch cooked, before heating up, usually in microwave.

When using one of my batch cooked meals I defrost in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the microwave.

When my husband died I lost interest in cooking, I could not be bothered for one person. It was either buy a ready meal or starve. I like the M & S ready meals but I could not say they are delicious, they are just a means to an end for me.

Have you seen all the additives in ready meals? I feed my OH them because he is not that fussy and I get a break from cooking.
If cooking just for myself, I prefer my own pasta sauce or a toasted sandwich which is comforting. I make lots of fancy chopped salads and my own soups and smoothies. Passed my MOT last month so must be doing right.
I must say I find eating healthily easy as I don't have a sweet tooth and I am never tempted by cakes.
Indulgence is a bag of chilli crisps or Waitrose's Columbian Coffee ice cream.