Is there such a thing as delicious ready meals?

I defrost overnight in the fridge.

Some things - pasta sauces, soups, chilli - I tip in a saucepan and reheat on the hob when I'm ready to eat.

Meals like cottage pies go into the oven in the same dish, so make sure the dish is freezer and oven proof. Depending on how long it's been in the fridge it's worth noting that the centre of the meal could be very cold, so check that it's hot all the way through when cooking.

Thank the Lord for Sainsbury's ready meals, especially when they have a Nectar discount. That's when I stuff the freezer with them. The only one I've never liked is the vegetable lasagne. So bland.

We have all sorts of ready meals from M&S. Massive variety from salmon en croute to Bang Bang chicken and all points in between. People who say they don't like them or can always tell if they're ready meals are quite simply being snobbish.

BOZ, I used to be a fantastic cook when my husband was alive. We loved our meals, all home cooked, but when he died, I lost all interest in cooking, could not be bothered to cook from scratch and found I was living on coffee and biscuits day in and day out plus the odd tin of soup. Gradually I went on to the Marks and Spencer ready meals and stuck them in the microwave.

It was so much easier, I had lost the will to live to be honest but I kept going for our family. After a few years I still cannot be bothered to cook, I will make a salad, beans on toast but that is it. Since my husband died I have no interest in food at all. I am lucky to be healthy with no serious medical problems.

If I go out, I will have a meal and enjoy it so I have come to the conclusion it is not the food that is the problem, it is the fact I just cannot be bothered to prepare it.

We thoroughly enjoy Charlie Bingham curries and their Paella.

I would never cook again if I had the chance, but that’s me and I am not proud of my lack of expertise and interest.

Other than the wonder and versatility of eggs, my go-to quick meal is a pan fried fish fillet, with either the surprisingly acceptable frozen mashed potato from Waitrose or Morrison’s, and spinach or broccoli, or new potatoes and salad leaves.

I don’t think any Charlie Bigham’s meals are good enough to justify the price.

Boz, yes to Waitrose Coffee ice cream. I don't have a sweet tooth either and much prefer savoury but I could eat a tub of that ice cream (and actually have).

M and S Best Ever meals are good, the lasagne, macaroni cheese and chicken, leek and smoked ham pie are all very good.

I’ve just returned from my granddaughter’s graduation. We were planning to have a meal but the youngsters decided to go away celebrating, while we ‘oldies’ returned home - so when I got back home, I ordered myself a Biriyani - yummy 😋

sharon103

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.

Thank you for all the replies.

My GD brought me an M&S fish pie in last evening as I had had a busy day and was tired.
It was delicious although quite small, plenty for me but would need bulking out with veg for some.
However it was expensive and I wouldn’t be having it regularly.
I found the same with the COOK range.

We like the Co-op own brand of chilled curries. They can be frozen and are a great stand-by.

We have been disappointed with Cook meals.

We prefer fish and chips to ready meals.

I tend not to have ready meals, but I frequently have “quick to prepare” ones - frozen jacket potato into the microwave / 5 mins, pasta with ready made pesto, etc.
I like the salads from M and S too.
www.ocado.com/products/m-s-super-green-salad-554159011

twiglet77
I don’t think any Charlie Bigham’s meals are good enough to justify the price.
In general I agree, but when Booths have a 30% off for something that needs eating the same day, I’ll try some of them.
By doing that, we found their salmon en croûte very good and so quick to cook in the air fryer.

Living alone and with my right arm out of action, I discovered the benefit of ready meals. My conclusion, they’re ok occasionally or when life stops you in your tracks. Charlie Bingham and Mand S my go to when needs must and for a treat if I can’t be bothered

Charlie Bigham are often reduced.

I avoid ready meals as it’s all heavily processed food but I do appreciate that some people rely on them.

I have done the Waitrose dine in, if I lived alone that would be my go to, you can easily freeze half, the starter makes a good lunch or supper so at £12 for two you can get 4 meals.

kittylester

Charlie Bigham are often reduced.

Not often enough for me unfortunately. 😁

My friend, widowed 18 months ago and the same age as me (87)
was recommended to try the Wiltshire Farm Foods range.
She has taken to them like a duck to water.
She has deliveries regularly, she passed the brochure on to me but I was not impressed, especially by the price.
However, horses for courses, and she is happy.
She says most are microwaveable from frozen and she can just choose, cook and eat in minutes which she likes.

Mollygo

twiglet77
I don’t think any Charlie Bigham’s meals are good enough to justify the price.
In general I agree, but when Booths have a 30% off for something that needs eating the same day, I’ll try some of them.
By doing that, we found their salmon en croûte very good and so quick to cook in the air fryer.

But is that any quicker than wrapping fresh salmon in ready bought pastry.. add butter and few herbs.. job done

pascal30 yes of course it's quicker!

Aveline

pascal30 yes of course it's quicker!

Agreed. But it did actually make me think about how I used to do it.
Task 1. Spot bargain in Booths, buy and take home.
Get out ready made salmon en croute, with a delicious spinach sauce container.
Open the tray.
Put the parcels in the Air fryer, brush with milk or egg, switch on, set timer and temp. Wait.
Or
Task 2. Buy 2 salmon fillets for the same price as the bargain CB.
Buy spinach and frozen pastry and take home.
Whilst waiting for the pastry to thaw, skin the salmon, wash, cook and chop the spinach and prepare a white sauce. Mix in the chopped spinach and seasoning to taste.

Roll out the pastry and cut into 2 pieces add the salmon mixture and form into parcels. Crimp the edges, put slits in the top and brush with milk or egg.
Put in the air fryer, switch on, set time and temp. Wait.
I thought they were good value when reduced. Now I’m not sure if they aren’t good value when not reduced too.

Mollygo

kittylester

Charlie Bigham are often reduced.

Not often enough for me unfortunately. 😁

We buy them, and look out for when they're reduced, as, by the time you buy all the separate ingredients, spend time and energy preparing and cooking, they probably don't work out any more expensive.
Fish and chips (2 × fish, 1 × chips and 1 × mushy peas) here is now £18.50.
Charlie's smoked haddock gratin is £9.50 and much nicer imo.

Generally, I avoid any ready meals with mashed potato topping because all too often the potato is over-processed and gloopy.

Sago

I avoid ready meals as it’s all heavily processed food but I do appreciate that some people rely on them.

I have done the Waitrose dine in, if I lived alone that would be my go to, you can easily freeze half, the starter makes a good lunch or supper so at £12 for two you can get 4 meals.

Waitrose Dine in is good value too.