Is there such a thing as delicious ready meals?

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!

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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'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 .

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!

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.

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.

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

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 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

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.

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 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.

I buy the MS tins of chunky steak, chunky chicken pieces, chicken tikka masala and steak and kidney. Approx 4.00 a can.

They serve 2 portions. So you just cook half and keep the rest in the fridge for a day or 2. I serve up with microwave rice or mash. Mash I cook twice the amount and reheat the left over in the microwave. Sometimes mash carrots in with the mash. So it doesnt take long. The cans are really good and obviously store well.

Sounds lazy but I am recovering from cancer and DH has severe emphysema so my days of enjoying cooking are gone....hopefully not for ever. Otherwise Waitrose microwave meals are good as are MS. Charlie Bs are expensive and I haven't seen microwave ones just oven ones.
We eat alot of fish...pan fried trout fillets are favourite and very quick also smoked haddock with a poached egg cheese sauce and a bit of spinach. Spinach I cook a large bag and freeze it in flat sheets so I can break off a chunk or 2 to microwave. And cheese sauce I make from scratch twice the amount and reheat the leftovers in the microwave.
Can you guess the microwave is my best friend.

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/

I also have always cooked from fresh every day but I do deserve a couple of days of a week so M and S are our best supermarket ones locally. It's pork pie town so wonderful pies of all types here and I do love the very occasional steak pie made locally.....hate pork pies though.

I like the aldi range, their ham and mushroom tagliatelle is my favourite and hubbie likes the lasagne. Their salad range is also good and they sell a whole cooked chicken for less than £5

The local butcher in our town sells a good variety of pies (lamb, chicken, steak pie, cottage pie) and theirs pies are much better than any of the pies sold at the supermarket. The Indian curries at M&S are quite good. Still not as good as home made curry.
I cook most days, but on days I cannot be bothered to cook, we just have ready made soup or omelette or beans on toast.