Baking/cooking from scratch far superior

I have always cooked from scratch. I was brought up just after WWII in the Third World, we had nothing like that. Then had no money, so it was cheaper to start from scratch… it is only since my recent widowhood that I have used a few “ping” meals. Not a patch on the real thing!

I can’t taste any chemicals and yes I do use packet mixes for pancakes and sponge cakes and don’t feel inferior at all Anyway there’s preservatives in the flour and sugar you use 😳
I have no interest in cooking for one and no one else to cook for
Actually I like frozen yorkies

Gosh what a judgmental post!

We were donated a lot of pancake mixes ahead of of Shrove Tuesday at our food bank which I hope the recipients enjoyed.

Not everyone has the means to fill their larder with flour, sugar, eggs etc or the equipment or skills to bake from scratch.

I don't use packet mixes simply because I resent paying the price.
I did look at a famous baker's scone mix once and realised that I'd be paying nearly £2 for 250g flour - add your own buttermilk! Oh, and you'll need an egg for the glaze.

On the other hand ready-rolled puff pastry has been a game-changer for producing something that looks really special in a hurry.

My pancake packet mix is about 40p lixy makes far more than I need 😳
Yes I found it a disappointingly worded thread Notagran very judgemental

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Most of us reading this post will be fairly mature and will be more than capable of deciding how we bake or, whether we cherry pick the method, or if indeed we want to bake at all.

Thank goodness for frozen pastry. Made by me- absolutely inedible ....

BlueBelle

My pancake packet mix is about 40p lixy makes far more than I need 😳
Yes I found it a disappointingly worded thread Notagran very judgemental

Yes I think pancake mix is handy, especially if you don't need to add an egg.
A one-egg batter from scratch makes more than I need so I end up freezing some pancakes for another time. It's all rather a faff so 'fraid I don't bother unless GChn are around to eat the lot.

AussieGran59

Oh here we go. I wasn’t implying anyone who uses packet mix is inferior, I said the taste of scratch baking is superior. And it’s cheaper. I should have realised people would take offence. Hilarious. You can be as offended as you like but I am not going to add to this thread now. It was just some sound advice and would actually save you money but of course people are always looking to be offended. So sad.

Your opening post is very condescending and judgemental.

People do what they can within their means. Sound advice lol, teaching granny to suck eggs

I would imagine for the most part, on here, you are preaching to the converted. I make cakes from scratch - always have, but have no qualms about using a mix now and then - I used one for my GS’s birthday cake because he likes carrot cake and when I make them they are pretty awful. No chemical taste - delicious. I use frozen puff pastry too because to make that from scratch is a pain in the neck.

AussieGran59

Oh here we go. I wasn’t implying anyone who uses packet mix is inferior, I said the taste of scratch baking is superior. And it’s cheaper. I should have realised people would take offence. Hilarious. You can be as offended as you like but I am not going to add to this thread now. It was just some sound advice and would actually save you money but of course people are always looking to be offended. So sad.

No it’s not hilarious and I m not offended by someone I don’t know but it was a gloating ‘put you down’ so please don’t deflect the blame on to those reading it
As many on here are excellent bakers (not me as you saw) and been baking all their lives I doubt they needed ‘saving’ or enlightening
Let’s give you the benefit of the doubt and say you just worded it badly and really meant do say ‘I find baking from scratch nicer and cheaper what do you all think?’

Being gluten free, I have to make my pancakes from scratch but they were very rubbery. Next goal is GF free pastry which I understand is quite a challenge! We all do our best within our circumstances and everything has its place.

One exception- Aldi banana bread mix is better than scratch. You still have to mash up bananas and add eggs but they put something good in the mix! Nannas falling out over cake mixes? Too much.

I am also gf and this year, for the first time, used a gf packet mix. The pancakes were delicious with no chemical taste.

I use frozen gf pastry as i find it so difficult to make from scratch and I have better things to do than worry about pastry.

That was either a very badly worded op or you are being terribly judgmental aussiegran.

AussieGran59

Oh here we go. I wasn’t implying anyone who uses packet mix is inferior, I said the taste of scratch baking is superior. And it’s cheaper. I should have realised people would take offence. Hilarious. You can be as offended as you like but I am not going to add to this thread now. It was just some sound advice and would actually save you money but of course people are always looking to be offended. So sad.

The trouble was, OP, you were teaching granny to suck eggs!

Mix and match here. Never make pastry but still claim pies etc as homemade!
Always shudder when people tell me they have made a bolognaise and reveal its with a jarred sauce but each to his own ( that was a revelation only once, still gets me) .
Not everyone is inclined to cook and it’s easy so actually why not.

I must be the only reader, who doesn't find the OP offensive, nor condescending.
I think Aussiegran was just stating her point of view.
There are more important things to be offended about.

I bake from scratch because I like to bake and find it healthier, especially as my son was allergic to so many things, when he was young.
That way I could keep him safe.

I make my own bread, but find that packet mixes are great if I am in a hurry or can't be bothered. I just add some extra grains.
Frozen pastry is much superior to anything I can make!

It's horses for courses, and not everyone has the skills, nor time to bake from scratch.

I can bake fruit cakes but my sponges are usually as flat as pancakes and so I use packets so that I don’t end up wasting a whole lot of ingredients. They are always successful.

I love to bake and cook most things from scratch, but I'm another firm fan of chilled puff pastry - that's something I've never really perfected. I do also confess to using a packet gingerbread mix (Wright's) from time to time as my in-laws actually prefer it to the 'from scratch' recipe I used to use. Totally agree with Marydoll - horses for courses. Baking or cooking everything from scratch is great if it suits you, but if people want to cut corners by using a packet mix, fair enough.

Even top chefs tell you to use frozen pastry. Rick Stein was doing so on tv just a few days ago. I haven’t made puff pastry since the 70s.

Marydoll I agree with you. I think OP was just saying that she enjoyed baking and found the taste much better .
I never buy ready made cakes because I love baki g and yes, I and my family can taste the preservatives. Probably because they are used to home made.
I do buy filo pastry but make other types.
Just another case of each to their own.

Why would any poster be offended by the OP how ridiculous 😂

I'm just 😳 at selfraising flour in pancakes. I did it by mistake once and the pancakes were a disaster. Wouldn't 'spread' properly, stuck to the pan, couldn't toss them and they came out in scrappy pieces. I've been making perfectly good pancakes for 50+ years, so don't think it was me...

Otherwise I didn't think twice about the OP. Reactions have been odd. I'm always surprised at people's capacity to take umbrage..🤔