Quick question re Frozen Mash...

[WaxOnFeckOff]

I usually cook it in the microwave before using and did the same last time I made a cottage pie and then sort of carefully layered it onto the mince.

Can I cut out the middle step and just lay the frozen mash on top and cook like that?

Yep. Just dot the pieces around the top and it come out like normal. Magic!

Fantastic. It's oblong blocks I have so thinking building a layer would be the easy route!

I've always wondered that, I do like you and cook it in the microwave first. Let us know how it turns out, it will be far easier if I can put it on straight from frozen and bung it in the oven!

I'll update in about an hour :) I'm just browning the mince.

I cook frozen mash in the oven all the time. Just stick it in a baking dish, sprinkle some cheese over the top and chuck it in with whatever you're cooking. Great for a midweek cheat dinner.

I'm thinking to maybe cover with foil for a bit so it heats before its starts to brown on the top.

I fork it into tiny little rows half way through but yeah, from frozen.

I love frozen mash :)
We've warmed it in the microwave, then put it in a saucepan with some (drained) tinned carrots and mashed it all up, lovely.

Fantastic. It's oblong blocks I have so thinking building a layer would be the easy route!
You have mash Lego? Cool!

I think when Delia Smith did her much derided 'make shepherds pie out of tinned mince and frozen mash' cookbook, that's how she did it.

Teen DSs are veg dodgers so the carrots will remain separate. :o It's in now and the blocks sounded great until I absent mindedly poured it into a round dish....

This is genius, why have I never thought of this??

The before picture.

I LOVE YOUR PAN COLOUR (also the arrangement of the extrudy tubies is remarkable)

Why thank you . It's my favourite colour and hoping for a new kitchen to match soon.

Dreamy.

Where do you get cuboid frozen mash?

Can you add milk and butter if freezing mash? Also do you portion in individual bags or can you freeze it on a tray in portions then add to bag after frozen?

Frozen mash is the best thing ever.

this is a game changer! My mash always ends up falling through the mince no matter what the fuck I do! So we never have cottage pie, and I bloody love it too! Interested to see the after picture!

I just lay it on top. There's an awesome Delia Smith cheats' fish pie that does just that. Best fish pie I have ever tasted.

You get cuboids at Sainsburys.

OP if you look carefully one side of your frozen mash is also 'pre-forked' I assume with this method of cottage pie assembly in mind.

I still fork mine once it's been in the oven 10 mins though otherwise you get a weird chip/mash effect.

Cuboid mash is Sainsbury's own brand. I think it would be easy enough to make you own and freeze but at £1 a bag I am happy to go for the convenience option. I work full time. Been in the office since half 7 but we have a more or less home cooked meal with a bit of a cheat. I'm not about to feel guilty for fakery. Especially when the ingredients are potatoes, milk, butter and salt and pepper. Nothing I wouldn't use myself.

Strongly recommend Delia's cheat book. And a slow cooker. All excellent.

I didn’t know you could buy it, just peeled loads of potatoes - to make and freeze mash. Will buy next time