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Original poster

Nice or edible ready meals, if there's such a thing?

59 replies

IhaveMyMoments · 13/05/2021 17:08

Kitchen re fit due any day. I've frozen a few portions of chilli, curry, bolognese and meatballs. But tbh between now and Monday I have no time to batch cook anymore.

Kids can eat at parents houses as they'll eat earlier to get them home for bath and bed. So need ready type meals for me DH and teen

Any suggestions of what's nice or edible and from what shop.

We have aldi, tesco, asda and Iceland nearby. We have a lidl but it's always absolutely manic and crap lay out so I try to avoid if I can

OP posts:
ForTheLoveOfWine · 13/05/2021 17:11

How long will the refit take? I’d probably just get takeaways Grin

M&S ready meals are probably the nicest

AlCalavicci · 13/05/2021 17:11

If you can afford it and you have some good ones near by personally I would go with takeaways as it's only for a couple of days not only when you get food that you like but it will also help support small businesses that have been struggling through covid

AlCalavicci · 13/05/2021 17:12

@ForTheLoveOfWine
Great minds . . . . . .

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
LubaLuca · 13/05/2021 17:14

M&S are always good and there's lots of choice. I only buy vegetarian ready meals though, because they seem more predictable.

Needschoolhelp · 13/05/2021 17:17

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Cactuslockdown · 13/05/2021 17:17

The Charlie Bingham meals are really nice... actually a treat!

PerditaNitt · 13/05/2021 17:18

I like a lot of the Waitrose ready meals, but doesn’t sound like you have one near. Cook are also very good, and do a good mix of 1 and 2 portion meals (pricey though).

If you’re doing Aldi, then my husband always gets their posh-label chicken pasta (in the black packaging)

RampantIvy · 13/05/2021 17:19

M and S are the best IMO

WombatChocolate · 13/05/2021 17:20

Cook do the nicest ones in my view. Not cheap but very nice.
They deliver too if there isn’t a shop near you.

willowsmumsy · 13/05/2021 17:21

I second the Charlie Bighams range. They kept us going when we had our kitchen done!

tywysoges · 13/05/2021 17:24

We don't have ready meals a lot, my lot loves M&S lasagna. I keep one in the freezer for emergencies/lazy days. Yes to Charlie Bingham too as pp said. Does Cook still exist? They were meant to be nice.

DeathMetalMum · 13/05/2021 17:33

Most of the supermarkets do a themed meal for two in a box. Sainsbury's do a nice Thai curry box and a normal curry (tikka, korma, madras and another option), tescos also do a curry one which is nice. Dp and I sometimes have one to share when we can't go out for a meal.

Ifixfastjets · 13/05/2021 17:34

Asda ones seem a bit tasteless.
Iceland, I think are ok.
Ds likes aldi for most things.
But he is a teenage dustbin!
The one I actually like to eat is sainsbury's "best" moussaka

denverRegina · 13/05/2021 17:37

I haven't eaten ready meals for many many years but used to when I worked nights and Sainsbury's were hands down the best.

Their bacon and leek carbonara with crust bread was my favourite

Shinesun14 · 13/05/2021 17:37

Charlie bighams are really nice - well their lasagne and fish pie are. It doesn't taste like a ready meal.

TheVanguardSix · 13/05/2021 17:38

M&S Lasagne al forno (the nicer one. There's also just lasagne without the 'al forno', which is nice, more affordable, but we always go with al forno because it's just too nice. 2 trays of it feed us five- with some nice garlic bread and salad or veg on the side).

Also paella. M&S paella's very nice, as is Waitrose's.
Cottage pies too.

Charlie Bighams is gorgeous. Meatballs al forno... the bomb! So good! I love the mac and cheese as well. Very rich though. The puddings are heaven sent... cherry bakewell tray is food of the gods.

RampantIvy · 13/05/2021 17:39

@WombatChocolate

Cook do the nicest ones in my view. Not cheap but very nice. They deliver too if there isn’t a shop near you.
I forgot about Cook. A Co-op near us stocks them, and they are lovely.

I also find the Tesco Finest ones are good, especially their moussaka.

TheVanguardSix · 13/05/2021 17:40

Does Cook still exist? They were meant to be nice.

Cook exists! Pricey but wonderful, nourishing food.

JustMarriedAndLovingIt · 13/05/2021 17:41

Anything from Charlie Bingham. Everything we’ve had has been delicious 🤤 😋

PickAChew · 13/05/2021 17:43

How do the Charlie bigham meals work without an oven?

M&S are generally the most reliable bet if you don't have a waitrose and their microwavable veg is OK, if you want something a bit fresher tasting.

Itsanothernamechange · 13/05/2021 17:49

Charlie Bingham. I love the cottage pie one and the lasagne. I always get the 2 person portion just for myself though.

Turmerictolly · 13/05/2021 17:53

The Charlie Bingham ones taste better oven cooked I think although I'm sure the Thai curries, chilli would be fine microwaved. I prefer Cook - bigger range, slightly cheaper (still ££) and they deliver.

Wiglio · 13/05/2021 17:56

Charlie Bingham tagine is cooked on the hob

tywysoges · 13/05/2021 18:02

@TheVanguardSix

Does Cook still exist? They were meant to be nice.

Cook exists! Pricey but wonderful, nourishing food.

Oooh nice, will google them. Our local shop closed and then we moved to the middle of nowhere so I didn't know if they were still around.
Artesia · 13/05/2021 21:32

Aldi paella is lovely