Ingredient which has made your culinary life easier (lighthearted)

[Thomasina79]

I have just discovered frozen mash from Iceland. Five minutes in microwave! I have arthritic fingers which makes it hard to peel vegetables.

Same here. When I think of how many hours I’ve spent peeling and chopping the stuff…
Same goes for frozen ginger. And I’m permanently on the lookout for frozen chopped green chilies.

And the first ingredient is salt, 58g per 100g in Knorr Aromat All Purpose Savoury Seasoning.

I find that the Nishaan garlic is fine.

The frozen garlic I buy, from Morrisons, is just pure garlic purée, no vinegar or other additives.

Ocado sell it

This sourdough pizza base, ready-topped with tomato sauce - it’s delicious and quick’n easy to add some cheese and toppings: https://www.crostamollica.com/products/pizza/ready-to-top-sourdough-pizza-base

another vote for the frozen chopped onions and soffritto, and the sachets of frozen herbs - esp basil and coriander

Nooch! (Nutritional yeast). As a vegan, it gives a lovely ‘cheesy’ umami flavour to anything savoury.
also tinned beans, especially the five bean mix. I add a load of spices and have delicious smoky bean salad for lunch.

Lidl is on American week this week and have XXL bags (19/10/25)

A tiny jar of Umami Paste from Waitrose. It’s about the only time I go in the store.

It’s in their Cooks Ingredients range.

It does what it says on the tin and turns something you’ve just cooked into something that tastes like it’s had time to simmer for a couple of hours. (Even better if it has cooked for a couple of hours!)

I think it’s a mix of sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, garlic, black olives and maybe anchovies.

Thehorticuluralhussie Just put mushroom ketchup into trolley
https://www.trolley.co.uk/product/geo-watkins-mushroom-ketchup/YUW352?q=mushroom+ketchup&p=1 Came up with ASDA , Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado. Though you might need a larger store for some of them.
I find trolley.co.uk great for finding which stores sell things (although they don't all ways have them in stock)

All the things already mentioned (frozen garlic, herbs, ready chopped onions etc) but also Bisto white sauce granules. Much quicker and easier than making a roux and minimal washing up. They are also extremely tasty and indistinguishable from the real thing. You just add hot water but I usually add a splash of cream as well.

There’s a luxury version? Why have I not been informed of this? I will have to have words with the staff.

frozen chopped onions, frozen aunt Bessie’s roast parsnips, frozen apple strudel (my son loves a pudding and this is excellent).

Roast potato seasoning.

Chopped frozen onions / garlic.

Frozen mash.

Roast in the bag chicken.

Frozen + pre-chopped onions, garlic & soffrito mix were an absolute game changer for me! Makes cooking so much easier and quicker. Frozen spinach also brilliant to have on hand to chuck in to soups, pastas, smoothies, sauces etc.

Ooh and frozen sliced leeks - saves so much washing/rinsing/prep and great for a quick leek and potato soup

Haha, yeah it's really good! It's paler in colour, kind of like creme pat, amazing cold and hot. It's a fair bit more expensive but I think worth it.

I want to make custard but I'm shite at separating eggs and anything to do with boiling milk.

Is it still cheaper than the fresh versions you get from fancier brands? And I assume it’s non-perishable so you can keep it in the cupboard?

Yes, I've tried that too and it was fine, but find the jar is quicker to use as I can just stir a smooth spoonful in straight from the jar - I've never tasted the vinegar in this one, though I have in some other brands.

I agree, the jars and tubes are too vinegary, frozen is just pure garlic.

Yes, I know what you mean. I tend to get the garlic out of the freezer the minute I start prepping, and by the time I’ve got a pan and warmed the oil or whatever it’s at least starting to thaw. Or sometimes I put it in alongside the onions and cook them on a low heat for a bit .

Yeah I think so. If you get the carton it works out better value. I think that's about £3.50, the tin is about £2.50. this was Waitrose so may be cheaper elsewhere. It's shelf stable til you open it. x

Butter makes everything better 🤷‍♀️

Bags of frozen cauliflower “rice”.

I’m keto and so use it as a substitute for fried rice and risotto. Not having to clean bits of cauliflower from EVERYWHERE when I make my own is life changing 😂

Frozen veg and herbs

always have in -

sliced peppers
butternut squash chunks
miso aubergine
chopped onions
garlic/ginger/chilli/basil/rosemary
stir fry greens

Being the only veggie in the house, I find it so useful having frozen veg available

Sliced peppers from Tesco.
Use them quite a lot. Great for fajitas, stir fries, curries which are fairly staple meals.