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.

Doesn’t it go mushy when you use the food processor?

Can't believe I'm typing this (my dear Mum would be horrified if she was still alive!) BUT M&S frozen baked potatoes are a massive time saver - ooh the shame!😆

Loving this thread for ideas.

My favourites are Yutaka Japanese curry blocks, thick soba noodles, and frozen jacket potatoes. Not necessarily all together.

Another ready made mash fan here! I like cooking and I make most things myself but I have hypermobility and it affects my right elbow and shoulder amd mashing potatoes is one I struggle with.
I also hate using fresh garlic, ibuse lazy garlic/garlic puree, its so much easier.
I also like the packet mixes as a meal base. A lot of these dishes could easily be done without them but they give me inspiration and it saves faffing making sure I have all the right flavours/spices etc x

I'm seriously thinking about using these because potatoes now seem to take so long to cook through, assume that it's the varieties that they are selling.

A phat dab before commencing evening culinary activities.

Brilliant 😆

Asda also do this - I think they might call it "chefs base" or something but it's the same thing. I agree it's a total winner

did you know you can really easily peel ginger with a teaspoon? The skin just comes straight off. Obviously ready-chopped is much more convenient but it does make it much easier if you only have root ginger available

I find the ones that are just garlic a bit weird, but I really like the garlic ginger mixed ones. Not sure why, the taste seems much better.

I have not tried the mixed ones a have put them on my mental list of things to try (and then forget all about)

Haha easily done! I tend to use it to give extra depth and flavour to stir fries, currys, etc - if I’m doing something more standalone flavour, I’ll probably use the garlic crusher or finely slice it or whatever works best. It’s mostly for when I’d be wanting ginger as well. Added a massive spoonful to marinating chicken for stir fry yesterday for instance.

I am making a stir-fry for dinner. I shall go to the supermarket at lunchtime and report back tomorrow!

I like the McCain ones, perfect every time. And I’ll often Chuck them in the air fryer or oven to crisp up

Fingers crossed! I always get the KTC garlic ginger paste as it’s the one they sell in massive jars in the proper Asian food aisles (though I get the smaller jars).

My MIL has these as an easy meal, saves her having the oven on for sooo long for just one baked potato. She does have a microwave but is a bit suspicious of it.

No, and I just use the regular chopping blade. Very tiny pieces but not mushy. I just chuck all the bits in and hang on, as the carrots are more of a challenge for it.

I never peel ginger just wash it and grate it . Most of the skin goes on the grater and the rest just dissolves in the food

We've got a "World Foods" supermarket near us that sells peeled cloves of garlic frozen in huge bags for a couple of quid. You just keep them in the freezer then take out as many cloves as you need and use accordingly.

The same shop also sells frozen ginger, peeled and grated then frozen into blocks the size of an ice cube. A kilo costs about £2. Absolutely brilliant.

I learned about Idahoan mashed potato on MN several years ago. Complete game changer.

@AnnaQuayInTheUk I often pick those up for the local food bank. I’d like to think that if I had to eat instant mash, I’d be happy to eat it… and I often do anyway!

Would philidelphia work the same?

I have rheumatoid arthritis & fibromyalgia so my fingers, hands & wrists are very weak. I buy frozen sliced mushrooms, frozen sliced red onion (if dh shops he gets white onion) & frozen crushed garlic (would love to know where to get frozen garlic cubes from as we love garlic) If I'm making a cottage pie I buy a fresh tub of mashed potato & a tub of carrot & swede mix & mix them both together with pepper & put on top of the mince mix.

My DM swears by that too!

Same, and I've made frozen blocks of chopped garlic plus ginger too. No more fresh ginger going off before I can use it.

More than one item, I'm sorry. Frozen veggie rice (especially carrot, broccoli and cauli in one mix- feel it must be healthy! But any really. So easy to jazz up. Plus I find white rice too boring.

Frozen chopped onions, frozen mashed potatoe, frozen diced soup veg, as I too have very gnarly RA fingers and can't really prepare hard vegs.

I am looking forward to the day of frozen celery.