Is Cook Food worth the money?

[VanillaEverytime]

I’m thinking of filling my freezer with some Cook Food meals. I’ve had 1 or 2 some years back when the local garden centre stocked them but it’s been some time so I can’t recall what I thought of them. I’m disabled and under a lot of stress at the moment and my nerve damage and mental health have been an even bigger issue than normal so I need something I can just throw in the oven as opposed to Hello Fresh meals which don’t work for me when my nerve damage flares up.

TIA

I think they’re really tasty — they actually taste like food. Definitely would choose them over any other readymeal.

We lived off them when our baby was new.
I’ve tried most of them and have to say I’m mostly very impressed. Bit bored of them now but that’s because we ate them so often. The curries are the best, followed by the lasagna and moussaka and the boeuf bourginion. They’re about as good as ready meals get imo.

Yes

Problem I found is that a lot of them you can't microwave and that most you have to cook something extra eg a carb and/or veg.
Also my mum won't eat anything spicy or curries, so I find there's more she'll eat from Marks.
Also they're not cheap..

OP - I’ve sent you a PM

Haven’t actually tried them but looked at them a few times and they seem to have a long list of ingredients… the M&S ones seemed “cleaner” plus cheaper

Their Christmas dinner is amazing. Stress free, tasty & minimal leftovers as you can choose just the right amount

M&S do a high protein range that are all real ingredients that are really nice. They're a bit expensive at £6 each but good healthy ready made meals.

There are lots of lower calorie options.

OP, I’ve used them post surgery and think they are very good.

They're the nicest freezer meal

I keep them in the fridge for when we dont have any food in or time to get some. Better than a takeaway

I think there are some excellent ones. I used them a lot about ten years ago when we were having our kitchen done and could only eat microwaveable food for few days.

I haven’t bought much since I retired, as obviously I now have more time to cook from scratch, but I still buy the occasional item, especially at Christmas, as I don’t particularly like Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, or mince pies so can’t be bothered to make them.

I have a vegan daughter so it’s useful that the mince pies are vegan. They also do a nice mushroom Wellington and a good vegan gravy.

I think Cook is expensive, but worth it, especially when they send me money off vouchers. I live about 5 minutes from the nearest shop, so they are also very convenient!

Love the curries

I think they are good, some of them good value eg the lamb shanks although the veg works out expensive. I really like Charlie Binghams but I think cook are closer to hoemcooked.

I get fresh meals from Frive they arrive on a Sunday ready for the week ahead. I like these and they don't have additives etc

We had lots after second baby arrived. They're ready meals with the salt, sat fat and sugar you'd expect, so I think not great everyday but we found them so useful for every 2-3 days to have a substantial proper meal and then other nights something very quick and easy.
They do take a long time to cook though. I stopped using them as our routines changed and I was simply never home an hour before eating to allow oven warm up time and 50 mins cooking. So factor that in- they're absolutely not quick last minute food, but they are delicious!
We quite often get 15% codes through the post though none currently -worth having a look around for one.

I've been to their factory - it's actually more like a hotel kitchen. They are so picky about the quality of the ingredients. They put a lot of care into their foods.

I'm coeliac so can't really eat most of their dishes. Once a month, we treat ourselves to Mindful Chef. Very easy to cook, and mostly delicious. Expensive though. (We spend about £100 on 5 meals for two.)

I really like their haddock and leek risotto, which is now haddock and prawn risotto. Also love their lemon tarts which I cut in half, they’re not too sweet and the pastry is lovely. Some things can be a bit hit and miss. Charlie Bingham for Thai and Indian (although I’ve discovered Tuk Tuk for curries - really nice).

We get the porchetta for Boxing Day too.

I’ve tried them twice and found them really stingy with the protein.

Yes, we live a few minutes walk from a Cook and get them regularly. Some are definitely better than others though.

We get them occasionally, and I think they are as close to home cooked as a ready meal can get, no nasty ingredients or UPF's.

A few years ago we did an entire Christmas dinner from there ..... Amazing, and so much less hassle.

Have a look at the Waitrose Easy to Cook range. Much nicer than the Cook meals and they’re 3 for £12 so cheaper too. They go nicely with sachets of microwave rice.

Personally, I think they are really good quality. With you not being well, I think you should treat yourself.

We were sent a box of 7 when ds died and they were invaluable. Taking some to a cottage for Xmas for convenience for a couple of days.

We have them quite a lot as our farm shop sells them and we are a long way from
supermarkets or takeaways.

They are really nice as ready meals go. Definitely good for when you have limited time or ill health. We lived on the microwaveable ones when the kitchen was refitted.