to think frozen mash is a work of genius?

[BriechonCheese]

I had resisted for ages but bought some on a whim earlier this year and found it incredibly handy for those nights when I'm picking up and ferrying DC to various activities. It doesn't beat the real thing but it comes pretty damn close.

Does anyone else have any genius home or food products that they expected to be crap but now use to happily to survive family life?

Have always been a frozen onion person. Before you could get them frozen I used to freeze the chiller ones. Slowly I started buying frozen sliced peppers, then a friend introduced me to frozen herbs. I love the Thai mixed herbs in Asda for sprinkling on salmon and making fish parcels. I was making my own soffrito and freezing half but then I spotted it in Asda. I always have them, the 'chargrilled veg' which are great for bunging into a tomato sauce, and the sweet potato cubes which make great mash. I also have about 7 different frozen veg options in the freezer for quick dinners.

Now I am sorely tempted to buy the mash and to try mushrooms...

I do have a full veg drawer though but these days it's root vegetables and salad stuff.

Sheer laziness introduced me to the delights of frozen mash, it's a godsend! For some reason I never made the association between buying it and making my own to freeze I will defo be making my own and freezing it in future...

Also use frozen diced onions, frozen chopped garlic...there seems to be a pattern developing here

YADNBU & I hate processed foods, but Frozen Mash is brilliant, frozen onions are great too - using both right now for my cottage pie, but mixing is up with some sweet potato

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread, but does everyone here already know about 2 minute microwave rice? Basmati, wholegrain, Mexican with beans in it, pilau etc are all available. Total lifesaver, we use it often with ready chopped bag of stir fry veg and ready diced chicken.

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread, but does everyone here already know about 2 minute microwave rice?

It's been mentioned but it's not the dominant topic. I commented that I found the brand name pouches had a distinctive plastic tang that I didn't like ... but I tried Asda own brand today, and was pleasantly surprised.

Even the coop one is nice and a massive time saver; I checked the ingredients and no nasties so pluses all round.

I don't have a microwave but the pieces are not big so it defrosts nicely in a lid-covered pan while I fry a bit of chicken and boil the broccoli.

My kids LOOOOVE it

What's actually in the frozen mash?
Not that I'd buy it. Mashed potato is the work of the devil.

These are the ingredients in the Morrisons one.

That one is lovely. I added a bit more milk and butter and plenty of salt and pepper (but I'd do that regardless with mash.)

Costco mash in a packet is also nice. Actually tastes of potato.

Tesco's frozen mash all the way, hubby and I are both disabled and foods like this honestly are a god send to us. They actually make the difference of sometimes only being able to have cereal or toast for dinner to being able to have a proper meal. Absolutely priceless for us

I didn't even know frozen mash existed. But a large sack of spuds is £5 and lasts us months so I couldn't justify the cost of a frozen packet of mash. Plus....how do you get kids to eat mash? 2 out of 3 of my boys won't eat mash. One won't eat any form of potato apart from skinny fries. But they don't count 😂

See, i'm sick of storing spuds. If i buy a big bag they seem to go green or end up being black inside and half ends up being chucked out. PLUS the fact that due to circs. i cannot be arsed with the peeling boiling mashing routine right now.

I tried frozen mash because of this thread and the whole family loved it! Hooray! 2 x £1 bags of the tesco mash was plenty for 5 adults.

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread, but does everyone here already know about 2 minute microwave rice? Basmati, wholegrain, Mexican with beans in it, pilau etc are all available. Total lifesaver, we use it often with ready chopped bag of stir fry veg and ready diced chicken.

Don't like them, they smell and taste like plastic. I think actually the Sainsbury's own bean one might have less of a plastic taste, and can moderate it by toasting in the oven rather than zapping in the microwave but that raver defeats the point.

Discovered frozen mash when my neighbour was moving and emptied her freezer giving me a load of good. Now always have some in the freezer. Does work out more expensive than cooking your own but very convenient and for once doesn't have mysterious added ingredients.

I love this stuff! Tescos own brand is lovely and buttery. It took me a while to try it as I never liked 'Smash' (too fake tasting) but this stuff is the real deal.

I always add a good glug of milk and butter to the finished micro result and it takes it from quite heavy to light and fluffy.

Don’t do micro baked potatoes always find them a bit dry, I tried the bannister ones in Iceland and they were decent enough. For awesome baked potatoes cook them in the microwave until the are a squeezable soft then pop them in a high oven for 20-30 mins they are bloody awesome. I make extra slice them up cold and fry with some olive oil and serve with chicken or a pork steak and veg it’s a quick easy meal and my toddler would eat the potato until they burst lol.

Oh and on the front of useless fingers, I have ME/fibre and peeling is such a faff. I love my homemade mash but it’s a lot of work for me.

Frozen rice can be handy too but I make my basmati in the microwave and it’s always spot on.
250g basmati, 600ml boiling water, large bowl cling film pierced, 6 mins on high 8 mins on medium leave stand for a couple of mins then fluff with a fork. Perfect for homemade lamb curry my partner is a curry addict and it’s a lot cheaper than the 30 quid takeaway he would want.

I also buy frozen veg as it only me and toddler that will eat it, no waste and it’s always been tasty. Only get fresh for stirfrys.

Well this has been a revelation! I'd never heard of frozen mash but rushed out to buy some and served it last night. Loved by all! Thanks mn

We’ve been frozen mash converts for years! Always have a bag of mash and a bag of mixed veg in the freezer to add to something (sausages, pies, chicken tenders etc) for dinner. Just as good as homemade but way easier. I haven’t made my own mash since we discovered the frozen stuff. The brand we buy is potato, milk and salt & pepper. I cook in the microwave and add a little extra milk.

So disappointed.

Bought the frozen mash today, added a little extra milk and butter- served it ( hoping to pass it off as my own)

Dismal failure. Three out of four family members made comment on it. DD asked " is this frozen mash or something?"

which can only mean that (like me) you are an expert on preparing stupendously good mash!

PigletJohn it would be nice to think so, but it;s a bit hit or miss.
Much improved since I got my potato ricer, but looks like frozen mash is not the short cut I hoped it would be.

I can't even us frozen veg with my lot- a frozen Dwarf Green bean would be spotted at 50 paces, and if I used a jar of sauce they would think I had gone off the rails.

I Got some Tesco mash on the back of this thread and i loved it (so much so that i just had some more on its own as a snack😀)

I found that the recommended portion size of 150g was nowhere near enough tbough and we dont eat particularly large portions.

I just make big batch of home made mash,(butter & cream, sometimes garlic or herbs 🤗) and freeze portions, it’s soooooo much nicer than shop one! Defrost and heat till very hot, stir and serve! Fantastic! Also home made meat balls, already fried, just defrost in microwave, and pop into any sauce for a fantastic meal in minutes...