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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think frozen mash is a work of genius?

276 replies

BriechonCheese · 07/10/2017 19:25

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?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 07/10/2017 22:44

aldi does a tray of pre-cooked basmati rice that is handy to have in the cupboard

Original poster
BriechonCheese · 07/10/2017 22:48

Haff Great! I make amazing mash too but I also have a rabble of DC with busy schedules and whilst I 90% cook from scratch, sometimes this allows me a drop of sanity and time to put my feet up of an evening.

I even occasionally buy frozen risotto from Waitrose. Shock

OP posts:
Original poster
BriechonCheese · 07/10/2017 22:51

And the main reason stuff like this is handy for me is screwed fingers that aren't happy with using a peeler! I am thrilled to have way to make things easier for my family and I. It doesn't taste as good as perfect, homemade mash but it's pretty close (and better than a lot of the mash my British friends make - I'm Irish I like my spuds) and a compromise we are happy with.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 07/10/2017 22:57

Haffiana, it's not quite as god, no, but peeling, boiling, mashing and washing up the horrible gritty pan and mashing implements, afterwards all take time and energy that I don't have when it comes to making a food that only 2 out of the 4 of us in the family can eat. Similarly, DS2's daily chips are oven chips and DS1's daily pasta is usually served with a jarred sauce. (ASD, in both cases and HMS in mine, before you scoff about pandering and/or being lazy)

PickAChew · 07/10/2017 22:59

When we move, we will finally have waitrose deliveries and I will be less than an hour bus ride from one. Hell yes to trying the frozen risotto!!!

AndromedaPerseus · 07/10/2017 23:06

Are the frozen avocados you can get any good for making guacamole?

Original poster
BriechonCheese · 07/10/2017 23:16

Pick
It's so good!

Andromeda
I think their only use is for guacamole to be honest, the texture needs to be whizzed up/mashed IMO so not much use for anything else.

OP posts:
bbcessex · 07/10/2017 23:23

frozen mash lover here . Only Tesco or Waitrose for own brand though.. got once from co-op. .. that really did taste like Smash. ☹️

Tesco tastes amazing.. we have mash A LOT since I found it!!

QuackDuckQuack · 07/10/2017 23:25

DD wanted to try Smash after we bought some for the harvest festival collection at school (it was on the list of requested items). It really is like wallpaper paste.

RavingRoo · 07/10/2017 23:30

Mash is one of the easiest things to make. Not sure why a substandard frozen version is even wanted!

QuackDuckQuack · 07/10/2017 23:30

Why assume it’s substandard?

Original poster
BriechonCheese · 07/10/2017 23:34

RavingRoo I think lots of us have given more than valid reasons for choosing this option.
Fancy coming over for pie and mash?

OP posts:
SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 07/10/2017 23:52

It's not substandard, it's great. And so fucking easy.

Frazzled74 · 08/10/2017 00:03

Yes a staple here, 2 bags for £1.50 , 8 adult sized portions , potatoes aren't as cheap as they used to be so I don't see it as hugely extravagant. Add a little butter and pepper, tastes lovely. I also buy frozen rice, roast potatoes and jacket potatoes, they are great to have in the freezer.

Sunnysidegold · 08/10/2017 00:48

Delia Smith had a "how to cheat at cooking" book out years ago and I discovered frozen mash in there. I mostly use it when the kids will eat earlier than me and oh or when we are having something spicy or yuck to them. Haven't really eaten it myself but will give it a go. Love frozen onions and the soffrito but am finding soffrito harder to find in Sainsbury's these days. Frozen mincrd ginger is great for stir fries but you can just freeze a chunk of fresh amd grate it into whatever you're cooking. I saw the Tesco frozen recipe in this month's magazine and thought it'd be worth a try!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 08/10/2017 01:07

Yes,if it's good enough for Deliah...

Topseyt · 08/10/2017 01:45

I have Delia's "How to Cheat at Cooking" in my bookcase. It is very old, written back in the seventies I think.

Must dust it off again now.

Hotheadwheresthecoldbath · 08/10/2017 01:59

How do you all have freezer room?
My freezer has one drawer with easy stuff for DD to cook when I work late.One veg drawer peas,sweet corn,pot wedges,rice(cook double quantities and freeze rest) and odds and sods.
One drawer pre cooked meals,one drawer ice cream,ice,frozen bread(nnan bread,garlic bread)
I couldn't squeeze a chopped onion or mashed potatoes in if I wanted.I have also stopped peeling potatoes (did a while ago but it wasn't trendy then!)

Original poster
BriechonCheese · 08/10/2017 02:09

Hothead
I am lucky, when we moved into this house the previous owner left their nearly new fridge freezer and we already had a fridge with a freezer compartment and a under counter freezer that our buyer didn't need, so thankfully we have a good amount of freezer space. Although I have several DC, so would opt to have this much freezer space either way.

OP posts:
tiirred · 08/10/2017 02:14

I don't feel so bad using it myself now.

Why would anyone feel 'bad' eating frozen mash?

Brittbugs80 · 08/10/2017 08:20

I love those too. I mentioned them before to someone (or maybe it was on here) and got a snooty response of how they like real potatoes confused I don't know what the fuck they thought they were made of Playdoh or something

I've never tried them but my Mom says they are just lazy and not a proper meal, however letting one cook for two hours in the oven is perfectly acceptable. She also doesn't own a microwave and thinks they make people lazy Grin

chocolatespiders · 08/10/2017 08:27

Adding this to the shopping list right now!
Excited to try it Smile

NancyDonahue · 08/10/2017 08:38

I've used Costco Honest Earth boxed mash which is really decent for a box (and very cheap!) but haven't yet ventured into frozen territory. I'll put some on my list for this week Smile

NancyDonahue · 08/10/2017 08:45

Just reading the reviews for the Waitrose one on Ocado. I can't believe I've never heard of it before.

Coldilox · 08/10/2017 08:51

I've never tried it but after this thread I think I may give it a try. I love mash, but it's a faff to make