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?

Its great! I wasn't expecting it to be nice but its totally fine.

Frozen sweet potato wedges are good too

@Crispsheets don't you know the genius swede hack? I just tried it recently and my mind was blown.

Put whole swede in microwave and turn over halfway

When it finishes cut off the top
And scoop out the perfect swede. I was skeptical but then amazed!

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/Question1383186.html micro swede

Shit sorry tried to do a clicky link hang on

microwave swede

Just been to Aldi and they also have frozen cauliflower rice, with or without parsley. They also had a frozen bag of giant cous cous with veg and pomegranate seeds. Will have to try.

Definitely worth trying the baking potatoes in microwave then in potato ricer. Skin stays in ricer and nothing else to do but add milk/butter etc. Very easy for mash for one or two and ready in minutes.

I have just done the jacket potatoes in the microwave then through a ricer thing for my children and it was so quick and easy. Thanks for the tip!

My DC turned up their noses at my lovingly made mash after they'd got used to the frozen stuff. The fact it uses cream (not ss milk) and a large amount of salt might have something to do with it...

I have a fortnightly freezer delivery which normally includes good quality versions of these foods:
Pizza
Chickpea farinata
Croissants for Sunday breakfasts
Minestrone mix
Grilled Mediterranean Veg (20 mins)
Peas, peas and carrots, spinach cubes, potato products
Prepared roasts already in foil trays , used for bring-your-own buffets or times when I can't be bothered.
Celebration cakes, both to defrost and use straight from the freezer.

If you buy good quality it keeps well and gives appetising results. I've been stung by "value" cottage pies or ready meals too many times. What's in the 99p Iceland dishes? Bits of unidentified meat floating in MSG and some rice. No thanks.

It's a life saver and I do have a chest freezer. I'm also the freezer guy's favourite customer...

Sgtmajormummy, you're my hero!

I forgot to say that frozen veg has been compared to equivalent greengrocer or supermarket produce and the nutrient content is much higher due to the short pick-to-freeze time.

I have tried frozen mash and thought the M&S one was the best. Definitely works out much dearer than doing your own though. I buy a big sack of potatoes from the farm shop for about £7. We eat quite a lot of potatoes - mashed and jacket mainly but occasional chips and, of course, roast. Frozen roast potatoes are yuk as are frozen yorkies

Never tried frozen jackets as they work out expensive. Just microwave a potato for about 6 minutes then stick in a high temp oven for about 15 mins.

I do use frozen veg but only really peas and carrot. Cauliflower is nowhere near as nice as fresh nor are runner beans. Brocolli and sprouts are awful.

I sometimes use frozen mushrooms but, again, they are just not as nice as fresh ones. We eat a lot of mushrooms too so it's a shame the frozen are not nicer.

Frozen cauliflower cheese is horrible. Nothing like home made.

I agree that frozen is convenient but, for me and DH, the taste is more important so we would rather use fresh and make our own meals

I have frozen peppers, I usually chuck them in a bolognese or sausage casserole. Also love the frozen baking potatoes - if I buy fresh I always end up chucking them as they go off.

I refuse to buy grated cheese though, it looks like plastic

Welwyn

I've never understood the snobbery against frozen veg, as Sgt says it's fresher than fresh and there is zero waste. My local Iceland has just been refurbed, I only usually buy Quorn from there but I'm tempted to try their fish range, the current adverts do make it look tempting but generally frozen fish seems to disintegrate once defrosted. Worth a go though

I wouldn't, it's like school dinner mash! All gloops into a dough and is quite chewy! Nothing at all like fluffy, fresh mash.

Frozen mash is AMAZING.

Frozen mash is wonderful! I bought a bag because of this thread and it had made my life so much easier. I'm in student lodging and being able to throw something in the microwave for a few minutes and not feel like I'm just eating crap is fab.

That's great sleeping, that's two of us so thanks to the original tipster!
I agree with others that frozen veg is super fresh and in no way second rate. Frozen within hours of picking normally.

Does frozen broccoli ever come out with the same texture as fresh? That’s what stops me from using most frozen veg.

Brocoli is slightly different in texture but I wouldn't say I like it any less. When I did buy fresh my children though didn't like it!!! I buy frozen green beans, peas, sweetcorn, sliced peppers an chopped spinach. I just shake them straight into pasta or stew type/one-pot dishes.

Yeah grated cheese is weird because it's coated in flour or something to stop it clumping but it makes it taste strange.

Frozen broccoli comes out okay in the steamer but like total mush if boiled, at least when I've tried to do it!

It is indeed the food of the gods! And I completely ageee with others saying fresh-frozen food (as opposed to processed frozen) is fantastic quality and so so handy when you're busy.

The McCain frozen baked potatoes are a god-send - but Aldi's own version are exactly the same probably mar by McCains and are at least half the price.

I could not survive without my freezer. Almost anything can be frozen, I always have Parmesan cheese, herbs, bases for sauces, pizza dough etc in my freezer so we'd always be able to put together a decent meal anytime.