Ludicrous "convenience" foods

[inmysparetime]

Chatting about pre-grated cheese got me thinking about "convenience" foods that are actually not that convenient. What foods have you seen in shops that are just as much effort as but twice the price of normal food?

I reckon there's a difference between convenience and store cupboard. So tinned tomatoes, frozen peas are store cupboard alternative to fresh. Therefore, fine.

Whereas ready made mash from the chiller is just lazy.

Bangs gavel

I've never understood buying ready cooked jacket potatoes. If you haven't got time, eat something else

Nothing wrong with lazy tbh

I was thinking, earlier, as my sliced up my ten carrots to go in my beef and stout stew with carrots, that frozen sliced carrots are a bit of a nonsense. Carrots keep well in the fridge and peeling them and slicing them is so quick (and the guinea pig like the end bits). I bought my braising steak from the butcher ready diced at the same price per kilo as in one piece.

but who says it's lazy?

it's prepared for you, it's food that someone else has started off - you still have to cook it (mostly)

Let's face it, hardly any of us are growing the veg- so even raw veg bought from a shop is convenience food, no?

I should of said I like them. I only just started using frozen carrot and its brill. Also use lazy chilli and tinned tomotoes.

I love lazy.

I grew some carrots once but they were a bit pathetic

all skinny and spindly they were

Dried onions are fab when making burgers or meatballs.

I saw the 'ultimate' lazy convenience food the other day...
Microwave toasted sandwiches!!! I mean, I know not everyone has a toastie maker but... Seriously!?!

fresh ready made mash is the food of the gods

My home-grown radishes are very convenient. I let them bolt one year so they have self-seeded and they just grow themselves.

"I only just started using frozen carrot and its brill."

Now, I find frozen carrots really tasteless, possibly the worst vegetable that has been frozen - apart from sprouts. The freezing process changes the texture and makes them too watery for my taste.

I hold my hand up and admit to buying ready made swede and carrot mash. Tesco's one is sublime. When I make it it doesn't taste as good and I can't get the texture right.

I buy grated cheese as well now as it tends to be cheaper than the blocks

I also buy cake mixes so the children can get on with the cooking themselves

I buy that instant wine, you know the stuff that just comes out of the bottle? I know all you purists are probably trampling on the grapes while pickling your own cucumbers but call me lazy if you like

Don't mention that instant wine, it has given me a bad headache. Next time I will make my own.

Baby food I make my own but like the baby porridge
Porridge make my own
Couscous I cheat as mine ways tastes bland

Really, I just have my butler trample the grapes for me

History - try the instant gin next time?

oh excuse me inmysparetime - I hadn't realised that I was in the presence of people who have staff.

Bunbaker I'm with you on the veg, peas and broad beans only in this house. Otherwise they just languish in the freezer for years taking up valuable space!

I buy ready made mash sometimes although I prefer my own, and buy things like quiche and pizza rather than making them.

I honestly cannot see the point of pre-chopped veg. It goes off really fast, and it takes a minute or two to chop an onion and a couple of carrots.

I do use those jars of garlic, ginger, chilli etc. Those are brilliant and save money as well as time I find.

I wish actually I don't. Staff would judge my slovenliness
Currently my DS is cooking dinner for me. He uses convenience foods, but Iet him off as he's only 10.

buggyRunner - the trick with couscous is to put whatever you are using to flavour in the water so that the couscous soaks it up, rather than adding it afterwards. Then stir through any veg, meat or whatever.

Tinned tomatos and frozen peas count? That's a shame, I'd do pretty well otherwise (unless we're going to start counting self-raising flour).

As for the need to buy pre-fried onions: surely you just caramelise the onions in the pan the casserole is going in along with the meat? No need to use a special frying pan...

Has anyone read the ingredients in pancake batter mix? Add eggs and milk, the ingredients you're paying extortionately for are plain flour and salt.
What a rip off.