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Ludicrous "convenience" foods

204 replies

inmysparetime · 08/02/2012 15:01

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?

OP posts:
FootprintsInTheSnow · 10/02/2012 13:22

People can choose their own religion - be it self-chopped onions or ironed socks.

doesn't take a minute is a relative judgement based on the skill of the person, equipment available, portion required and how urgent the need actually is.

Microwave rice: saved my sanity (and DD's diet) when I had unputdownable colicky baby DS. Real rice might only take ten minutes - but it involves boiling water, and then washing up. It is also a perfect portion for an adult and a toddler.

Pre-grated cheese - good for small portions.

Pre-chopped meat - saves on washing up (which on a busy day can be the difference between being able to do a home cooked meal or not)

Cake mixes: the bakers in this family are generally aged below 5. They can make a 'real' cake, so long as I pull out the scales and the packets for them, and take the time to coach them on accurate measuring, use the hand mixer to whip up the pre-softened butter and then scrub down flour from every surface. Or, they can use a packet, read the instructions on the back (helped with the pictures), and quite competently decant the mix in a bowl and add the single egg plus 1 teaspoon of water, or whatever. It's obviously not for the domestic goddess with her colour coded kitchen aid mixer - but 'pointless' it certainly isn't.

Similarly, DD loves cooking hates chopping onions. I guess there are plenty of elderly people who can't chop onions. Pre-chopped onions open up a world of stews, sauces and casseroles (esp. Combined with slow cooker).

GrimmaTheNome · 10/02/2012 13:28

Well yes. I could never understand presliced bagels or rolls. Until I had an unputdownable DD, then I absolutely got the point!

FootprintsInTheSnow · 10/02/2012 13:29

Frozen chopped peppers are much cheaper than fresh, and make great pasta sauces.

Strawbezza · 10/02/2012 18:01

jammydodger1 I don't freeze the cheese, because I know we'll get through it well in advance of its use-by date. But I would - and in fact might do that next time, thanks for the idea Smile

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