Ready meals

[Northerner]

although home made food is always going to taste better and be better for you x

...and a darn sight cheaper too! I made a big pan of chilli the other day, divided into 8 portions for freezing - works out at about 60p a meal and tastes better than ready-made 🙂

 

[Kaylz]

...and a darn sight cheaper too! I made a big pan of chilli the other day, divided into 8 portions for freezing - works out at about 60p a meal and tastes better than ready-made 🙂

Exactly when my mum makes soup there's heaps of tubs stashed in the freezer, win win really, heaps of food and barely costs a penny haha x

 

[Mark Parrott]

I have bought the curries (no rice) in Tesco before, but was shocked that are 2 servings. I would want the lot in one sittng!

 

[Northerner]

I have bought the curries (no rice) in Tesco before, but was shocked that are 2 servings. I would want the lot in one sittng!

I think this is why I find them expensive, even if they appear quite 'cheap' - there's not enough to feed a pigeon in most of them! 😱

 

[Ralph-YK]

A comedian did a thing about that. It's so people on their own don't have to buy ready meals for 1. It's like going to a restaurant and being "a party of one".

 

[Jennibambi]

There is a new "veggie" rice 10 carbs per 100g it is apparently tapioca startch have tried it its not bad but at 1.99 its expensive. But will defo buy again for my curry.

 

[Anthony Stirrat]

Like all above bar the asparagus blurgh lol!!!!

Roasted with butter, garlic and balsamic vinegar

 

[Radders]

I'm vegetarian so this might not interest you, but when I want a quick meal and have nothing in the freezer, these are some of my ready meals:

Tinned Baxter's soup
Packets of prepared lentils with veg
Just veg (buy the prepared ones if I am feeling averse to chopping) sprinkled with grated cheese or slathered with cream cheese
Greek yoghurt with mashed banana and peanut butter
Omelette with cheese, mushrooms, peppers

I nearly always have half a takeaway Indian meal in the freezer as I find the portions are more than I need. These just get blasted in the microwave and most improve for being allowed to blend.

 

[NoCarb]

I like M&S chilled ready meals alot, but unfortunately I end up throwing some in the bin, as I cannot calculate accurately how many I need them each week.

Are there any frozen ones? I need the same variety/quality

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I'm pretty sure you can freeze most of the chilled ready meals from m&s.

 

[NoCarb]

I'm pretty sure you can freeze most of the chilled ready meals from m&s.

Are you sure? I think it says they are not for freezing. Plus I don't know what the instructions would be to defrost them?

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I know my mother in law freezes them, if you look at the cooking instructions they will have the cook from frozen instructions or whether they need defrosting first. If you're unsure then ask a member of staff for help next time you shop there and they will be able to show you the ones suitable. I know my mother in law freezes the curries and Chinese style ones. You are right, they are very tasty 🙂

 

[NoCarb]

you are right, it says suitable for freezing
but it also says to defrost 24h in the fridge! is there a way to defrost it quickly within minutes and eat it ?

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

That's annoying! It's best to follow the instructions as you don't want to get food poisoning!

 

[NoCarb]

that's what the instructions say, it says to defrost it in 24h at the fridge

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Best to follow the instructions. At least you know you can freeze them and defrost them for the next day.

 

[Robin]

You could try the defrost setting on a microwave, provided you then cook them immediately, they should be OK. (And provided they aren't in foil containers)

 

[Radders]

You could try the defrost setting on a microwave, provided you then cook them immediately, they should be OK. (And provided they aren't in foil containers)

I freeze half my Indian takeaway on a Friday and thaw it out on a Wednesday. I tip it out of the foil dish into a casserole dish then make sure it's mad hot. Not come to any harm yet!