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What Do You Think Of Microwave Pre Packed Dinners?


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Old 09-04-2009, 22:05
EdwardP
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My brother came in after work tonight and asked me if I wanted to drive to Midleton to go to Aldi. I've never been and had been meaning to do a shop so I decided to go with him for the drive at least. When I got there I was stunned at the low prices and immediatly got a trolley and started filling up on the stuff I would normally pay heavily for.

Anyway, I noticed that they had a range of frozen microwave ready meals for only 2.50 Euro (That beats the ones I buy in my local supermarket for 5.50 Euro a pop). I lobbed a lot of them into my trolley to stock up for a few weeks (Just in case I'm feeling lazy and want to just have a quick dinner some evening). I bought Roast Beef, Turkey Breast, Chicken Breast and Roast Lamb (Which all come with spuds, veggies, gravy and stuffing balls in them).

I've never eaten a full cooked frozen ready meal before and was just wondering if anyone on the forum has and what they taste like? I'm tempted to go and stuff one in the microwave right now, but I really would like other's opinions on this,

Cheers
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Old 09-04-2009, 22:19
fuzzibear
 
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Some are ok, but I rarely eat them, ironically, I will occasionally have the asda value chicken dinner, as it's quite nice
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Old 09-04-2009, 22:28
degsyhufc
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I haven't had one for years. My dad still gets them sometimes. Not enough veg or gravy and the yorkshires are usually carp!

I find a better alternative is to buy the frozen packs of meat. You can then add your own veggies, yorkshires and make some more gravy. It's kind of inbetween making a proper dinner and the microwave pre-packed (veggies and potatoes can be cooked in the microwave).
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Old 09-04-2009, 22:37
EdwardP
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Thanks guys!

I forgot to mention that there is Yorkshires in the chicken and turkey ones!!
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Old 09-04-2009, 23:36
Swarfega
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The yorkshires won't work well in the microwave.

I work for M&S and get our stuff oin the cheap - occasionally I'll have one of our ready meals with yorkshires. As long as they're done in the oven they're fine.
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Old 09-04-2009, 23:38
Welsh-lad
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I've had very few of them.
They're usually so salty you can nearly feel the grains on your tongue. Yuk.
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Old 09-04-2009, 23:58
EdwardP
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The yorkshires won't work well in the microwave.

I work for M&S and get our stuff oin the cheap - occasionally I'll have one of our ready meals with yorkshires. As long as they're done in the oven they're fine.
There is the option to cook them in the oven at 25mins, but I guess I was thinking the 10 mins in the microwave would be better?
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Old 10-04-2009, 00:04
Swarfega
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There is the option to cook them in the oven at 25mins, but I guess I was thinking the 10 mins in the microwave would be better?
Anything that needs to be crispy isn't done in a microwave. Reheating? Fine. Steaming? ok. But making things crispy is still the realm of the oven. Of course if you're fine with a soggy yorkshire pudding then crack on with the microwave option.
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Old 10-04-2009, 00:35
EdwardP
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Anything that needs to be crispy isn't done in a microwave. Reheating? Fine. Steaming? ok. But making things crispy is still the realm of the oven. Of course if you're fine with a soggy yorkshire pudding then crack on with the microwave option.
I think I'll go with the oven thanks lol

Sounds like they come out nicely done as opposed to overly soggy and bland
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Old 10-04-2009, 01:16
swingaleg
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I got some M&S ones a few weeks ago...........it was on special offer, 3 for £5 if I remember rightly........

Cottage Pie, Peas, Carrots and Cauliflower Cheese.

tbh it wasn't that nice............I eat 'em all over a week but wouldn't buy it again.........


I usually only buy them when they're on special offer...........the best one I've had recently was Tesco's Lasagna when it was reduced to £1.........that was nice, I had about 4 of them over 2 weeks...........

I just had beans or sweetcorn with it.
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Old 10-04-2009, 01:47
degsyhufc
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If you're going to let 25 mins for a frozen dinner then I can't see why you wouldn't put it together yourself. If you are happy with the general meal in the mic then do it and cook a couple of frozen yorkshires in the oven (not a great substitute I know).

Apart from a proper roast you could do microwave meat or a topside steak/slice or the previously mentioned fronzen packs of meat.
You could do home made yorkshires in 30 mins.
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Old 10-04-2009, 01:51
EdwardP
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From what everyone is saying I should just go ahead and make a Sunday Roast from scratch lol!

I do love the Yorkshires though. I often buy them frozen from Tesco and they only take a few mins in the oven. I like to eat them with stuffing (sage and onion) and gravy
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Old 10-04-2009, 02:03
HollyoaksFan08
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Not had a microwave meal for a while now, I used to maybe 2 or 3 times a week.
To be honest they aren't as nice as properly cooked meals in my opinion, yes they are good if you are in a rush before going out, but they will never replace the taste of a proper cooked meal.
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Old 10-04-2009, 02:36
Midiboy
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I'll only eat the M&S ones and even then I'm fussy about which ones I buy. The nicest ones they have at the moment are the Goan rawn curry and the duck with noodles and hoisin sauce. I used to love the Orkney crab linguine but I haven't seen it for a while.
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Old 10-04-2009, 08:54
indianwells
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I haven't had one for years. My dad still gets them sometimes. Not enough veg or gravy and the yorkshires are usually carp!

I find a better alternative is to buy the frozen packs of meat. You can then add your own veggies, yorkshires and make some more gravy. It's kind of inbetween making a proper dinner and the microwave pre-packed (veggies and potatoes can be cooked in the microwave).
Sounds fishy to me, I would contact Trading Standards. Do you get them from a Polish shop?
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Old 10-04-2009, 12:02
EdwardP
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I had the roast chicken one and it tasted ok, but there is no way it can beat a home cooked roast, just like a few posters said
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Old 10-04-2009, 16:34
degsyhufc
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Sounds fishy to me, I would contact Trading Standards. Do you get them from a Polish shop?
Just a bit of board netiquette. You'll find it used a lot around here and other boards.
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Old 10-04-2009, 16:54
That Bloke
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They are a LOT better than they used to be and actually some of them are really nice. I tend to stay away from the value ranges as they tend to be 'meat lite' and I'm slightly dubious about the quality of the meat in them.

Personally I think the M&S ones are the best by some distance.
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Old 10-04-2009, 18:39
labelsandlove
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I only really have the frozen lasagnes, and I try and get the healthy ones (if thats even possible) and then have salad with them. Other than that, I'm not really keen on having a microwave meal as a complete meal.
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Old 10-04-2009, 18:56
Satan's Son
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the green curry from LIDL is the best
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Old 10-04-2009, 19:17
EdwardP
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I want to know ho9w to make the stuffing ball that comes with these dinners. It's so delicious and a pity that you only get the one.
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Old 10-04-2009, 20:53
degsyhufc
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Make up some paxo. Leave to cool. Roll into balls. Bake in oven.
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Old 10-04-2009, 21:26
EdwardP
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Cheers. Will deffo be making these from scratch for Sunday dinner. I'm going to smother them in gravy to get them all moisty like in the frozen dinners.
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Old 10-04-2009, 21:54
Gogfumble
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Making stuffing balls from Paxo is not 'making them from scratch'. Sorry to be pedantic and all.

True home made stuffing is lovely. I am not saying Paxo isn't nice, I eat it but adding water to Paxo cannot be interpreted as making it from scratch.
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Old 10-04-2009, 22:22
EdwardP
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Ok then...I'll deffo be making stuffing ball from Paxo
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