ready made meals

[Leothebear]

Most, I know, are quite awful. But at the risk of heinous heresy may I put a good word for one brand. Charlie Bigham's meals are way better than others I've tried. The curries are tasty, indeed the Thai green curry was better than my local Thai restaurant, which is generally thought to be very good. Mrs and daughter had the fish pie last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Really handy for a meal alone.

Anyone know of others that are acceptable?

[SalvorHardin]

Most, I know, are quite awful. But at the risk of heinous heresy may I put a good word for one brand. Charlie Bigham's meals are way better than others I've tried. The curries are tasty, indeed the Thai green curry was better than my local Thai restaurant, which is generally thought to be very good. Mrs and daughter had the fish pie last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Really handy for a meal alone.

Anyone know of others that are acceptable?

The Sainsbury's "Slow Cooked" range are very good, in particular the shin beef casserole. As are Sainsbury's 400gm Chinese meals, especially the Chicken Tikka Masala (without rice).

Marks & Spencer's Italian ready meals have a permanent spot in my freezer.

Everything I've tried from Charlie Bigham is excellent. I ignore the "don't microwave" instruction (but microwaving the wooden container is not recommended!)

[Dod101]

I am not much into prepared meals or takeaways for that matter but I find the range of COOK meals to be good, although I only buy the Oriental ones. The Thai stuff seems good to me although I am no expert on what would be authentic. Will keep a look out for Charlie Bigham.

I sometimes have prepared meals on a Sunday evening for some reason.

Dod

[swill453]

As are Sainsbury's 400gm Chinese meals, especially the Chicken Tikka Masala (without rice).

Do they do an Indian Chow Mein too?

Scott.

[SalvorHardin]

As are Sainsbury's 400gm Chinese meals, especially the Chicken Tikka Masala (without rice).

Do they do an Indian Chow Mein too?

Scott.

Probably

I should add that the Sainsbury's Chicken Tikka Masala is well worth it, especially the Indian version

[88V8]

Waitrose has a large offering.

We occasionally look at them, notice the salt level and hurriedly put them down.
Exceptions may apply, I suppose.

V8

[Alaric]

Waitrose has a large offering.

All the supermarkets do them, even Aldi and Lidl. For the better quality look for the "posh" own brands as well as Binghams. They are available as fresh, long life and frozen, Cook only doing frozen and in specialist shops.

[Watis]

Tesco currently have an offer on some of their 'meal for two' range of curries.

The meals I've bought cost £7.50 - or, for £8, you get a drink thrown in as a 'meal deal'. The drink turns out to be a 4-pack of 330ml cans of Cobra lager, shelf price £5! I think Coke may be available as an alternative.

£5 of beer for 50p? I'll drink to that!

Watis

[Dod101]

Waitrose has a large offering.

All the supermarkets do them, even Aldi and Lidl. For the better quality look for the "posh" own brands as well as Binghams. They are available as fresh, long life and frozen, Cook only doing frozen and in specialist shops.

That is true about COOK. They tend to be in upmarket locations . Cost about £5/6 and I'd say well worth it.

Dod

[abisgran]

I agree about Cook meals-they are in a class of their own in my opinion in that they have ingredients one would use for home cooking without the long list of preservatives and strange unrecognised additives.We use them rather than takeaways or indeed restaurant meals.

[Lootman]

As are Sainsbury's 400gm Chinese meals, especially the Chicken Tikka Masala (without rice).

Do they do an Indian Chow Mein too?

I've been to a fair number of countries in Asia and curry is pretty universally available in most of them, including China. I think we Brits tends to associate curry with India but the reality is that it is genuinely a continental cuisine.

For that matter there is a huge difference between curry in Northern and Southern India. The former has more in common with Middle Eastern food, whereas the latter has similarities to South-East Asian food.

On the topic I agree with the praise of Binghams and I often buy their fish pie. The only thing I would caution with any of these is to check the amount of salt and sugar in some of them. It can be shocking.

[pje16]

Waitrose has a large offering.

We occasionally look at them, notice the salt level and hurriedly put them down.
Exceptions may apply, I suppose.

V8

The Waitrose "finest" range is very good - love the lamb shanks and veg

[6Tricia]

I sometimes buy slow cooked lamb shanks, ham hocks or barbecued spare ribs when I feel like a hearty meat dish - much cheaper and far quicker than I could cook them from scratch! My local Lidl does an excellent range. But most of my ready meals are in my freezer from batch cooking: Thai green curry, chilli con carne, coq au vin, Indian style chicken curry, meat loaf and various soups.

Tricia

[GrahamPlatt]

Most, I know, are quite awful. But at the risk of heinous heresy may I put a good word for one brand. Charlie Bigham's meals are way better than others I've tried. The curries are tasty, indeed the Thai green curry was better than my local Thai restaurant, which is generally thought to be very good. Mrs and daughter had the fish pie last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Really handy for a meal alone.

Agreed. We’ve been fans for some years. They taste home-cooked with quality ingredients and not ultra-processed.

[6Tricia]

A word of warning!

VEGETABLE LASAGNE for 1 and (for 2) by Charlie Bingham, use by date 24 October 2022 have been recalled because they may have pieces of plastic in them and are not safe to eat. Food standards agency update email.

Tricia

[UncleEbenezer]

Never heard of the brand. And veggie lasagne is a ready meal I'd tend to avoid: it's so often bland and tasteless.

But if posting warnings here, shouldn't you also post a URL? Googling suggests you may have misspelt the name.

[77ss]

....


The Sainsbury's "Slow Cooked" range are very good, in particular the shin beef casserole. As are Sainsbury's 400gm Chinese meals, especially the Chicken Tikka Masala (without rice).......

Agreed about the Sainsbury's 400g Indian range. If I want one of these, I generally add one of their small Sag Paneers and a Dhal too.

The slow cooked range is good too - my favourite is the duck in plum sauce.

[6Tricia]

https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/ale ... in-56-2022

My apologies, misread the name!

Tricia