We wouldn’t normally touch a microwave meal with a ten foot frozen pole. But sometimes it’s good to face your prejudices head on, and see if they hold up. And what better time than the month of the Emmy Awards to see if TV dinners deserve their bad rep? Herewith, five options to consider the next time you want something quick and easy.
Top Left to Right
CP Stir Fried Chicken and Basil with Rice
What it says on the box: Stir fried chicken and basil with rice.
What it’s really like: Packing the basil chicken separately from the rice is a nice touch. The jasmine rice had a pleasant texture and the meat was so-so, but it was the oily, spicy and salty sauce that put us over the edge. Our taste buds are still reeling from the assault. Give it a miss.
Stated time: Three to five minutes.
Actual time taken: A speedy three minutes was all it took, but the plastic film was tough to remove (it took us three tries and some careful maneuvering, so factor in another 20 seconds).
The damage: $4.65 for 320g, from Cold Storage Takashimaya.
Lean Cuisine Roasted Turkey Breast
What it says on the box: Roasted turkey breast with gravy, stuffing, whipped potatoes and green beans accented with cranberries.
What it’s really like: This was the only other frozen dinner that was compartmentalized. We were pleasantly surprised at how tender and juicy the slices of turkey breast were. The mash was just passable, and the standard brown gravy reminded us of our local Western food hawker’s. The “stuffing” was the worst bit—mushy and yucky, although there’s a generous portion of green beans.
Stated time: Eight minutes on high.
Actual time taken: Eight minutes on the dot.
The damage: $13.60 for 397g, from Jasons Market Place.
*I-S PICK* Amy’s Indian Paneer Tikka
What it says on the box: Paneer tikka (tomato masala with cheese), aloo palak (delicately spiced organic chopped spinach and tender potatoes) and organic basmati rice flavored with cumin and carrots.
What it’s really like: Granted, they oversold it with the description, but this was still the best of the bunch. It’s genuinely pretty tasty. The cumin rice was fluffy and was the perfect accompaniment to the rich, spiced tomato masala and paneer (cheese). Our only gripe is that the different components weren’t packed in individual compartments, and it wouldn’t hurt to have more of it.
Stated time: Four to five minutes.
Actual time taken: Exactly four minutes.
The damage: $10.95 for 269g, from Jasons Market Place.
Bottom Left to Right
Waitrose Fish Pie
What it says on the box: Succulent salmon and smoked haddock in creamy white wine sauce with buttery maris piper mash.
What it’s really like: To be honest, we were a little concerned about eating frozen fish pie. Fortunately, it wasn’t quite as bad as we anticipated. There were two substantial fillets of fish. While the salmon was dry, the smoked haddock was incredibly flavorful and moist. The mash was acceptably smooth and went well with the peppery, creamy sauce.
Stated time: 10 minutes to 12 minutes, plus an extra two to be left standing after.
Actual time taken: 12 minutes, including standing time.
The damage: $12.95 for 400g, from Cold Storage Takashimaya.
Marks & Spencer Pasta and Vegetable Bake
What it says on the box: Spiralli pasta with a rich tomato and red pepper sauce, broccoli florets and petit pois, topped with a cheese and spinach sauce.
What it’s really like: More like cafeteria slop than gourmet TV dinner. Taste-wise, it’s actually pretty decent. The pasta was very close to al dente, and the two different sauces served to impart a tart, creamy flavor that made the three sad pieces of broccoli more palatable.
Stated time: Six minutes to seven minutes.
Actual time taken: Despite our efforts to follow the instructions to stir after three minutes, ours was still a solid, frozen mass. It took another two minutes before it was even somewhat amenable to being stirred. Total time spent was nine minutes, three minutes more than advertised.
The damage: $8.90 for 350g, from Marks & Spencer.
