Frozen berries etc.

givememoney

Generally I buy a punnet of blueberries in Morrisons each week (along with other fruit). I cannot claim this is my own tip as I read it in a mag, but they suggested buying frozen berries instead of fresh.

I went to Morrisons today and compared the price and the fresh are indeed twice the price of the frozen ones so I bought those.

I was telling my daughter and she said they buy mushrooms in the economy pack but don't use them all and end up throwing them away (I appreciate not many people here would do that) so she is herself thinking of buying the frozen ones so she can just use what she needs.

This got me thinking about other frozen food as I don't really buy much frozen. I am making a sausage casserole and I buy the sausages off the deli and stuck to that this time but in future will buy the frozen ones (much cheaper).

Again today I went to buy salmon fillets from the fish counter at a cost of £5.39. I then looked at the prepacked frozen salmon and it was £3 for more or less the same weight and as it is going in a fish pie decided it would do so returned the fresh ones.

I did buy a frozen lamb joint a short while back but it was tough so wouldn't do that again.

Chris25

My daughter buys frozen, sliced mixed peppers. Doesn't bother to defrost them, just throws a handful into a stirfry. She says it works out cheaper than buying a bag of fresh mixed ones.

jasminebro2

I buy quite a few fruit and veg frozen, the nutritional value is often higher than "fresh" fruit and veg from supermarkets which may have been sitting around for quite a while since picking, whereas the frozen are usually frozen within hours of picking, retaining vitamins. It's kind of trial and error really what is worth buying frozen, and also depends on what you use them for. I try out different frozen veg and veg mixes when they are on offer.
Things I think are well worth buying frozen: peas, broad beans, spinach, chopped peppers, sweetcorn, blueberries, raspberries. I also buy frozen chopped ginger and coriander as this means I can always make recipes without having to waste money on fresh herbs. I've never tried frozen mushrooms but I would have thought they are a bit slimy and soft?
I don't eat meat myself but was told the frozen sausage weren't as nice as fresh, so I generally don't cook with frozen meat, and I feel the same about fish - it tastes better from fresh.

SmallL

Thanks for the tip about frozen peppers and spinach, we use peppers in practically every meal and spinach in lamb saag.

kingfisherblue

We use frozen berries - they taste great if you let them defrost almost completely, but just retaining a bit of bite, and pop into a glass with broken meringues and a Mullerlight yoghurt. It probably tastes even better with cream, but I am on Slimming World

Living_proof

Farmfoods do an excellent mixed frozen berries at £1 for 454g. These are the best value I have found, and I have tried a lot!

Edwardia

Sainsbury's SO organic frozen garden peas 750g 2.20 (29.3p per 100g)
bought for first time today, not used yet

Waitrose Organic frozen garden peas 500g 1.45 (29p per 100g ie 2.90 per kilo) what I buy normally, not as good as Birds Eye but 2000 % better than Farmfoods

Waitrose Organic frozen petit pois 500g 1.99 (3.98 per kilo)
I buy these too, OK but not Birds Eye - have already whinged at Birds Eye for not doing organic

Waitrose Organic frozen leaf spinach 500g 1.39 (2.78 per kilo)
good for veggie cooked dishes

Waitrose Organic frozen sweetcorn 500g 1.49 (2.98 per kilo)
won't buy this cos Green Giant organic tinned sweetcorn small cans only 70p in ASDA

Waitrose Organic frozen vegetable mix with broccoli 750g 2.50 (3.34 per kilo )excellent for omelettes, soups, home-made veggie burgers, stir frys

Waitrose Organic frozen broccoli florets 500g 1.99 (3.98 per kilo)
haven't tried yet

Ardo does lots of frozen organic veg and herbs but seem only to be available to caterers in UK.

VoucherMan

Frozen berries.

Just make sure you put them in a bowl or something while they're defrosting.

Last 2 times I defrosted a bag of fruit in the fridge the juice started leaking (raspberry flavoured leg of pork last time )

Bags must have been pierced at some time & I didn't realise until it was too late although you'd have thought I'd learn my lesson the first time.

TravellingAbuela

I am never without a couple of boxes of Aldi frozen raspberries in the freezer. Lovely flavour and, I think, good value at £1.39 for 300g. I am not so keen on their Summer Fruits though, there are too many tasteless redcurrants added.

Can also recommend their frozen petit pois and specially selected roast potatoes done in goose fat.

givememoney

Thanks everyone for your great ideas, will be trying some.

jeanmd

As there's just the two of us at home most of the time I now buy frozen sliced mushroom, onion, mixed peppers and all my veg. It gives me more room in my fridge, no waste and no tears. I'll try the berries as there's only me who eats them.