Quick-heat meals that actually impressed you?

[fire400]

Some of them are not very healthy compared to if you just bought and prepared the same dish yourself.

Argue with the time, and that is probably the only thing to justify.. the taste over time you may hate in the long run unless moderation be applied.

Did apartment dinner tray life for a while. Just doesn't taste the same anymore, makes me more sluggish too whenever I try to eat them again.

 

[JTsyo]

The Costco Kirkland Signature lasagna. It takes an hour to heat but you just have to pop it in the oven.

 

[Ns1]

from TJ's

4 cheese mac and cheese (freezer section)
mushroom stuffed tortellini w/ asparagus (cold section)

 

[sjwaste]

Guys, please don't oil the damn pasta water. If your pasta is sticking together, you're doing one or both of the following:

Not using enough water
Overcooking the pasta

That's it. Pasta doesn't stick together if you cook it in plenty of water and don't let it go until its glue.

 

[Perknose]

Guys, please don't oil the damn pasta water. If your pasta is sticking together, you're doing one or both of the following:

Not using enough water
Overcooking the pasta

That's it. Pasta doesn't stick together if you cook it in plenty of water and don't let it go until its glue.

Ok. I'll try this the very next time. Putting some oil in is just something my Mom did, and culinary wise, she leaned more towards her Irish side than her French one. 😛

 

[waggy]

I love my crock pot. we use it a few times a year. we usually use it a bunch in the winter.

it makes great chili, pulled beef/pork, soups, stew etc. just toss the stuff in and forget it. gotta stir it every now and then.

 

[sjwaste]

Ok. I'll try this the very next time. Putting some oil in is just something my Mom did, and culinary wise, she leaned more towards her Irish side than her French one. 😛

Use your stockpot. Lots of water. Seriously, the starch needs somewhere to go so it doesn't stick.

Besides, I have to tell you - oiling the water doesn't do much anyway. It just floats on top, not where most of the pasta is. Maybe you're just scared of pasta, and the oil is purely psychological. Then again, I don't think that's the direction of this thread 😎

 

[Perknose]

Maybe you're just scared of pasta, and the oil is purely psychological.

I haven't met the pasta yet I couldn't beat the wheat out of! 😵

Like I said, just something I "learned" from my Mom.

 

[lxskllr]

Guys, please don't oil the damn pasta water. If your pasta is sticking together, you're doing one or both of the following:

Not using enough water
Overcooking the pasta

That's it. Pasta doesn't stick together if you cook it in plenty of water and don't let it go until its glue.

I put oil in the water to keep it from foaming over. It helps reduce the suds that get on top of cooking pasta.

 

[sjwaste]

I haven't met the pasta yet I couldn't beat the wheat out of! 😵

Like I said, just something I "learned" from my Mom.

Hey, I've seen Italians do it. Ones that I know, love, and care about. Unfortunately, we have a trait in my family that encourages not giving a shit when someone else tells you something that makes complete sense. So they still put oil in the damn water.

But neither of my grandmothers does it, and they've forgotten more about cooking than anyone else I'm related to has ever known. That's always been good enough for me 🙂

Pasta is easy. Lots of water, lots of salt in the water, and keep tasting it.

 

[sjwaste]

I put oil in the water to keep it from foaming over. It helps reduce the suds that get on top of cooking pasta.

Makes sense. I boil pasta in a stockpot that generally has some room. But I hear you, no matter how much I watch the heat, if I turn my back it will start to foam up.

 

[Leros]

Use your stockpot. Lots of water. Seriously, the starch needs somewhere to go so it doesn't stick.

Besides, I have to tell you - oiling the water doesn't do much anyway. It just floats on top, not where most of the pasta is. Maybe you're just scared of pasta, and the oil is purely psychological. Then again, I don't think that's the direction of this thread 😎

When I don't put oil in, the pasta sticks together in a big clump when I drain the water. A tablespoon of olive oil prevents the pasta from sticking together. I also have no problems with sauce sticking to my pasta, although I probably use less sauce than most people do.

The olive oil is something I always did growing up. My dad always put oil in the water. My dad grew up in full blood Italian family, so I assume his family put oil in the water as well. He has told his family went through ridiculous amounts of olive oil. Something like a quart every two weeks.

 

[lxskllr]

I've never had an issue with pasta sticking, even without oil. Make sure the water's fully boiling when you add the pasta, and stir it when you first dump it in. Stir periodically as it cooks, and when it stops feeling hard through the fork, you can start taste testing for proper firmness.

 

[Fritzo]

Marie Callendar's meals have all been good (but they're terrible for you).

The best healthy frozen meals so far have been those Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers. They come in a unique container that heats the food and sauce separately, and it's pretty damn delicious.

 

[Fritzo]

I've never had an issue with pasta sticking, even without oil. Make sure the water's fully boiling when you add the pasta, and stir it when you first dump it in. Stir periodically as it cooks, and when it stops feeling hard through the fork, you can start taste testing for proper firmness.

The starch in pasta makes it stick as it cools. The trick it get it "unstuck" is to add 1/4" of hot water and stir it---it'll loosen right up.