I don't understand why they can't just get labels or Frozen Food Right

[Chetlaham]

I absolutely despise when this happens. You buy a frozen product, it tells you explicitly on how to cook it, you follow the directions to the T as you're taught in school "follow directions" thinking you'll get it right while having the perfect outcome like on the box and it still all goes horribly wrong.

I can't tell you how many times this has happened when I cook something frozen and the filling leaks out with the breading just burning. And what is worse once the filling leaks out, it sticks to the foil, hardens, and can't be scrapped off. All your left with a dried, stale, burned tasting shell. You're better off burning some bagel or wonder bread and eating that instead.

The oven isn't getting to hot. This exact same thing has happened to me for decades in the half dozen GE ovens I've owned, two dozen toaster ovens, an air fryer, five microwaves and in two Breville smart ovens. The food is frozen and not thawed.

Using the minimum amount of time doesn't help. For example, Totino's pizza rolls, the worst offender. Bag says preheat to 425*F in a single layer, 10-14 minutes. Light non stick pan, it doesn't attract much heat. Ok, I'll just use the minimum time. Come into the room 8 minutes in and all the filling is totally leaked out and the bites are just greyed out hard. 20 bites and foil right into the garbage bin.



People often say 'perhaps they had a toaster oven in mind and not a conventional oven'. Except the directions on products appear to make the distinction a toaster oven, conventional oven, air fryer, 1,100 watt microwave, 800 watt microwave, pan fry, deep fry, wok, skillet, griddle, campfire, dishwasher, tractor, ect, ect.

The number on the back of the product is of no help and just gives you a run around.

It is like frozen food makers compute the right values and temperatures for each cooking method then multiply the cooking temperature by two and both the minimum and maximum cook times by a factor of four.

I don't understand why they can't just get it right? How could they not have figured this out after 40+ years? Do they not see all the war like images after people pull their food out of the oven, microwave, 5 easy payments of $29.95 latest must have?


Anyway I find that cooking things for half the listed minimum time makes things ideal. Guess I am now going to unwrap another hot pocket but this time I am only cooking it for 12 minutes at 350*F. Sigh Wasted time and money and CO2.










Anyway, thanks for letting me vent, I so needed a vent

 

[phillymatt53]

Jeeezuss!
Calm down Chet!
You're liable to crap your pants.

What I usually do is try the directions ONCE.....
Then from there I calculate my OWN directions, and mentally store them in my brain.
I find that sometimes slower heating, and a lower temp setting, makes things come out better. - more to my liking.

For instance, frozen potato puffs or wedges in the toaster oven - I reduce the suggested time and slightly lower the temp setting.
I dislike hard as wood potatos.

In the 800W microwave, baked potatos - normal sized - 8-9 min on high - larger ones take 10-12 min. - I test them with a toothpick
Also 5 large frozen meatballs, juicy - power level 60% for 3 min.

You learn by experimenting.

By the way, you're mention of "labels".......
"Labels are meant for soup cans, not people."
Unfortunately, that's not understood or followed.

 

[Chetlaham]

Just decades of accumulated anger is all.

Its like they have the right time on paper, but, have a proprietary multiplier added before printing the carton.

Anyway, yes, you are correct. It is about finding what works for you with the equipment you have. I tend to write it down. A few trials and you are good to go. But me being me I like minimalism. Like one of those K-cups. Just insert, close and push brew. One can fantasize of course.

 

[phillymatt53]

Just decades of accumulated anger is all.

Its like they have the right time on paper, but, have a proprietary multiplier added before printing the carton.

Anyway, yes, you are correct. It is about finding what works for you with the equipment you have. I tend to write it down. A few trials and you are good to go. But me being me I like minimalism. Like one of those K-cups. Just insert, close and push brew. One can fantasize of course.

I'll never buy one of those rediculously expensive K-Cup gadgets!
Those are meant for dumb, lazy people with big wallets.
They're as rediculous as those Dyson vacuums and their other gadgets.

I use a cheap 1-cup coffee machine, and I'm not too lazy to scoop the coffee and water into it.
On rare occasions, I've got a classic Farberware 4-cup percolator that I got at a thrift store - apparently never used. - for $7 !!!
They now go for $50 to $60!