I tested cottage pies from the supermarket – the winner cooks in the microwave and tastes homemade
FEWER Britons are cooking from scratch and using the oven to save money, research shows.
A recent Kantar poll shows that more and more people are using the microwave – and one of our most popular choices is cottage pie.
It also happens to be Prince William's favorite dish.
If you don't have the time or energy to make it yourself, supermarkets all offer their own versions that can be prepared in the microwave or oven.
Here, Lynsey Hope tries out the range and shares her favourites…
Asda Meal for Two Cottage Pie (800g)
9
An attractive looking cake with a nice mash on top.
It was very rich and moreish, with plenty of meat, which made up 24 percent of the ingredients, and the potato was creamy and not watery, unlike some brands.
You can prepare this in the microwave or oven and it will taste like it's homemade.
It came out well, with a nice crust on the potato. A great, economical option and a winner for me.
Sainsbury's Cottage Pie (1.5kg)
9
Wonderfully flavored mince and gravy, but quite heavy on the carrots.
The puree was creamy and smooth and there was just the right amount of it.
It is a bit salty, but you can prepare it in the oven or in the microwave.
Great value from Sainsbury's, beating even Aldi and Lidl when you buy this large portion.
Waitrose Cottage Cake (700g)
9
The mashed potatoes on it were tasteless and a bit watery.
More puree was needed to mix with the generous portion of meat.
But the gravy was tasty and not too salty.
As a frozen meal, it's quite handy to have on standby when you need a quick and easy meal.
M&S Cottage Cake (800g)
9
Delicious meat without gristle and a delicious gravy.
The potato was plentiful, soft and creamy as you would expect, but perhaps there was too much of it.
The meat content is only 17 percent compared to 52 percent potatoes, and I would have liked more.
It's also a bit pricey, at 84 cents per 100 grams – 29 cents more than you'd pay at Aldi – and I'm not sure it was tasty enough.
However, M&S tells me there will be a recipe upgrade soon, so keep an eye on this space.
Lidl Deluxe Cottage Cake (800g)
9
It took 10 minutes in the oven, but it was worth the wait. The mashed potatoes were piped beautifully and tasted buttery and delicious.
There was a bit of crust, which others missed, and it was topped with cheddar cheese.
There was plenty of meat and it was in a rich red wine sauce, which I loved.
If I was being picky I'd say it needed a bit more seasoning, but otherwise top marks.
Tesco Cottage Cake (750g)
9
This was let down by thick, slippery mashed potatoes.
It slid off the cake as soon as it was done and didn't look appetizing at all.
Tesco's offering included a reasonable amount of beef, which was tender and flavoursome, and price-wise it was middle of the road.
Aldi Crestwood Cottage Pie (400g)
9
The highest concentration of beef, 25 percent, but it was a bit overwhelmed by the mash, which was thick and a bit dry rather than buttery and soft, as you might expect.
It also had a bit of a Worcester sauce kick, and quite a lot of onion. It can be prepared in the oven or microwave.
For the price it was okay, but this Aldi meal didn't blow me away.
Morrisons Cottage Pie (400g)
9
This Morrisons pie contains a generous amount of beef at 24 percent, but I didn't like the taste.
It reminded me of 80's school dinners and had a funny aftertaste.
It's not great value either – in fact, this was more expensive than the cake from M&S or Waitrose. I wouldn't buy it again.