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If I had all the time in the world, I would probably cook myself something for every meal. (Well, okay, maybe not EVERY meal… even people who enjoy cooking need a break occasionally!)
Related: The 10 Things You Need To Know About Pressure Cooking Frozen Foods
But I don’t have all the time in the world, and there’s no getting around the fact that cooking takes up a fair amount of time. Sometimes heating up frozen entrees is the only way to squeeze in a meal at the appropriate time!
We’re all doing our best to make it through the day, and sometimes a healthy, home-cooked dish just isn’t in the cards. But rather than resign yourself to a mediocre meal, take a few extra minutes to dress it up with one of these easy tips for transforming frozen entrees.
3 Easy Ways To Make Frozen Entrees Taste Better
1. Enhance Your Entree
Recently I had one of those rare nights when I didn’t have anyone to feed in the house except myself. I really didn’t feel like eating fast food, but I didn’t feel like cooking either. So I decided to pull one of my “diet-friendly frozen dinners” out of the freezer. I followed the instructions on the box, but when I pulled it out of the microwave… let’s just say I was underwhelmed.
But the rice and beans weren’t bad, they just needed a bit more pizazz! I added some of my favorite “Tex-Mex” additions like tomato, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. I also had some leftover chicken in the fridge, so I used that too. Instead of a lifeless entree, I ended up with a tasty, even fairly healthy dinner!
To use this approach with other frozen entrees, consider the basic elements and flavors in the dish, then choose a few extras to add that would pair well. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Give it a few tries, and you’re sure to come up with a delicious way to dress up your frozen entrees.
2. Better Burritos
Frozen burritos can be quick and delicious as a lunch or snack. (I particularly like the Amy’s brand!) The biggest drawback of frozen burritos is that it can be really tricky to heat them evenly in the microwave. The ends can be scaldingly hot, even when the center is still cold to the touch. Luckily, there’s a better way to do it!
For a more evenly heated burrito, use both your microwave and stove. Start by warming the burrito in your microwave for about a minute, then transfer it to a lightly greased sauté pan and cook on your stove over medium heat. Let it heat through until it’s lightly browned on both sides, then top with guacamole or sour cream and serve. Yum!
3. Wrap It In Lettuce
They say you eat with your eyes first, and most frozen meals aren’t particularly attractive or enticing. Adding something fresh can go a long way toward making a microwave meal more appealing.
For this mango chicken entree, I decided to scoop it into lettuce and enjoy it as a few mini lettuce wraps. I used a head of tender Bibb lettuce, and the fresh lettuce turned out to be exactly what this entree needed. I ended up enjoying my meal immensely!
Do you have any other tips for dressing up frozen entrees?
