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12 unexpected frozen foods that taste as good as home-made and speed up cooking, from £2.29
A well-stocked freezer can transform your cooking and help you reduce waste. These are the frozen foods worth making room for, according to the GHI
Tested by Callum Black, JoJo Anastasiou and Georgia Turnell
The freezer isn’t just a place to stash leftovers and forget about them till Christmas. Stock them well and they can transform your cooking. From ready-to-bake pastries to pre-portioned curry sauces for speedy midweek meals, the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested more than 70 frozen products to find the best of the freezer aisle.
Best frozen food 2026
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How we tested
From croissants and gyoza to curries and sweet treats, our experts put 73 frozen products to the test to find the ones worth stocking up on. All entries were tasted ‘blind’ to eliminate any brand bias, with judges scoring each on its aroma, flavour and texture.
The brief? Find the frozen heroes that make life easier without compromising on taste. Read on for the results.
Trü frü Nature’s Strawberries in White & Milk Chocolate 200g
Trü frü Nature’s Strawberries in White & Milk Chocolate 200g
Score: 92/100
Looking for an easy frozen dessert that isn’t ice cream? Trü frü’s whole ripe strawberries are coated in layers of white and milk chocolate for a refreshing freezer snack that really hits the spot.
Related: The best ice cream to keep you cool this summer, from limoncello to chocolate Guinness cake
Ice Kitchen Thai Green Curry Paste 2 x 77g
Ice Kitchen Thai Green Curry Paste 2 x 77g
Score: 90/100
If half-used jars of curry paste are a regular fixture at the back of your fridge, try this version instead. Made with a short list of UPF-free ingredients, each portion is ready to cook straight from the freezer with your choice of protein or veg and a can of coconut milk. Fresh-tasting and packed with flavour, it creates a speedy midweek curry in minutes.
Applied Nutrition High Protein Berry Smoothie Mix 600g
Applied Nutrition High Protein Berry Smoothie Mix 600g
Score: 83/100
If your fruit bowl has a habit of turning brown before you get to it, this frozen berry mix is a great alternative. Packed with strawberries, bananas and raspberries, plus added protein, it takes all the effort out of smoothie-making. Just add your liquid of choice and blend.
Co-op All Butter Croissants 420g
Co-op All Butter Croissants 420g
Score: 81/100
If you keep a pack of these in the freezer, your weekend will always get off to a good start. They were the best frozen pastries we tried, thanks to their rich, buttery flavour, crisp flaky layers and soft centre. They also filled our kitchen with a delicious freshly baked aroma.
Lidl Chef Select Duck & Hoisin Gyoza 240g
Lidl Chef Select Duck & Hoisin Gyoza 240g
Score: 81/100
Before you place a takeaway order, have a rummage in the freezer instead. Lidl’s duck gyoza impressed our testers with their generous filling of shredded duck and vegetables, while the hoisin sauce added rich, savoury depth without overwhelming the meat.
Picard Organic Butternut, Carrot And Yellow Turnip Soup 1kg
Picard Organic Butternut, Carrot And Yellow Turnip Soup 1kg
Score: 81/100
For those days when only soup will do, Picard’s organic blend of root vegetables and crème fraîche is the answer. Creamy, smooth and comforting, it’s as good as homemade, without the faff. Pop some bread in the toaster while it heats on the hob.
Picard Gnocchi with Tomatoes & Mozzarella 900g
Picard Gnocchi with Tomatoes & Mozzarella 900g
Score: 78/100
This pre-cooked gnocchi comes coated in a fresh-tasting tomato and basil sauce, with mozzarella adding a creamy finish and an authentic Italian flavour. Comforting, family-friendly and ready in just eight minutes in a pan (or six in the microwave).
Stocked Zesty & Spicy Chicken Tinga 560g
Stocked Zesty & Spicy Chicken Tinga 560g
Score: 77/100
Stocked’s clever block system lets you portion exactly what you need. Simply heat from frozen in the microwave or on the hob and serve with everything, from wraps to rice. This chicken tinga combines shredded chicken, beans and veg in a rich tomato sauce with gentle spice and a lingering warmth.
BirdsEye Stir Cook Meal Spanish Style Paella with Chicken & Prawns 350g
BirdsEye Stir Cook Meal Spanish Style Paella with Chicken & Prawns 350g
Score: 75/100
Paella might sound ambitious for a midweek dinner, but this mix of well-seasoned chicken, juicy prawns, paprika-spiced peas and red pepper delivers plenty of flavour, vibrancy and freshness with ease. Portion what you need and cook straight from frozen in just seven minutes.
Norteno Crispy Tacos Beef Birria 240g
Norteno Crispy Tacos Beef Birria 240g
Score: 74/100
These crispy corn tacos are pre-rolled and packed with tender shredded beef birria. Rich, savoury and gently spiced, they impressed our testers with their authentic flavour and satisfying crunch. They’re at their best cooked in the air fryer.
Merchant Gourmet Korean Style Vegetables & Mixed Rice 400g
Merchant Gourmet Korean Style Vegetables & Mixed Rice 400g
Score: 74/100
You probably already have a bag of mixed veg lurking in the bottom drawer, but this is a serious upgrade. Combining edamame, sugar snap peas, broccoli, peppers and hearty grains in a soy and ginger dressing, this freezer staple cooks in just four minutes and counts as one of your five a day.
Score: 72/100
These prawn dim sum steam in minutes and include three classic and three sweet chilli dumplings, generously filled with prawns, garlic and spring onion. Juicy, aromatic and packed with flavour, they’re an easy lunch or light dinner to keep on standby.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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