Frozen Food During MCOs

You can practically get almost anything these days in frozen form....be it fresh produce or pre-cooked frozen food.  This was greatly influenced by the series of lockdowns and MCOs that we have had to endure due to the widespread pandemic.  Frozen food (both fresh and ready-to-eat types) is the way to go for many households...and an extended MCO 3.0 means even more frozen food in the days ahead! >_<

Frozen fresh produce (delivered to our homes) has been around for a long time already but gained momentum during the MCOs coz who would want frozen seafood and meat when we can get our hands on fresh produce from the wet markets (which I prefer) or supermarkets.  I, for one, would not want to buy frozen fish or prawns if I have a choice to get fresh ones from my usual fish vendor at the wet market.

But the MCO has forced my hand (or our hands) and I had to make do with frozen fish and prawns (in order to stay safe and away from crowded wet markets)...and depending on luck, sometimes they're adequately fresh while at other times, they disappoint.  I've had that disappointment (from my usual supplier, Vfresh, recently) with a batch of ikan senangin (threadfin) I bought for my sister-in-law that turned out very fishy and a batch of (IQF white) prawns that turned out mushy (the sea prawns I got previously were ok).  I don't believe in buying frozen squid either coz if that turns out mushy, it's even harder to stomach than mushy prawns.  I realise that their vacuum-packed fish like salmon, tilapia, siakap (Asian seabass or barramundi) and saba are much better bets (and that limits me to very few choices I can buy from Vfresh from now on).  I don't think I dare to buy any frozen local fish from them and will only stick to those I've bought before.

Haiz.....I can't wait to get fresh fish from my regular wet market vendor again when the Covid situation improves and it's deemed to be safe(r) to go out again.  Nothing beats fresh fish from the wet market!!  I now even resort to buying fresh vegetables online just to lessen my trips to buy vegetables.

Besides frozen fresh produce, there are also many players in the market now that sells frozen pre-cooked food and meals.  They're ready-to-eat frozen packages that you can just reheat at home and your meal is ready in a jiffy with zero effort and without the need to sweat it out in the kitchen....and that is a godsend for many people who don't cook, don't know how to cook or don't have the time to cook.

Even I, who do cook....knows how to cook...and have time to cook....will resort to some of these frozen ready-to-eat dishes from time to time out of sheer convenience and pure laziness.....lol! :D  It first started when we could not travel interstate for CNY and had some of these frozen, ready-to-heat dishes for our CNY dinners in KL.

#1 - (Frozen) Hakka Wu Tau Kau Yoke (Steamed Pork Belly with Yam)

An aunt (from Ipoh) makes a very good wu tau kau yoke....and she makes it every year for CNY (and she makes it in trays to be eaten over the next few days).  She serves it with sang choy (fresh lettuce leaves) on the side for those who want to wrap their meat in them.  They also use the lettuce leaves to wrap nga ku in a dish braised with nam yue.  I'm not sure if this sang choy wrapping is a thing with Hakkas coz I don't eat it like that and neither do I find a liking for this nam yue braised nga ku either.

#2 - (Frozen) Pork Ribs Curry

I've eaten many good curries in my life but I can't recall having had a good curry pork ribs though.  So, I can't find any photos of good curry pork ribs coz when it comes to curry, it's always pork curry, fish curry or vegetables curry that I'd order.

#3 - (Frozen) Hakka Char Yoke (Braised Pork Belly with Wood-Ear Fungus)

Ah, when it comes to Hakka Char Yoke, I've eaten my fair share of good ones either from chap fan stalls, tai chow places.....

......or proper Chinese restaurants like this one from Dai Cha Dim in Pavilion.

#4 - (Frozen) Lor Bak

Then there were these fried lor bak (5-spice meat rolls) which I first ate during our CNY reunion dinner (previous photo) and again during our hoi nin lunch from a different supplier, I think, which tasted better than the first.

I like the ones from a shop near me, Jia Li Mian Noodle House, Pandan Jaya, as they're pretty good....

.......and the ones from Hoe Fong Chicken Rice in Seapark, PJ, are not bad either.

All the above frozen food that my sister-in-law bought during the CNY period was edible but only average-tasting at best.  The frozen lor bak was probably the best of the lot which I had also gotten from her to cook at home.  I pan-fried them (I don't like to do deep-frying at home) and my husband said it tasted better than air-fried (but still not as good as deep-fried).

#5 - (Frozen) Chicken Chop

Another sister-in-law gifted me a few (more like six!) frozen chicken chops which she bought online from two different sellers.  They come in a few choices of flavours and I got original, lemongrass, rosemary (they used dry herbs from a bottle) and curry (this was the only one that had flavour).  Since these chops come already marinated, so all one needs to do is to cook them in the oven.  

I roasted the first one as it was.  Unfortunately, they turned out tasting quite bland (totally tasteless to my husband's taste buds) but, worst still, was that the texture of the meat was mushy.  A roast chicken that looks as pale as that isn't very inviting, is it? >_<

My husband said the meat was so soft (and he doesn't mean it in a good way) that you don't even need a knife to cut it apart! O_o  Not sure if it was because the chops weren't fresh (to begin with) or that they've been frozen for far too long.

I only ate one (after re-seasoning it, of course) and kinda forced my husband to eat up the rest.  He would eat up anything just to not waste food, that's why he's the one we rely on to sapu anything we can't finish.  I tried to make the balance ones as palatable as possible by throwing in anything that I could throw in (extra seasoning and spices from salt to black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, honey...you name it, I threw it in!). As much as I could save the taste of the chicken chop, there was nothing I could do to save the mushy texture of the meat.

See.....see....I can certainly marinate and make better tasting chicken chops than those frozen ones (and I'm not blowing my own trumpet coz they're really easy to do...I can practically make them with my eyes closed....kekeke!).  In fact, roast chicken is my forte as it was one of the first things I roasted successfully in the oven...and I'd usually cook it for our potluck parties...perhaps that had slipped my sister-in-law's mind. Suffice to say, I had to tell her the frozen ones were no where near good! >.<

#6 - (Frozen) Prawn Roll

I got these to try (through Shopee) when I ordered fresh vegetables.  They're supposed to be prawn rolls wrapped in beancurd sheets (RM7.90 for 5 pcs).

Although I shallow-fried them, the bean curd skin was still fairly crispy (but would have been crispier if they were deep-fried).  I could see whole (more like halved) prawns in the filling but there was also something of a minced nature.  I'm assuming it's part of the chopped prawns in the filling.  The bigger pieces of prawns had this translucent look with a crunchy texture and a lack of sweetness which makes me suspect they probably used frozen prawns in the filling.

Again, I would say the taste was of an acceptable level but also not something I'd be overly eager to buy again coz, at more than RM1.50 a piece, I didn't think the quality was worth the price paid.

#7 - (Frozen) La-La

My sister-in-law also gave me frozen la-la (clams) some time ago before our MCOs.  It was conveniently forgotten in my freezer until I found it while rummaging through my freezer during the first MCO.

What's better than eating la-la?  For some, it's eating peeled la-la where you don't have to contend with the shells.  But peeled la-la also meant the cooking method is very limited as you can't really stir-fry them (without shells) with say garlic, ginger or chillies as it just wouldn't be the same.  So, the only thing I could think of is to make la-la omelette with it.

#8 - (Frozen) Dim Sum

Of all the frozen foodstuff my two sisters-in-law bought, the frozen dim sum turned out to be the best tasting with the easiest, fuss-free preparation (it only needs to be steamed from frozen state).

I received a few types of dim sum....char siew pau (steamed BBQ pork buns), sang yuk pau (steamed meat buns), siew mai (Chinese steamed dumplings) and steamed beancurd rolls.

The char siew pau and beancurd rolls were the most tasty.....and the siew mai was decent too.  This frozen dim sum is the only thing I'd want to eat again (for the third time after eating them twice since the MCO started).  In fact, I made another order recently through my sis-in-law (since she never told me where she got them from).

It's something very convenient (stashed in the freezer) for snacking purposes during this MCO as all it needs is just to steam these ready-to-eat morsels.

I think the reason why most of the frozen food (I've tried thus far) didn't deliver in terms of taste is because every Tom, Dick & Harry (who cooks) seems to have jumped on this 'food bandwagon' as a means to earn a living or make some money as demand is so high for any foodstuff but (sadly) not everything is up to mark and we, the consumers, have to weave out the "not good"! >_<

There had been more misses than hits with some of the frozen food I've tried.  Being disappointed more often than not, I'd still prefer to buy cooked food from places where I know the taste and quality....and reheat (or freeze them for later) than to buy frozen food from people/places I don't know (unless they come highly recommended) coz I'm afraid there are just too many out there that don't cut it.  Anyone had any good frozen food experiences lately that were worthy? ^_~

#ewew tries Unagi Kabayaki from Vfresh

Vfresh is an online supplier of fresh produce, particularly seafood, that I came across recently.  They get their weekly supply from local fishing villages around Selangor.  There was once when I contacted the 'boss' and he so happened to be in Sekinchan sourcing for his weekly supply of fresh seafood.

I've since made my second order from them recently during CNY....got more of their refreshingly sweet pineapple juice...and received a free MD2 pineapple (surprisingly).  I think it was because I mentioned that one of the pineapples I got from them previously was slightly spoilt at the bottom.  I just wanted him to know (about his produce) and wasn't looking to be given a replacement but appreciated the nice gesture nevertheless.

When I made my first order from Vfresh, I got myself some Unagi Kabayaki or Japanese Grilled Eel (RM22) to try too.  When it arrived and I looked at the packaging, I realised they were from Piau Kee, a live and frozen seafood supplier/distributor.

Cooking instructions are provided on the packaging and you can choose a method that best suits you.  Method 1 - You can submerge the sealed frozen eel package into boiling water and cook for about 6 minutes.  Method 2 - Or you can defrost the frozen eel in its package first in the microwave for 2 minutes and then microwave it for a further 3 minutes.  Method 3 - You can also slide the frozen eel onto a baking tray and bake at 180°C for about 8 minutes.

Which method was I most comfortable with?  Obviously the last method as the first two involved cooking the frozen eel in its plastic packaging before sliding the eel out of its packet and onto a serving plate.  I guess I was just being paranoid.  I shouldn't be, after all sous vide is also done this way but that is done with food grade vacuum sealing bags, of course.  I wasn't too confident seeing that this had coloured printing on the packaging.  I once dropped a seasoning packet into my boiling instant noodles and I had to discard the whole pot! >_<

I decided to defrost the unagi in the fridge and cook it in the oven at 200°C (hoping for a better charring at a higher temperature) and it was done in just 5 minutes (since it was already defrosted).  It came out looking wonderful...like the real McCoy! ;)  As you can see, it's quite a large piece...for comparison purposes, it's as long as a pair of Japanese chopsticks.  You can serve (and eat) it on its own (with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds).

Or make it into a bowl of unagi don...full portion....for those with a ferocious appetite!  Taste wise, the unagi was soft textured (but a little gummy if you ask me) and it did achieve a bit of charring (but not much).  Even though there was a little charring, there wasn't any charred taste as you'd come to expect if it was grilled on an open fire as how it is often cooked.  This unagi had a bit too much skin (in my opinion) which was rather chewy.

But if you're not that big an eater, half portion is probably sufficient.  I actually delayed cooking this for a while until my bottle of mirin from Shopee arrived.  As can be seen from the packet, this unagi came with sauce but I was afraid it won't be enough....but it was.  So no need to make your own unagi sauce though the sweet, caramelised sauce with its thick consistency I found to be too sweet for me (perhaps next time I should dilute it with a bit of water).  When I slid the unagi from the packet onto the tray for cooking, I didn't pour out all the sauce but only added it in the last 2 minutes so that the sauce won't dry up during the grilling process.

If you happen to have any leftovers (and that's a big 'if'), the unagi keeps pretty well in the fridge for eating later.  You just need to reheat it in the microwave...and it's good enough for your food prep lunch the next day.

If you ask me, this cheap (and frozen) unagi is just not in the same league as those we order from Japanese restaurants.  Those are soft and delicately textured, not with a somewhat gummy texture, and the way they're grilled over an open fire means you get that lovely charred taste + the unagi sauce is also well balanced.

But at RM22, this unagi is good enough for two portions of unagi donburi making the cost only RM11 a bowl. Now where are we ever going to get a bowl of unadon at this price when we're more accustomed to paying anywhere between RM30 - RM50 (the average priced ones) at Japanese restaurants (there are also premium ones that easily cost more than RM50) although it's probably not fair to compare their quality directly to those offered by restaurants due to the vast difference in prices.

In the end, would this be an unagi I would re-order.  Yes and no.  Yes, if I'm looking for a cheap alternative (as a home meal)....and no, if I want to taste good quality unagi like those I'm excited to eat at Japanese restaurants.  So, hold your horses if you think you don't ever need to order unagi again when eating out.  This one isn't quite of the same level unfortunately...but, if you're willing to lower your expectations, this unagi is just pleasant enough to be acceptable. ^_~

Online Fresh Produce from Vfresh

I was recently introduced to Vfresh (through eatdrinkkl), an online platform where you can order fresh produce and groceries.  So far, I've only ordered once from this online seller (and it certainly won't be the last) since I'm pretty happy with the quality and freshness of their produce.

They're a home-based set-up that was born out of the pandemic (sometime in July 2020) and they operate out of their home in Happy Garden, Old Klang Road.  Seeing that they're fairly near me, I whatsapped them to find out the delivery charges to my place...and it turned out to be only RM5 for a minimum order of RM100. The minimum order amount is certainly doable...and the delivery charges very reasonable too if I may add.

My first order was made before Chinese New Year (CNY) and I concentrated on their pineapple products as I was very eager to try the reputable local MD2 Pineapple @ RM8 per fruit that Vfresh gets from a farm in Ulu Tiram, Johor.  The skin of the pineapple looks a bit different from the usual ones.  I don't ever buy whole pineapples as I've not cut one before (+ it's tedious work) but this one (surprisingly) turned out relatively easy to cut.  Once the skin was removed, the eyes were pretty much removed too as they weren't deep.  I didn't have to make many diagonal cuts to remove the eyes of the pineapple.

Looks like my first attempt at cutting a whole pineapple went pretty well....lol! ;D  Taste wise, the pineapple chunks were indeed very juicy and super sweet.  When I say super sweet, I don't mean intolerably sweet but extra sweet for a pineapple which is generally a bit sour and makes you cringe a little when taking a bite (unless you managed to pick the right one)...but this one wasn't so.

If their fresh cut pineapple was already so sedap, I was very excited that the cold pressed Pineapple Juice (350ml) @ RM8 (RM15 for two) would be even better....and it was...so fresh and sweet! ^o^  Even with 100% pure juice with no added sugar, it was still very sweet (as it should be since fruits in juice form is always sweeter than eating cut fruits).  It was really, really good...so drink sparingly if you're afraid of the sugar content.

Do note that the juice bottles come in a frozen state (probably to preserve them at the freshest possible), so do let it stand in the fridge to defrost...and you'll have a juice that's so cold, thirst quenching and refreshing all at the same time.

Their final pineapple product that I wanted to get was the Pineapple Tarts @ RM28 (36 pcs per box).  That was my first intention since CNY was approaching to see if they were any good.

If they were, I wanted to get more boxes to give away as gifts.....and to eat since it's one of my husband's favourite CNY snacks.

The pineapple jam on the tarts were certainly tasty but, unfortunately, that wasn't the case with the pastry/cookie.  It wasn't buttery enough and neither did it taste all that fresh.  It was like eating commercialised cookies that tasted like they were made well ahead of time for sale.

It was a shame really as the pineapple jam was plentiful (judging from the amount that was protruding from the pastry), so I won't be making any repeat orders for this, I'm afraid.  Even so, my mister wallop habis! :D

Besides pineapple products, you can also order seafood like fish, prawns (including mantis prawns), squid, crabs (including king crabs), even cockles, meat (kampung chicken and lamb), kampung eggs, unagi and even ice cream.

I also got myself some salmon fillets and unagi to try.  Wait ah.....I'll show you what I made with them and what I thought about them in another post.

For this post, it's all about the pineapples (or wong lai in Cantonese) or ong lai in Hokkien (prosperity come come....lol!)....as we usher in the Year of the (Metal) Ox...at least with a little cheer that the reunion dinner is back on with some slight amendments to the CNY SOP much to everyone's relief.

Here's wishing everyone a Safe CNY & a Happy Reunion

(where possible) with close family members.  Stay vigilant.

P/S: For a little spirits uplifting, that's my lazy, tiny bit of CNY decor! :P