In the words of Big Cook Ben, It's Hot Hot Hot! (Tesco Beef Hot Pot)

Member Name: AmyAmy

Product:	Tesco Beef Hot Pot
Date:	04/11/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: delicious, quick

Disadvantages: unhealthy, not too cheap

I always try and eat healthily, but I must admit that it is not always the easiest, or the most practical, option. After a long and tiring day the last thing you want to do is stand and cook a hearty meal. If I am honest, relaxing on the sofa with EastEnders and a cup of tea sounds so much more appealing! So on those occasions I do turn to the quick microwave meals that make the evening stress free.

There is quite a variety of microwave meals out there, and one of the most common is the hot pot. Whether its Weight Watchers, Asda's, or Tesco's own brand, they all seem to offer two flavours: beef and chicken. Now I do not mind which I have, but I do tend to go for the chicken more often. This simply means that when I have a beef option, it tastes more special!

Tesco have hot pot options in both their fridges and their freezers. The option in their fridge comes in a circular black plastic pot. Around it there is a cardboard sleeve upon which you will find a pictureo f the hot pot, or at least what it intends on looking like. As we know, ready meals never come out quite as expected. Through the clear plastic on the top of the pot you can see the solid cold hotpot, not appealing at all.

Of course, the hot pot needs cooked! It takes just a couple of minutes in the microwave, and ping! its done. As you take it out of the microwave and peel off the clear plastic, being careful not to burn your hands on the steam, you will find the meaty aroma is amazing. It looks quite sloshy, especially when you pour it into a bowl or a plate, but still incredibly tempting!

Well of course this has beef in it. Okay so it is not the most tender beef I have ever tasted - I am not the biggest fan of minced beef as it is - but it is still delicious and not overly chewy. As for the peas and the carrots, well they were surprisingly soft and quite juicy too, much to my delight. And the potatoes? Well they're potatoes - what could be wrong with them?! They were not exactly crisp but they weren't soggy either, so it wasn't too bad at all! Overall this is quite a delicious little hotpot that is sure to fill you up.

Each hot pot can provide you with a delicious meal, but needless to say it is not that healthy. Nothing that comes from a microwave can do you wonders. However if you eat it just now and again when you are short of time or energy to cook, then it should do you no harm. Each one contains 530 calories and 27g fat, which is quite appalling, so this is definitely not something to eat every day.

At £1.99 a pot, again this is not something that would be for everyday - nobody wants to spend £14 a week (and £730 a year!) on hotpots. But every now and then and it should do little damage. It is incredibly delicious and perfect for shoving in the microwave. If you like hotpots and there is a tesco store near you, it is well worth the try.

Amy 2009

Summary: /