For ready meals, Zatarain’s new line fails to impress
When it’s this hot out, forget about firing up the stove.
If take-out options are starting to wear on your family, there are plenty of heat-and-eat ideas on grocery store shelves. But, think twice before reaching for Zatarain’s new ready-to-serve complete meals. The Spokesman-Review reader food panel tasters gave the venerable New Orleans-style seasoning and mix makers a thumbs down for its microwave-ready dinners.
The Red Beans and Rice with Sausage and the Blackened Chicken with Yellow Rice eked out two stars for flavor from tasters – a poor on the panel’s five-star scale. If that wasn’t bad enough, it was the Sausage and Chicken Gumbo that was really in the basement. Panel members gave it one-and-a-half stars – that’s somewhere just this side of inedible, according to the scale.
“Slimy, gloppy gravy with meat that tastes like bologna,” said Tina Johnson. “Do you have something against us, Lorie?”
Skip Hubbard, who has been known to rave about dishes other members pan, was even unimpressed. “Soupy, salty slop,” he said. “I suspect the package shows a dish filled with good stuff, but trust me, there’s no there, there.”
Marcia Oranen took it a bit further, “Dog food,” she said. “Gelatinous gravy and the flavor is horrible. I think it is supposed to be gumbo. Totally canned taste.”
Whoa.
A few people had nice things to say about the meals.
Peggy Kazanis liked both the red beans and rice and the blackened chicken. “Very flavorful rice with a healthy taste,” she said.
Although Hubbard disparaged the gumbo, he was won over by the Blackened Chicken with Yellow Rice, “Great chicken flavor with a bit of spice. A great dish I’d serve my family,” he said.
Those who liked the meals just didn’t come close to balancing out those who didn’t.
A few people said they were surprised after the maker of the meals was revealed. Some said they tend to reach for Zatarain’s when they’re shopping for boxed rice mixes.
Larry Inman said there’s no way he’s settling for so-so when there’s something more tempting nearby.
“Good, but not good enough to buy,” he said. “There are too many better choices on the shelf.”
Zatarain’s Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
Price: $2.19 for 6.5 ounces
Nutrition per serving: 350 calories, 7 grams fat (2 grams saturated, 18 percent fat calories), 13 grams protein, 57 grams carbohydrate, 15 milligrams cholesterol, 6 grams dietary fiber, 1,430 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • •
Value: • •
Comments: “Dry, artificial tasting. Why would anyone settle for this?” – Larry Inman
“This isn’t bad, but it looks like it would be more flavorful that it is.” – Tina Johnson
“Very flavorful rice with a healthy taste.” – Peggy Kazanis
“The rice is not too bad, but the sausage has the exact same flavor and texture. I couldn’t tell if I was chewing rice or sausage and that’s not good.” – Skip Hubbard
Zatarain’s Blackened Chicken and Yellow Rice
Price: 2.19 for 6.5 ounces
Nutrition per serving: 300 calories, 4.5 grams fat (.5 grams saturated, 13.5 percent fat calories), 12 grams protein, 52 grams carbohydrate, 15 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram dietary fiber, 1,330 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • •
Value: • •
Comments: “Very meaty rice … full of flavor. The rice is perfectly cooked.” – Peggy Kazanis
“Everything in this dish tasted the same … some sort of meat but it tasted just like the rice.” – Marcia Oranen
“Not too bad, better than the others, but still not very edible.” – Nancy Robinson
Zatarain’s Sausage and Chicken Gumbo
Price: 2.19 for 6.5 ounces
Nutrition per serving: 150 calories, 7 grams fat (2 grams saturated, 42 percent fat calories), 7 grams protein, 16 grams carbohydrate, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram dietary fiber, 1,000 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • 1/2
Value: • •
“This is very bad.” – Peggy Kazanis
“Flavor is so-so at best. I don’t think I would ever buy this product.” – Larry Inman
“Globby gravy and fake meat. I don’t think anyone would eat this given a choice.” – Nancy Robinson