Reader Food Panel: Gorton’s temptations

Reader food panel tasters were tempted, but only until they saw the price of Gorton’s new Shrimp Temptations entrees.

“Very nice blend of flavors in a mild sauce, flavorful shrimp that are firm, but not too chewy. Yes! And tastes as good as it smells. Unfortunately overpriced,” said Larry Inman of the scampi in garlic butter sauce.

Vicki Deschaine said the scampi might make a nice quick dinner if served over noodles or rice. Andy Hoye agreed the dish had a nice mild garlic sauce. “Easy to like this one but pricey,” he said.

The scampi received a decent three-star rating from the panel but earned just one-and-a-half stars for value.

Although news releases from the company say the shrimp have a suggested retail price of $6.99 for each package, we paid $8.49 each for a 12-ounce package of scampi and a 10-ounce package of beer batter shrimp at a local Safeway store. The Shrimp Temptations line also includes Lemon Butter Shrimp and Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp.

The Beer Batter Shrimp were all but panned by the panel. Tasters said the breading was too greasy and some complained that it was soggy, rather than crispy. The shrimp scored just two stars on our five-star scale and one star for value.

Inman said: “I like the actual shrimp – the flavor is good – but the breading is quite mushy and detracts from the overall taste. (This is) way overpriced. It’s too expensive at half the cost.”

Donald Clegg didn’t find anything redeeming about the beer-battered seafood. “I didn’t think there were bad shrimp out there until encountering these. Mushy, bland, nearly flavorless. Truly awful.”

Gorton’s Shrimp Temptations, Scampi

Price: $8.49 for 12 ounces

Nutrition per 4-ounce serving: 120 calories, 6 grams fat (1.5 grams saturated, 45 percent fat calories), 10 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrate, 80 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram dietary fiber, 610 milligrams sodium.

Taste: “ “ “

Value: “ 1/2

Comments:

“Very nice shrimp with a mild garlic sauce. Easy to like this one but pricey.” – Andy Hoye

“I can see the shrimp but not really taste them in the rich herb-flavored sauce. This might be good as a quick supper over rice or noodles.” – Vicki Deschaine

“Rather obnoxious sauce with a fake parsley (I’d guess) flavor. The shrimp were nice, good firm texture – unfortunately, the sauce did them in.” – Donald Clegg

“Tastes like a reconstituted powder sauce.” – Marcia Oranen

Gorton’s Shrimp Temptations, Beer Batter

Price: $8.49 for 10 ounces

Nutrition per 3.5-ounce serving: 240 calories, 12 grams fat (3.5 grams saturated, 45 percent fat calories), 7 grams protein, 25 grams carbohydrate, 40 milligrams cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 670 milligrams sodium.

Taste: “ “

Value: “

Comments: “Greasy bread coating smothers the bland shrimplets. … Walk away.” – Andy Hoye

“These are greasy and doughy. I can taste more coating than I do shrimp.” – Vicki Deschaine

“The breading batter tasted a little greasy and my fingers ended up greasy… I’ve tasted better.” – Marilyn Moore

“Soggy breading that tastes like fish-stick breading from 40 years ago. Too much breading soaked with grease.” – Marcia Oranen