Help with Storebought Frozen Lasagna

[pinehurst]

What's your favorite brand? Sister in law has asked me to buy several (6) family-size ones to drop off with her daughter (my niece) who's sharing an apt with college roomies in my neck of the woods.

She gave me a Stop and Shop gift card with which to purchase said lasagna and other sundry doo dads (Gummy Vites, etc) for daughter/niece.

I'd prefer to make a couple for her, but I have my marching orders (and no time).

What are your favorites...remember, can't be TJ's or anything. Big chain grocery brands only, and family size. Stouffers is the only brand I know of?

[pinehurst]

HI all,

I went with the Stouffers because it was a familiar brand to my SIL. I bought a couple of meat sauce ones and a stuffed peppers.

I bought a Lasagna Italiano before reading Chocolatetartguy's post to taste-test with the next-door neighbors at home, just because I had never seen it before and I was hooked (apparently, I was a squirrel in a former life). He's right....while there was discernible fennel seed in it, and lots of cheese, the sausage was "meh" and it didn't brown correctly. The old standard was best.

I think I'll do some tests of other brands over Christmas, when I have to put out ham, turkey, lasagna, etc on a tight schedule. THANK YOU all, again.

[Bacardi1]

Saveway supermarket's own brand has always been above the bar.

[Bacardi1]

Oh, & Safeway's (if you have one in your neighborhood) lasagna comes in several different varieties - "Vegetable", "Turkey", regular "Meat", etc., etc. - so you can please everyone.

[mamachef]

Nice, esp. that they have a turkey version.

[chocolatetartguy]

I saw a family size Stouffers Lasagne Italiano on sale so gave it a try. It was good, but not as good as the simple meat sauce version. It had odd looking pieces of fennel Italian sausage that were OK. The ricotta was lost in the mix. The top didn't brown as much but maybe due to the larger size and cooking time.

[JMF]

Ummm... why not give the gift card to your niece and let her buy the food SHE wants to eat?

[Samalicious]

Ummm...that's not what her mom wanted to do with the gift cards.
Do not try to second guess the women. It will not go well.

[tcamp]

When we go south to the beach, we get several of the big, frozen Stouffers macaroni and cheeses to keep the teens and littles fed. They are always gobbled up and leftovers enjoyed at breakfast.

[pinehurst]

Hey all,

Thanks a lot for this. I don't know if Stop and Shop in my neck of the woods has the Michael Angelo's, but I have seen Marie C and I know they have biiiiggg size Stouffer's stuff. What I plan to do is get a couple of the family size red sauce/meat Stouffers, a couple of the veggie, and a couple of Marie C., along with the vitamins, PB, and other items I'm schlepping. For kicks, I will look for the M.Angelo brand.

Thanks again!

[annagranfors]

pinehurst, the Michael Angelo's webpage has a store finder, and since you've mentioned Stop and Shop a few times, I'm going to assume you're from Massachusetts (deductive reasoning via Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers singing about Stop and Shop in "Road Runner" back in the seventies..."Radio on!"). The store finder at the webpage shows LOTS of places in the Boston area, so I'm guessing they're probably statewide.

[sisterfunkhaus]

Marie Callendar's makes a darned good frozen lasagna. Stouffer's is really good as well.

[Greek Chefs Daughter]

Since the "GFS Marketplace" opened nearby, I have been having excellent luck with their brand name frozen entrees. The lasagna is very good, and there are a few different types.

[mamachef]

I'm on the Stouffer's train, especially the vegetarian version.

[chocolatetartguy]

Would that make you a ballot stouffer?

[mamachef]

AAAAAUGH!! VERY PUNNY!!

[kubasd]

Oh me, too! It's a definite guilty pleasure, as the vegetables are pretty measly, but it tastes soooo good!! Browning the crispies on top is key :)

[annagranfors]

You might want to give Michael Angelo's a try...not sure if it's available in your area, but I've always found it preferable to Stouffer's and Marie Callendar's. And they make a variety of other frozen Italian entrees, including vegetarian stuff.

http://www.michaelangelos.com/

[enbell]

I was going to post this. Far better than Stouffer's in my opinion.

[brucesw]

Another + for Michael Angelo's.

Over on the Chains board there's a thread about Kroger's Private Selections with a couple of thumbs up for their lasagnas. I haven't tried one yet myself and they're not going to be at Stop and Shop, of course.

[mwk]

another vote for Michael Angelo's. It's the only brand of frozen lasagna or eggplant Parmesan that I will buy.

[Marusik]

+1. Walmart carries it.

[redfish62]

iMO Michael Angelos is the best by far, next I would put Stouffer's Lasagna Italiano.

[chocolatetartguy]

I love Stouffers with the top browned to a crust. In fact, I often prefer it to homemade!

[pinehurst]

Thank you--does it come in veggie and meat, and what's your fave? I do like a lot of Stouffers products. I could eat my weight in spinach souffle, easily.

[Samalicious]

Stouffer's is good. If you have the chance sometime, try the Kirkland brand from Costco . It has a very good taste and the kids love it.

[Jeri L]

Stouffer's have a number of varieties and they're pretty reliable. My current favorite frozen lasagne is Marie Callender 3 Meat and 4 Cheese lasagne. Bonus: It heats just fine in the microwave.

[pinehurst]

Thank you Samalicious and Jeri.

Jeri, does the Marie Callendar come in "Family Size" (to feed roomies as well as niece?)

[chocolatetartguy]

I've had both and much prefer the meat sauce version. They do make at least one larger size. It comes in a tin that is about as wide as a person's body.

[Bryan Pepperseed]

Could be one of those "reminds us of the old days" things, but after trying most of Stouffers' newer varieties this household prefers the one closest to the original which I think is labeled "Lasagna with meat sauce".
Have to agree with chocolatetartguy - browing the top is a must.