Together with pizza and sticks, Minestrone is one of the best -selling frozen frozen foods in supermarkets. Practical and fast to prepare even without thawing it, in fact, a few minutes in the pot, less still in the pressure cooker, to have a warm, healthy and nutritious dish, are enough.
On the market there are many variants: from the soups rich with more than 10 vegetables between roots, crucifers, legumes, leaf vegetables and aromatic herbs, to the “light” versions, with less calories for the absence of potatoes and beans. A strong trend is then that of private labels, that is, the distributor brand products, increasingly widespread on the shelves of large retailers.
Dozens of references and variations of soups, but with a production that is actually concentrated in a few companies. Among the main protagonists stand out Findus (Italian frozen company), the Abruzzo company Salpa/Rolli and, above all, orogel, leader of the sector.
But what are the best frozen soups? To find out, the red shrimp has led A blind test on 33 products Purchased in the supermarkets of Rome and tasted by a tasting panel made up of professional chefs and members of the editorial staff.
The experts tested the different “blind” products, that is, without knowing the brands, evaluating them by color, aroma, taste, consistency and homogeneity of the ingredients, identifying the best references available in the large -scale distribution.
The ranking of the best frozen soups
We start by specifying that no product has shone: in many cases they have emerged turned off, uninviting odors and uneven textures, with some too soft vegetables and others excessively fibrous. The tomato, often fibrous and with the peel, was a critical element in almost all samples.
Despite this, of the 33 soups tested, only 9 have entered the standings:
- Orogel – Good minestrone: The test winner is composed 90% of vegetables in pieces (potatoes, tomatoes, borlotti beans, carrots, peas, courgettes, celery, green beans, spinach, leek, pumpkin, cabbage) and the remaining 10% from drops of passed with vegetable broth virtue of broth. The freshness and natural flavor of vegetables, together with the sweetness of onions, carrots and peas, are the main strengths
- Orogel – minestrone 15 vegetables: In second place we find an Orogel product. This mix, consisting of vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, borlotti beans, courgettes and spinach, is varied and well recognizable, with a uniform cut. The flavor is sweet and harmonious, with a sugar -known carrot and a soft consistency, even if some vegetables are a little too succumbed to the bite
- The seasons of Italy – traditional minestrone with 16 vegetables: The seasons of Italy, the BF group brand, is an Italian farm that offers fresh 100% national and sustainable supply chain products. Its minestrone consisting of 16 vegetables is distinguished by the homogeneous cut and the vivid color of the vegetables. The flavor is delicate and natural, with a tasty and peel -free tomato, while the structure is uniform to the bite, apart from the beans that are a little tenacious
- Consilia – minestrone 15 vegetables: This minestrone, available in supermarkets affiliated to the Sun Consortium, is a mix of 15 Italian vegetables, produced by Orogel. The vegetables are balanced, with bright colors and a delicate smell. The strength of the product is the sweet taste and the clean aromatic profile, with beans, chickpeas and particularly appreciable potatoes, while some vegetables are soft or fibrous, representing the only defect of a product otherwise very valid
- Orogel – Pezzettoni minestrone: This product, composed of Italian vegetables, stands out for the fresh and expressive aromatic profile and for the versatility of the mix, which can be used both as a minestrone and as a side dish. Although the consistency of the large pieces of the vegetables can be improved, the product offers vivid colors, a natural flavor and a particularly tasty tomato
- Coop – vegetable minestrone: the Coop vegetable minestrone, produced by Orogel, is a mix of 15 Italian vegetables. After cooking, it offers a set of well distinguishable vegetables, with a fresh and delicate smell and a harmonious flavor. Although the tomato is fibrous and with the peel, the structure of the product is homogeneous and pleasant, with well -integrated legumes and a balanced taste
- Findus – Minestrone Light Tradition: with only 12 kilocalories per 100 grams, it is the brand product that enters the standings thanks to its lightness and 45% less calories than the traditional version, due to the absence of potatoes and beans. Italian vegetables, such as carrots, courgettes, cabbage and peas, are well distinguishable, with intense colors and a fresh and natural smell. The consistency is good, but the taste of the vegetables is not always homogeneous, with some such as the tomato and pumpkin that can be improved, while the peas are particularly tasty
- Royal Fields – The Verdurissimi – minestrone 15 vegetables: Produced by the Abruzzese Italsur company, it is made up of frozen vegetables a few minutes from the collection, thanks to the proximity of the plant to the agricultural area. The vegetables are well recognizable and colorful, although cut into small pieces. On the nose and on the palate, the minestrone offers a clean vegetable profile but with little intense and persistent flavors. The structure is discreet and homogeneous to the bite
- Esselunga – Traditional minestrone 15 vegetables: Esselunga offers several frozen soups. Among the 4 tasted, the traditional 15 vegetables (made by Orogel) was the favorite of the experts. Composed of vegetables grown in Italy, the product has somewhat dull colors and a delicate flavor, with particularly flawless tomato. Despite the uneven structure, the aromatic profile is clean, with the bean standing for its sweetness and pastosity. The minestrone of the Smart line is also interesting
