Taste-Off: The tastiest frozen enchiladas - and the ones to leave in the freezer case

"Spicy, earthy and packed with layers of umami, an enchilada drenched in sauce is the kind of comforting deliciousness that's tough to beat - especially if you don't have to chop, cook, shred, fry and roll the ingredients yourself. When the craving for enchiladas hits, restaurant takeout is a great option, but even easier is to shop the frozen aisle, where there's a generous selection of enchiladas made every which way."

"Most frozen enchiladas come in boxes that are designed to entice - they have gorgeous styled pictures of luscious-looking enchiladas. Spoiler alert! That's rarely what you'll find inside the box. The fillings are rarely as generous, and often look entirely different. It's also good to know that frozen enchiladas, even the best ones, are typically loaded with salt. A great enchilada has a generous spoonful of rich, succulent filling wrapped up in a flavorful, tender tortilla, and is topped with bold, complex, sauce."

"Cheese is optional, but it does add richness and balance. Enchiladas gone wrong are far too common. Texture can be mushy, flavors flat. But the worst of the lot are yucky bites that are way out of balance, or so packed with preservatives and fake ingredients that they don't even taste like food. Here are details on fork-worthy bites that will satisfy the craving for an enchilada, and the mushy bites that aren't worth the freezer space."

Frozen enchiladas provide an easy alternative to cooking, with many varieties stuffed with chicken, beef, cheese, beans, vegetables or tofu and sauces ranging from red to green to white. Packaged photos frequently exaggerate portion size and appearance, and many products are high in salt. A well-made enchilada combines a generous, flavorful filling, a tender tortilla and a bold, complex sauce; cheese can enhance richness. Common problems include mushy texture, flat flavors, and overly processed or unbalanced bites. Nutrition information is standardized to a 9-ounce (255 g) serving for comparison.

Read at The Mercury News