Birds Eye makes it easier to eat your veggies

Steamed vegetables don’t get any easier than this.

OK, Mom could still be smothering them with melted cheese and spooning them into your mouth. But if you’ve graduated to making your own dinner, Birds Eye’s new Steamfresh vegetables are the next best thing.

The frozen vegetables are sealed in a microwave-ready plastic bag. Toss the bag into the microwave for about 5 minutes and voila, steamed veggies for dinner. (You don’t even have to pierce the bag.)

The Spokesman-Review Reader food panel members were all over the charts with their ratings. Some raved about the tender crisp vegetables; others complained that they tasted like typical waterlogged frozen vegetables.

The sweet corn received top marks, with four out of five stars for flavor. Both the green beans and mix of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots each received three out of five stars.

“Has a nice natural corn flavor somehow preserved all the way from stalk to plate,” said Larry Inman

Donald Clegg liked the corn as well. “Nicely cooked, sweet, good corn flavor. Very good.”

Skip Hubbard liked the look and the smell of the vegetables. “Too bad it doesn’t taste like corn,” he said.

The green beans didn’t fare as well with tasters.

“Not bad, but the texture of frozen vegetables is unmistakable,” said Marcia Oranen.

“Jack would not have planted a green bean if he thought they would taste like this. The plus? It’s really green,” Tina Johnson said.

Matt Quesnell said the green beans didn’t pass muster. “These are the type of vegetables that made me hate eating them as a kid. Seriously, pretty rubbery and flavorless. Blah.”

The broccoli, cauliflower and carrots were a mixed bag for tasters, too.

“Tough carrots. Otherwise, OK for frozen,” Andy Hoye

“I know that making your own is cheaper, but this out of the package is good, rich-colored vegetables. The carrots probably did not microwave the best, but the broccoli and cauliflower were real good,” added Marilyn Moore.

“Typical frozen vegetables; (they) all have the same texture – firm,” said Marcia Oranen

Birds Eye Steamfresh, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrots

Price: $2.29

Nutrition per 3/4-cup serving: 30 calories, no fat, 1 gram protein, 5 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, 30 milligrams sodium.

Taste: • • •

Value: • • •

Comments: “I didn’t know they made rubber carrots for human consumption.” – Donald Clegg

“While the broccoli and cauliflower came through the manufacturing process with flying colors, the carrots seemed to have lost their flavor.” – Skip Hubbard

“Firm, flavorful and a nice blend of tastes.” – Larry Inman

“Very good mix of vegetables and very fresh tasting. I would fix these for dinner. The carrots were a little waterlogged though.” – Nancy Robinson

Birds Eye Steamfresh, Cut Green Beans

Price: $2.29

Nutrition per 2/3-cup serving: 30 calories, no fat, 1 gram protein, 5 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, no sodium.

Taste: • • •

Value: • •

Comments: “A little too rubbery. Doesn’t compare with a fresh bean. It lost flavor somewhere along the way from the vine to the table.” – Larry Inman

“Holds the natural green color of the garden but doesn’t quite taste like my beans.” – Marilyn Moore

“It’s a trade-off. (Vegetables are either) undercooked and still crunchy or overcooked and mushy. These would be undercooked and chewy.” – Peggy Kazanis

Birds Eye Steamfresh, Super Sweet Corn

Price: $2.29 for 12 ounces

Nutrition per 2/3-cup serving: 70 calories, 1 gram fat (no saturated fat, 13 percent fat calories), 1 gram protein, 5 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, no sodium.

Taste: • • • •

Value: • • • •

Comments: “Nicely cooked, sweet, good corn flavor. Very good.” – Donald Clegg

“Fresh enough.” – Andy Hoye

“Nice clean corn, fresh flavor.” – Nancy Robinson