Channel 4 viewers hit out at 'dumbest TV cooking show' as they rage against 'disgusting-looking dishes' made from frozen vegetables

Channel 4 viewers have criticised its newest cooking show Batch From Scratch about advance meal preparation over, what many deemed, unappetising recipes and unhelpful kitchen hacks. The series that premiered last evening is hosted by Joe Swash and chef and bestselling author Suzanne Mulholland, who is famous for her time-saving and cost-cutting meal prep ideas and goes by 'The Batch Lady' on Instagram.

In the first episode, Joe and Suzanne travelled to Hull, East Yorkshire, to help the Powell family reclaim their kitchen from 'mealtime mayhem' and help them achieve the ultimate 'dinnertime dream' by organising their freezer and planning ahead. However, Channel 4's latest culinary programme failed to impress viewers after Batch From Scratch was branded the 'dumbest' ever cooking show for 'cutting corners' by using microwaveable rice and frozen foods in posts on X/Twitter.

Users said they were 'horrified' when the EastEnders actor added frozen vegetables like white onions and mushrooms to mother-of-three Claire Powell's shopping cart during a visit to Lidl, as the duo set about trying to reduce the family's weekly grocery bill. One X user wrote: 'Watching #batchfromscratch Horrified that you are showing meals using frozen chopped onions etc. 'Why not show people how to make from scratch - cheaper! Maybe rename the programme 'not quite from scratch.'.

Another added: 'Just witnessed the dumbest TV cooking show #BatchFromScratch. Channel 4 viewers have criticised its newest cooking show Batch From Scratch, presented by EastEnders actor Joe Swash and Instagram sensation Suzanne Mulholland - known to her Instagram followers as 'The Batch Lady'. Channel 4's latest culinary programme failed to impress viewers after Batch From Scratch was branded the 'dumbest' ever cooking show for 'cutting corners' by using microwaveable rice and frozen foods.

'I batch cook, but seriously, premade mash, ready diced onions & microwave rice? Hardly budget friendly nor "from scratch" is it?'. A similar tweet read: 'Isn't really "from scratch" when they're cutting corners using readymade mash or precut veg.'. One user also highlighted how 'freezing things and defrosting them makes the taste awful for most things' in a comment on the social media platform. Viewers also expressed their disapproval about the Edinburgh-based chef's suggestion to prepare and freeze 20 sandwiches ahead of time, with Suzanne revealing these sarnies can last for 'up to three months'.

The fillings included ham and cheese, tuna and sweet corn, chicken and pesto, roast beef, and 'even peanut butter and jam'. However, X users couldn't stomach the idea of batch-freezing sandwiches - especially considering they are already so easy to prepare fresh. 'I freeze a lot of meals, but freezing sandwiches is the stuff of nightmares for me,' one viewer tweeted. Another added: 'I’m sorry I draw the line at freezing sandwiches, they only take a few minutes to make either morning of or night before. Could even get the older kids doing their own!'.

Viewers also expressed their disapproval about the Edinburgh-based chef's suggestion to prepare and freeze 20 sandwiches and pointed out the advice being given was contradictory. 'Freezing sandwiches for three months?' one X user wrote. 'Behave.'. Some also pointed out the advice being given to the Powell family was contradictory, with another person saying: 'No time to cut up a pepper so they advise getting pre-chopped but also advise having pancakes for breakfast.

'How is there time to make pancakes but not cut a pepper?'. Still others questioned the quality of the recipes, with one X user raging the food looked 'undercooked' and 'disgusting'. Some, however, felt the programme was helpful for those who had never meal-prepped before but complained viewers didn't have enough time to make a note of Suzanne's recipes. 'We just have to be quick with a pen and paper and guess the quantities?' one person's X review read.

'Where do find the recipes, please?' another asked. A third person praised Batch from Scratch as a 'good show', writing: 'I have certainly picked up some good tips and they made cooking fun [in my opinion].'. Users said they were 'horrified' when the EastEnders actor added frozen vegetables like white onions and mushrooms to mother-of-three Claire Powell's shopping cart during a visit to Lidl. Suzanne, who hails from Selkirk, Edinburgh, is known as 'The Batch Lady' to her 339,000 Instagram followers, and frequently shares videos of her batch cooking from her farmhouse.

The mother-of-two cooks meals including chilli, fajitas, spaghetti bolognese, meatballs and burgers from the frozen foods she buys from the supermarket, which she says is convenient and keeps the costs down. She saves time by using similar ingredients and just one spoon to save on washing up. The meals are then distributed into bags which are flattened to save space in the freezer. The super mum cooks meals including chilli, fajitas, spaghetti bolognese, meatballs and burgers from the frozen foods she buys from the supermarket, which she says is convenient and keeps the costs down.