Scorching January followed by cooling prices in February

Scorching January followed by cooling prices in February

Price of 100 everyday freezer items dropped long term at Countdown

16 February, 2015: After a record-breaking hot January, Countdown announced today that it is cooling down the prices of 100 freezer items adding to the 970 products already reduced – long term.

Since late 2013, Countdown has been cutting the everyday price of the grocery items Kiwis buy most often through its Price Lockdown and Price Drop programme. This latest addition of 100 freezer items means Kiwis have certainty that each week they can buy grocery items from the freezer for less. Countdown shoppers have saved nearly $60 million since the programme began.

Countdown’s General Manager Merchandise, Steve Donohue, says shoppers want certainty week to week that they can buy grocery items at the same low price.

“With Price Lockdown and Price Drop our customers can come in any time and get the same low price. There’s no need to do the traditional stock up on specials – this is about an everyday low price saving customers money every time,” says Donohue.

Jax Hamilton, Masterchef runner-up and one of the faces of Countdown's Feed Four for $15 value meals campaign, is known for cooking delicious and simple dishes using pantry staples and offers her perspective.

“Frozen fruit and vegetables are something that Kiwi families always have on hand. They’re convenient and a great staple to keep in the freezer for when you need to whip up a fast, healthy meal. Plus, frozen produce is picked at its peak and the freezing process locks in nutrients so it’s a really convenient way for families to make sure they are eating lots of vegetables,” says Hamilton.

Grocery items included in the latest Price Lockdown addition include frozen peas, berry packs, pastry, Weight Watchers meals, super-sweet corn kernels and mashed potatoes. For those wanting to treat themselves, Tip Top Trumpets and Kapiti Ice Cream have dropped to new everyday low prices as well.

Jax’s top tips for frozen foods:
Set your freezer to -18ºC
To avoid freezer burn always seal frozen food once opened or put it in an airtight container
Don’t refreeze frozen food that has thawed
When fresh fruit and vegetables are out of season, buy them frozen to save money
Frozen vegetables are a great alternative to fresh and have the benefit of convenience as well as high nutrient profiles[1]
Label your frozen food so you know what it is before you thaw it and include the date so you know how long you’ve frozen it for
Make sure you don’t keep food in the freezer for too long. As a guide:
2-3 months for soups, stews and casseroles
2-3 months for cooked meat
4-12 months for uncooked meat
4 months for cooked poultry
9-12 months for uncooked poultry
8-10 months for frozen fruits and vegetables
Jax’s tender steak puff parcels

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Serves/Makes: 4

Ingredients
500ml Oxo beef stock
½ cup Homebrand tomato sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
½ tsp salt
1Tbsp smoked paprika
575g gravy beef or chuck steak
2 Tbsp oil
1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rasher Signature Range streaky bacon
2 sheets Homebrand puff pastry
1 Tbsp milk
500g Homebrand fries, roasted until crunchy
400g Homebrand mixed vegetables, steamed
¼ cup Homebrand tomato sauce
Method

Mix together stock, ½ cup tomato sauce, brown sugar, ½ Tbsp paprika and salt. Pour into a saucepan, add steak (ensuring the liquid covers the meat) bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 hours or until the meat is falling apart. You can also use a crockpot for this if you have one at home.

Remove from the stock and set aside. Place stock in a clean saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.

In a large frying pan, pour oil, add remaining paprika and onion. Sauté gently for 2 – 3 minutes until soft and translucent. Add bacon, cook for a further minute or so.

Preheat oven to 200°C.

Shred steak into bite sized pieces. Toss into the onion and bacon and mix well. Cook for 5 minutes then pour over the thickened sauce. Mix well and season. Remove from heat, set aside and allow to cool.

Take your puff pastry and cut in half. Place a large spoonful of your steak mixture at one end.
Using a little water wet the edges of the parcel then take the other end and close it. Seal the edges with a fork.

Continue until you have 4 parcels. If you like you can brush with milk. Place on an oven tray and in the oven. Cook for 15 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Serve with fries, tomato sauce and veges.

Ends

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