Things that annoy you beyond reason...(Vol. 6)
Discussion
DRFC1879 said:
Having spent several year working in the frozen pizza industry, here's what actually happens:
Recipes are created in the development kitchen and test cooked using fairly standard domestic ovens (both fan and conventional electric, not usually gas though). The next stage is line trials in which the new recipes are made in small batches on the actual production lines and go though the freezer (usually either a spiral freezer or a blast freezer) just as they would when going into retail.
These samples also go through cooking validation in the test kitchen. On branded products that's generally the last stop for cooking validation but samples are quite often sent off to independent sensory panels for focus group sampling and at this point they will be cooked exactly as per on pack instructions in domestic ovens.
For own label products, all the major retailers have their own test/development kitchens at their head offices so a further round of cooking validation takes place, again using domestic ovens with products cooked in line with the instructions. At this point the retailers' technical and compliance teams will be involved in sampling and give feedback. I would say around 50% of recipes are signed off at this stage with others sent back for further tweaks. Whenever this happens, the cooking trial process starts again and they go back through another round of testing both at the manufacturer and in the retailers' kitchens.
Before I worked in frozen pizza I would never have considered buying one as I remember them being pretty poor back in the 80s/early 90s but nowadays if I'm buying a readymade pizza from retail I would probably choose frozen over fresh as the quality is no different but the price is significantly lower. Also a lot of "fresh" or "chilled" pizzas and/or bases are frozen on manufacture and thawed when needed for distribution to enable manufacturers to better manage supply and demand fluctuations with minimised waste.
TL/DR: Frozen pizza cooking instructions are demonstrably accurate if you follow them.
ETA: I have moved onto a different grocery supplier now so I have no skin in the game. Just sharing info.
Thanks for the insight. As I mentioned earlier and you confirm, frozen food technology has improved exponentially since the early days of mass frozen foods.Recipes are created in the development kitchen and test cooked using fairly standard domestic ovens (both fan and conventional electric, not usually gas though). The next stage is line trials in which the new recipes are made in small batches on the actual production lines and go though the freezer (usually either a spiral freezer or a blast freezer) just as they would when going into retail.
These samples also go through cooking validation in the test kitchen. On branded products that's generally the last stop for cooking validation but samples are quite often sent off to independent sensory panels for focus group sampling and at this point they will be cooked exactly as per on pack instructions in domestic ovens.
For own label products, all the major retailers have their own test/development kitchens at their head offices so a further round of cooking validation takes place, again using domestic ovens with products cooked in line with the instructions. At this point the retailers' technical and compliance teams will be involved in sampling and give feedback. I would say around 50% of recipes are signed off at this stage with others sent back for further tweaks. Whenever this happens, the cooking trial process starts again and they go back through another round of testing both at the manufacturer and in the retailers' kitchens.
Before I worked in frozen pizza I would never have considered buying one as I remember them being pretty poor back in the 80s/early 90s but nowadays if I'm buying a readymade pizza from retail I would probably choose frozen over fresh as the quality is no different but the price is significantly lower. Also a lot of "fresh" or "chilled" pizzas and/or bases are frozen on manufacture and thawed when needed for distribution to enable manufacturers to better manage supply and demand fluctuations with minimised waste.
TL/DR: Frozen pizza cooking instructions are demonstrably accurate if you follow them.
ETA: I have moved onto a different grocery supplier now so I have no skin in the game. Just sharing info.
Oven temperature is pretty key to how foods cook, which is why I recommended that people better understand their own oven, especially if it's s few years old, as seals will begin perishing etc.
Low temperatures to cook through dense foods, medium temperatures to ensure browning and high temperatures for crisping. Cook oven chips, for example, at a low temperature for a long time, and whilst they'll be hot through, you'll not produce the optimum quality product.
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Frank7 said:
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Photo's could be a contraction of photographs. Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Some people still write 'phone for telephone.
Frank7 said:
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Giving "friendly advice" like that just makes you look like a bit of a dick, so don't bother. Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
DoubleD said:
Frank7 said:
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Giving "friendly advice" like that just makes you look like a bit of a dick, so don't bother. Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Frank7 said:
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
If I hadn't accepted kindly-meant guidance many decades ago, I may well still be referring to 'less people' and being unable to spell 'supersede' correctly. I welcome such assistance - every day is a school day! Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
(I am an expert on apostrophe's, though!).
Oops!
people exiting a motorway and then getting straight back on...
on my morning commute I exit the motorway and there's 4 exits which can be taken - left, services, back on m'way or right (which is actually two exits). I turn right.
almost every day for the past few weeks I've seen vehicles who've exited the m'way just go back onto the m'way.
No suggestion that they've got the wrong turning - late indication, confusion on the roundabout etc - just straight off and straight on again.
two cars and a small van this morning - didn't appear to be in convoy but all went straight over and back on.
it really annoys me that they're wasting their time and fuel and my time by being in queues etc
on my morning commute I exit the motorway and there's 4 exits which can be taken - left, services, back on m'way or right (which is actually two exits). I turn right.
almost every day for the past few weeks I've seen vehicles who've exited the m'way just go back onto the m'way.
No suggestion that they've got the wrong turning - late indication, confusion on the roundabout etc - just straight off and straight on again.
two cars and a small van this morning - didn't appear to be in convoy but all went straight over and back on.
it really annoys me that they're wasting their time and fuel and my time by being in queues etc
Shop sites that will lose your "basket" after a relatively short period of activity.
For context I'm working out what hoses and fittings I need for my kit car, this isn't a quick process, the desire to minimise postage costs (which are "free" on a large order yet are ridiculous when you've got a £9.50 fee for that 50p part you missed!) means I don't want to miss something out etc and I've been down to the garage to have a "do I need a 90 degree or a 45 degree elbow" type consideration.
It is incredibly frustrating to go down and check that and then come back to add it and find that it's now alone in an otherwise empty basket and all the previous parts are lost.
I mean I'm totally understanding of not keeping it for all time (although some sites do store it in a local cookie and so its there until you clear them) but losing it after less than an hour is just not on.
For context I'm working out what hoses and fittings I need for my kit car, this isn't a quick process, the desire to minimise postage costs (which are "free" on a large order yet are ridiculous when you've got a £9.50 fee for that 50p part you missed!) means I don't want to miss something out etc and I've been down to the garage to have a "do I need a 90 degree or a 45 degree elbow" type consideration.
It is incredibly frustrating to go down and check that and then come back to add it and find that it's now alone in an otherwise empty basket and all the previous parts are lost.
I mean I'm totally understanding of not keeping it for all time (although some sites do store it in a local cookie and so its there until you clear them) but losing it after less than an hour is just not on.
arfursleep said:
people exiting a motorway and then getting straight back on...
on my morning commute I exit the motorway and there's 4 exits which can be taken - left, services, back on m'way or right (which is actually two exits). I turn right.
almost every day for the past few weeks I've seen vehicles who've exited the m'way just go back onto the m'way.
No suggestion that they've got the wrong turning - late indication, confusion on the roundabout etc - just straight off and straight on again.
two cars and a small van this morning - didn't appear to be in convoy but all went straight over and back on.
it really annoys me that they're wasting their time and fuel and my time by being in queues etc
Maybe there's a common Satnav related foible at that junction that makes people think they're being directed off only to realise the error and pop straight back on?on my morning commute I exit the motorway and there's 4 exits which can be taken - left, services, back on m'way or right (which is actually two exits). I turn right.
almost every day for the past few weeks I've seen vehicles who've exited the m'way just go back onto the m'way.
No suggestion that they've got the wrong turning - late indication, confusion on the roundabout etc - just straight off and straight on again.
two cars and a small van this morning - didn't appear to be in convoy but all went straight over and back on.
it really annoys me that they're wasting their time and fuel and my time by being in queues etc
Frank7 said:
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Typos, bad grammar, poor spelling and aphostrophe emergencies all go with the package that is PH. Part of the charm, Frank. Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
The man who never made a mistake, never made anything.
DRFC1879 said:
arfursleep said:
people exiting a motorway and then getting straight back on...
on my morning commute I exit the motorway and there's 4 exits which can be taken - left, services, back on m'way or right (which is actually two exits). I turn right.
almost every day for the past few weeks I've seen vehicles who've exited the m'way just go back onto the m'way.
No suggestion that they've got the wrong turning - late indication, confusion on the roundabout etc - just straight off and straight on again.
two cars and a small van this morning - didn't appear to be in convoy but all went straight over and back on.
it really annoys me that they're wasting their time and fuel and my time by being in queues etc
Maybe there's a common Satnav related foible at that junction that makes people think they're being directed off only to realise the error and pop straight back on?on my morning commute I exit the motorway and there's 4 exits which can be taken - left, services, back on m'way or right (which is actually two exits). I turn right.
almost every day for the past few weeks I've seen vehicles who've exited the m'way just go back onto the m'way.
No suggestion that they've got the wrong turning - late indication, confusion on the roundabout etc - just straight off and straight on again.
two cars and a small van this morning - didn't appear to be in convoy but all went straight over and back on.
it really annoys me that they're wasting their time and fuel and my time by being in queues etc
Cheeky !!
MartG said:
jamei303 said:
Photo's could be a contraction of photographs.
Nope - photos is a contraction of photographs, the apostrophe makes it possessive I bought a thingummybob that was sold by third party on Amazon's website, but was fulfilled by Amazon.
Within a week it had failed
According to their policy as it was not sold by Amazon, they won't send out a replacement, I have got to return it for a refund.
Took me an hour to route the cable through the motorbike frame - . So I' ve had to order another one, and will need to send the cable from that back. Let's hope it's not as flaky as the first one.
It's less than £20 though so I have to pay £4.49 postage. Speak to amazon about this and they agree to credit me a £5 voucher to cover this.
Voucher "can not be used with sold by third party products"
Within a week it had failed
According to their policy as it was not sold by Amazon, they won't send out a replacement, I have got to return it for a refund.
Took me an hour to route the cable through the motorbike frame - . So I' ve had to order another one, and will need to send the cable from that back. Let's hope it's not as flaky as the first one.
It's less than £20 though so I have to pay £4.49 postage. Speak to amazon about this and they agree to credit me a £5 voucher to cover this.
Voucher "can not be used with sold by third party products"
Throughout Covid19, I’ve been lucky to be working on full salary, isolation yes, but working full time remotely. With no socializing or travel, I’ve built up a nice little pot, to put towards, hopefully a decent holiday in 2021. This week all that changed.
The in-laws want to this visit, can we buy them flight tickets? Involves two flights, OK, tickets purchased. Then a couple of days later, they purchase their own tickets, why? I have no idea. Then they cancel theirs at considerable loss. Back to the first plan, the day before the flight, the airline contacts us, the 2nd flight has been cancelled. However, they will provide a hotel and a flight the next day, sounds good enough to me. Oh no, not to in-laws, they want the flight all done in one day, so new tickets bought.
We had a plan, stick to the plan. This is just one instance of several that happened during this difficult point of time. During Covid19, things have changed, you have to adapt!
The in-laws want to this visit, can we buy them flight tickets? Involves two flights, OK, tickets purchased. Then a couple of days later, they purchase their own tickets, why? I have no idea. Then they cancel theirs at considerable loss. Back to the first plan, the day before the flight, the airline contacts us, the 2nd flight has been cancelled. However, they will provide a hotel and a flight the next day, sounds good enough to me. Oh no, not to in-laws, they want the flight all done in one day, so new tickets bought.
We had a plan, stick to the plan. This is just one instance of several that happened during this difficult point of time. During Covid19, things have changed, you have to adapt!
Frank7 said:
Initially I thought that this mildly annoyed me, but I mulled it over and yes, it annoys me beyond reason.
Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
Doesn't seem to bother you on the 'spelling police' thread Frank. Is that because often the poster isn't present to be reminded how illiterate they are/superior you feel? Many people on a forum don't think being 100% grammatically correct is that important, so you may be walking into a bear trap there.Five minutes ago, I saw the word photo’s in the Bad Parking thread.
I wanted to point out to the poster, politely and gently, with no malice afore thought, that the plural of photo is photos, the apostrophe is superfluous, but I knew that no matter how friendly my intentions, or the way that I worded it, I would be labelled a grammar Nazi.
Is there really no way that we can extend friendly guidance to a poster(s), who unwittingly makes a genuine mistake, without others firing up a pot of tar, and searching for bags of feathers?
I think aforethought is one word BTW.
DRFC1879 said:
Maybe there's a common Satnav related foible at that junction that makes people think they're being directed off only to realise the error and pop straight back on?
People do this all the time driving South on the M66. It meets the M60/62, and if you carry on South from the M66 you automatically end up on the M60 clockwise. Yet, people exit (at Simister Island/J18), sit at the traffic light, then go straight across onto the... M60 clockwise.Don't know if it is a SatNav snafu or is simply because the motorway system around Manchester makes no sense.
jamei303 said:
MartG said:
jamei303 said:
Photo's could be a contraction of photographs.
Nope - photos is a contraction of photographs, the apostrophe makes it possessive At the risk of throwing more fuel on the spelling bonfire, I think you may want to check your post.
jamei303 said:
It's never improper to use apostrophes to donate missing letters. It should be obvious it's not a possessive in this case due to the context.
Grocers' apostrophe's always annoy me, and tend to be misused quite awfully. Also, the practise of pluralising a word or abbreviation by adding an "apostrophe S" to it (eg. "DVD's" [sic]) doesn't shows missing letters, it shows missing brain cells. popeyewhite said:
Doesn't seem to bother you on the 'spelling police' thread Frank. Is that because often the poster isn't present to be reminded how illiterate they are/superior you feel? Many people on a forum don't think being 100% grammatically correct is that important, so you may be walking into a bear trap there.
I think aforethought is one word BTW.
Thanks popeye, my hand to God, I typed aforethought and the spell check changed it to afore thought, as far as I’m aware it is one word, but I felt that I shouldn’t argue with spell check.I think aforethought is one word BTW.
FWIW I don’t feel superior to posters whose spelling mistakes I quote on the spelling thread, but I sometimes smile and slowly shake my head when I notice them, that’s probably worse.
In addition, colour me out of step, but I consider trying to be 100% grammatically correct at all times is very important, and when I make a mistake, which I sometimes do, I’m not infallible, I feel like committing harakiri.
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