Frozen foods usually have a bad rap owing to the myth that freezing diminishes the nutritional value. However, that isn’t always the case. These partially pre-prepared snacks and meals add a lot of convenience and are also cost effective. Moreover, they help prevent wastage which is the biggest pro. After fries, veggie sticks are the another sought-after frozen snack.
As a side with sandwiches, something to snack on between meals, veggie sticks are fun snacks enjoyed across age groups. In our quest to find the best frozen veggie sticks brands in India, we tested four brands and Safal emerged as our Top Pick for its taste and texture.
The hows and why are explained in the review.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison of Frozen Veggie Sticks Brands
The following table contains crucial information on all contenders.
Frozen Veggie Sticks | Mishry Rating | Buy Now |
Safal- Mishry Top Pick | 4 | On Amazon |
Godrej Yummiez | 3.75 | – |
McCain | 3.5 | On Amazon |
Amul | 3.25 | On Amazon |
Our Review Factors
What would make a brand the best for frozen veggie sticks?
To find an impartial answer to this, we set parameters like taste, freshness, texture as the primary ones. The price, packaging, and shelf life was also recorded.
1. Taste
Was the stuffing seasoned aptly? What about the salt, chilli, and herbs? Did we notice any odd, artificial taste? Were these components fresh? What about the freshness of the vegetables?
2. Texture
We were looking for a crunchy outer cover with ample filling. Which brand did this the best?
We gauged the taste in two stages- the stuffing and the outer cover. Which brand had the crispiest coating? How about the balance of outer crust/breading to stuffing? Was the stuffing chunky or pasty?
What about the texture of the veggies- were they shredded, chunky, chopped or whole? Did they add a unique bite to the snack?
3. Supporting Parameters
Here we recorded the secondary parameters like price, packaging, ingredients used, shelf life, appearance, and more.
Our Review Process
To arrive at a fair verdict, we deep fried one batch of each contender. We have not added the observations of baking/air frying these veggie sticks as not all contenders proposed (or recommended) the option of the same. We used a neutral-tasting vegetable oil for deep frying the veggie sticks.
Frozen Veggie Sticks Brands – Detailed Review
Our detailed experience with each brand has been decoded in the following section.
1. Safal Veggie Sticks
Our Experience
As suggested, we preheated some oil in a pan to 175 degrees and added 4-5 pieces of Safal Veggie Sticks. In approximately three-four minutes, these developed an appetizing golden appearance.
The texture was a hit! The outer cover had a desirable crispness and the stuffing was delightful. To add to this, the ratio of cover to stuffing was on point. In fact, we would say Safal Veggie Sticks had the best stuffing to exterior ratio, no empty bites at all. Moreover, this was not just potatoes, it had some fresh tasting, colorful and attractive veggies like bell peppers, peas, carrots, and beans.
As for the taste, Safal Veggie Sticks nailed it. All ingredients were fresh and seasoned to perfection. Thumbs up for the mix of veggies used too. This isn’t spicy but the well balanced flavor of garlic and herbs is what sets it apart.
Product Features
These come in a green and white pouch. One pouch has 400 grams of product and is priced at Rs 160/- with shelf life of 18 months.
The main ingredients are vegetables (59%) [green peas, carrot, sweet corn, french bean, onion, red capsicum], bread crumb [refined wheat flour (maida)], dextrose, iodised salt, yeast, spice & condiments (paprika & turmeric extracts), batter [refined wheat flour (maida), corn starch, iodised salt, sugar, thickener (INS 412), refined edible vegetable oil (palmolein), dehydrated potato flakes, spice mix seasoning (iodised salt, mixed spices- chilli, pepper), dehydrated vegetable powder (onion, garlic), corn starch, yeast extract powder, acidity regulator (INS 330), edible vegetable oil (sunflower oil), dehydrated white onion powder, dehydrated garlic powder.
- Perfect bread to stuffing ratio
- Fresh and flavorful
- Crispy!
- Full of vibrant looking vegetables
From houseparties to midnight cravings- Safal Veggie Sticks will keep your snacking woes sorted.
2. Godrej Yummiez Crispy Veg Sticks
Our Experience
We followed the frying process as mentioned on the pack and these veg sticks were ready to be served in under five minutes.
Godrej Yummiez Crispy Veg Sticks had a middling texture. The bread to stuffing ratio was not up to mark. The uneven distribution led to these veg sticks tasting very bread-like.
In terms of taste, the stuffing was generously filled with veggies, no complains here. It was loaded with flavors of herbs and garlic, and is overall fairly fresh. It is because of the bite and mouthfeel that these veg sticks were not titled our Top Pick.
Product Features
A 320-pack is priced at Rs 130/- and has a shelf life of 12 months. This comes in a resealable pouch. The main ingredients are Frozen Vegetables (34.8%) (Potato, Carrot, Green Peas, Sweet Corn), Water, Breadcrumb {Refined Wheat Flour, Dried Yeast, Salt, Spices & Condiments (Paprika, Turmeric)}, Potato Flakes, Garlic, Batter (Refined Wheat Flour, Starch, Corn Flour, Salt, Stabilizer (INS 466)}, Coriander Leaves, Refined Palmolein Oil, Salt, Chilli Flakes. Allergen info states this contains wheat and may contain milk, nuts, and soy.
- Convenient preparation
- Fresh, herby flavor
- Veggie-loaded
- Unbalanced ratio of bread to stuffing
If you’re looking for something that is dominant on bread, may we recommend Godrej Veg Sticks?
3. McCain Veggie Fingers
Our Experience
As instructed on the back of the pack, we directly fried these Veggie Fingers without thawing. These were ready to be served in three minutes.
As compared to the second contender, the ratio of bread to filling was relatively better in McCain Veggie Fingers. That said, the crunch was softer. As for taste, this was fresh and prominent on garlic. However, the overall seasoning was not as flavorful as our Top Pick. Even the veggies were added sparingly.
Product Features
A 400-gram pack is priced at Rs 155/- with an 18-month shelf life. This comes in a red-green packing.
Vegetables (72%) [Potato, Carrot, Peas, Sweet Corn], Bread Crumb (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida), Yeast, iodized Salt, Antioxidant [INS 300]), Palmolein Oil, Batter (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida), Maize Starch, iodized Salt, Thickener (INS 466]), Rice Flakes, Maize Starch, iodized Salt, Spices and Condiments, Parsley are the ingredients used.
4. Amul Happy Treats Veggie Stix
Our Experience
The preparation process was identical to the other three contenders. Amul Happy Treats Veggie Stix also took three minutes to develop that beautiful golden crust.
Amul Veggie Stix did not reach the podium as it lacked in both key aspects, taste and texture. While the texture of the crust was decent, the bite that the veggies had was poor. It did not work well with the snack overall. These veggie stix are loaded with potatoes but is in desperate need of some flavor, some seasoning.
Product Features
There are 12 pieces in a 425-gram pack. This is priced at Rs 95/- and has a shelf life of 18 months.
The main ingredients are Potatoes (53%), Vegetables (18%), [Peas, Carrot, Sweet Corn), Bread Crumbs [Wheat Flour, Yeast, Salt, Sugar, Preservative (E282), Acidity Regulator (E260)], Edible Vegetable Oil (Refined Palmolein Oil), Batter [Wheat Flour, Starch, Maize Flour, Salt, Stabilizer (E466)], Rice Flakes, Com Flour, iodized Salt, Red Chilli Flakes, Dehydrated White Onion Powder, Dehydrated Garlic Powder, Parsley Leaves.
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
Why we chose Safal Veggie Sticks as our Top Pick?
Not only the crispness of the outer cover, but the flavors, the ratio, the quantity of ingredients, and overall quality of Safal Veggie Sticks was impressive. These were seasoned nicely and made for a delectable snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on frozen veggie sticks
1. Is this fried item good for your health?
No, as almost all packaged items are. However, occasionally consuming these veggie sticks is perfectly all right. You need to be mindful of the quantity.
2. Do these veggie fingers contain onion and garlic?
Yes, all contenders contain onion and garlic.
3. Are these veggie fingers a frozen food item?
Yes, these are frozen items. They do not need to be thawed before frying.
4. Do these veggie fingers contain preservatives?
Only Amul Veggie Stix contain a preservative. It is E 282 that is generally considered safe but may cause irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance.
5. Is this veggie finger trans fat free?
Only Safal Veggie Sticks are free of trans fat.
Final Words
Snack time sorted! For a lazy weekend or something to munch on during a cozy evening, we recommend Safal Veggie Sticks. These toothsome treats can be served with ketchup, mayo, a mint dip, or a meal (burger, for example), of choice.
What is your favorite potato-based snack?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.