Summary
Heat and serve meals or ready meals or T.V dinners are a prepackaged frozen or chilled meal that usually comes as an individual portion. It requires very little preparation and contains all the elements for a single-serving meal.
The original TV Dinner came in an aluminium tray and was heated in an oven. Most frozen food trays are now made of microwaveable material, usually plastic.
Unfrozen pre-cooked ready meals, which are merely chilled and require less time to reheat, are also popular and are sold by most supermarkets. Chilled ready meals are intended for immediate reheating and consumption. Although most can be frozen by the consumer after purchase, some may have to be fully defrosted before reheating.
Many different varieties of frozen and chilled ready meals are now generally available, aimed at different market groups. These including "gourmet" recipes, organic and vegetarian dishes, diet specific, traditional foreign cuisine, and smaller children's meals.
A TV dinner usually consists of a cut of meat, usually beef or chicken, with a vegetable, such as peas, corn or a potato, and sometimes a dessert, such as a brownie or apple cobbler. The entrée could also be pasta or a common type of fish, such as Atlantic cod. Rice is a common side item.
Health Concerns
The freezing process tends to degrade the taste of food and the meals are thus heavily processed with extra salt and fat to compensate.
In addition, stabilizing the product for a long period typically means that companies will use partially hydrogenated vegetable oils for some items (typically dessert).
The dinners are almost always significantly less nutritious than fresh food and are formulated to remain edible after long periods of storage, thus often requiring preservatives such as BHT (a controversial additive which is linked to hyperactivity and cancer).
There is, however, some variability between brands.
The original TV Dinner came in an aluminium tray and was heated in an oven. Most frozen food trays are now made of microwaveable material, usually plastic.
Unfrozen pre-cooked ready meals, which are merely chilled and require less time to reheat, are also popular and are sold by most supermarkets. Chilled ready meals are intended for immediate reheating and consumption. Although most can be frozen by the consumer after purchase, some may have to be fully defrosted before reheating.
Many different varieties of frozen and chilled ready meals are now generally available, aimed at different market groups. These including "gourmet" recipes, organic and vegetarian dishes, diet specific, traditional foreign cuisine, and smaller children's meals.
A TV dinner usually consists of a cut of meat, usually beef or chicken, with a vegetable, such as peas, corn or a potato, and sometimes a dessert, such as a brownie or apple cobbler. The entrée could also be pasta or a common type of fish, such as Atlantic cod. Rice is a common side item.
Health Concerns
The freezing process tends to degrade the taste of food and the meals are thus heavily processed with extra salt and fat to compensate.
In addition, stabilizing the product for a long period typically means that companies will use partially hydrogenated vegetable oils for some items (typically dessert).
The dinners are almost always significantly less nutritious than fresh food and are formulated to remain edible after long periods of storage, thus often requiring preservatives such as BHT (a controversial additive which is linked to hyperactivity and cancer).
There is, however, some variability between brands.
TASK 6: Heat and Serve Meals
1. List 3 consumer groups which heat and serve meals are marketed towards. Give a reason why each of these groups may purchase this type of product.
1. Business people
- As for business people usually work long hours during the day and don't want to come home to have to cook a whole meal. By having these meals that only need to be heated before eaten would be appealing as they are quick and effortless after a long day.
2. Teenage generation
- Our current teenage generation is considered as 'lazy'. By having meals at an easy access that only need a kick heat up in the microwave before being consumed would appeal as for it is once again effortless.
3. Large families
- This would appeal to large families as for it won't make a large mess that is left to clean up later. With a family having lots of kids this would appeal as for not is very time consuming to cook a meal for a large amount of people.
1. List 3 consumer groups which heat and serve meals are marketed towards. Give a reason why each of these groups may purchase this type of product.
1. Business people
- As for business people usually work long hours during the day and don't want to come home to have to cook a whole meal. By having these meals that only need to be heated before eaten would be appealing as they are quick and effortless after a long day.
2. Teenage generation
- Our current teenage generation is considered as 'lazy'. By having meals at an easy access that only need a kick heat up in the microwave before being consumed would appeal as for it is once again effortless.
3. Large families
- This would appeal to large families as for it won't make a large mess that is left to clean up later. With a family having lots of kids this would appeal as for not is very time consuming to cook a meal for a large amount of people.