From Kid Cuisine to Swanson’s and beyond, the college student cannot escape the allure of a frozen dinner when the dining halls are shuttered. Yet, there’s always something slightly off with a frozen dinner; sometimes the vegetables appear to be made of rubber and other times the Swedish meatballs are better left untouched. That said, when the stars align, a frozen dinner can’t be beaten, so let’s hear from the Life section all about everything frozen never fresh!
Nick Sorokobi, Campus Correspondent (he/him/his):
For me personally, frozen foods have been a comfort snack for much of my childhood and in my adult life as well; I personally think Swanson’s is overrated, and it’s also WAY before my generation (my grandparents eat it every time they watch the evening news broadcast from their living room). I don’t think anyone would actually want to sit down and enjoy a cheap piece of Salisbury steak with a side of cube-shaped carrots and watery mashed potatoes.
Instead, to bring back some nostalgia for us all, I would have to say that Kids’ Cuisine is my top pick. I mean, we all remember sitting down in the cafeteria in elementary school, opening our lunchboxes, reading a sappy handwritten note from mom, and then picking up and tearing open a cardboard box that inside contained a juicy cheeseburger, crinkle-cut french fries, corn and a side of chocolate pudding with decorative chromatic sprinkles on top.
I ate Kids’ Cuisine even when I wasn’t at school, so this frozen food brand brings back some good memories for me and I’m sure it does for you too.
James Fitzpatrick, Associate Life Editor (he/him/his):
My favorite frozen food brands include Devour and evol., who make some incredible frozen macaroni and cheese. Devour’s dishes are more savory and are typically larger portions than those from evol., but they both get the job done. The target audience is those in a rush or people less culinarily inclined, so some pasta and chipotle or buffalo chicken hits the spot once it’s warmed up.
My frozen food experience is unanimously good apart from a few incidents. When I was a young lad, frozen Bird’s Eye peas, corn and carrots graced my plate and it graced my toilet undigested soon after. Lean Cuisine, while it spearheads the Kid’s Cuisine line of meals, has some lackluster Swedish meatballs. The gravy is bitter, the concoction they call a “meatball” is pathetic and the pasta is bland as hell. While I didn’t throw it up, it left a poor taste that I still remember today.
Mikayla Murphy, Campus Correspondent (she/her/hers):
As a former Lean Cuisine enthusiast, that is my favorite frozen food. I will admit that they aren’t the greatest taste wise, but I would get them with my grandma every Friday after school, so eating them reminds me of her, and for that reason, they’re my favorite. I was a huge fan of the chicken parm and mac and cheese.
Memories aside, in terms of general frozen food, I am also a huge sucker for frozen strawberries and blueberries (really any frozen fruit). They’re great to make smoothies with, they go great on ice cream and other desserts and you can eat them straight out of the bag. Frozen fruits are even better if they’re the Tru Fru brand with chocolate or peanut butter on them.
In terms of the worst frozen food, I am not a fan of any frozen vegetable. I think they’re bland and the texture when they’re frozen is not my favorite. It feels chalky and like I’m eating paste sometimes, so I choose to avoid them at all costs. I will also admit that Lean Cuisine dishes aren’t the greatest. The food is nothing special and there are definitely better options if you’re looking for a frozen meal.
Benjamin Lassy, Life Editor (he/him/his):
Now I know that diced potatoes aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of frozen food, but hear me out on this. Potatoes require a lot of work to go from whole to washed, peeled and diced. You have to dirty a knife, scratch up a cutting board and muddy up the whole kitchen. Frozen diced potatoes give you the luxury of never having to lift a finger to get that sought-after cube of potato goodness.
You may be asking, why not use diced potatoes from a can? And I’ve got an easy answer: They come in a nasty brothy substance. Frozen diced potatoes don’t have that, they’re just pre-diced and shoved in a bag. To cook them, just throw some oil in a pan and add some home fry seasoning, and we’re off!
Despite the glory of frozen diced potatoes, there is something dreadful about pre-seasoned vegetables of the frozen variety. Are they pre-seasoned with plastic shavings? Seriously, no amount of butter or added salt and pepper can save these vegetables. They are a black hole of flavors and make me wonder if rubber tires would make a better side dish.
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