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A majority of Britons consume frozen meals at least three times a week, according to a new poll of consumers.
72% of respondents said that they eat frozen food at least three times a week, 17% said that it was around two times per week, and only 4% claimed never to eat frozen food – with the exception of frozen vegetables of any frozen homemade meals.
Almost 80% of those surveyed admitted that they only ever consume frozen meals on weekdays, and prefer to cook homemade meals at the weekend. More than half (52%) also revealed that they would prefer to eat fresher meals, but frozen meals offer them a “quick fix” when they don’t have the time to cook.
The research, conducted by food delivery service Jinn and taking in more than 3,100 adults across the UK, also showed which parts of the country ate the most frozen food and the extent of regional variations in frozen food preference.
The South East of England consumed the most frozen food – an average of five meals per week – with the meal of choice in this part of the world a frozen curry and rice. Curry was also a favourite for consumers in Scotland, who consumed an average of four frozen meals every week, as did those surveyed in London and the North East.
Respondents in the North East, unlike anywhere else in the UK, claimed that frozen meat pies were the favourite type of convenience meal. Other anomalies in terms of preference include that the South West of England is most keen on Chinese noodles, Yorkshire is fond of a frozen fish and chip supper, and consumers in Wales tend only to eat frozen food once a week – but when they do, it seems that pasta carbonara is most popular.
Across the UK as a whole, pizza emerged as the most popular frozen meal: consumers in one-third of all regions polled said that it was their go-to convenience option.
Jinn founder Mario Navarro said: “For those in full-time employment or looking after a family, it’s all too easy to forget about nutrition when you’ve had a busy day and just want something quick and easy to eat. Cooking a meal from scratch is usually the last thing on our minds and popping a frozen meal in the microwave seems like the simplest alternative, but at what cost to our health? There are, of course, healthy frozen meal options, but our findings seem to show that the dishes high in fat, sodium and carbohydrates are still the most popular.
“Frozen pre-packaged meals can be great but they shouldn’t solely be depended on. There are other options if you are running around with no time to cook. You could try batch cooking such healthy dishes as chilli, stews and curries to freeze and save for busy periods. Alternatively, many food delivery services, which have traditionally been associated with foods lacking in nutrition, offer healthy options too.
“Here at Jinn we have seen a huge increase in city workers and busy families ordering balanced, delicious meals such as sushi, grilled steaks and fresh salads from a wide range of restaurants delivered straight to the front door. There should be no reason to have to rely on frozen foods for every meal now!”
In February, FoodBev reported on official figures from the UK, which showed that consumers were buying less bread, milk, tea and coffee than they were 40 years before.
The research, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, also showed that an increase in home freezer ownership – from 15% of households in 1974 to around 94% in 2000 – had contributed to an increase in consumption of convenience food, while takeaway orders had also increased during that time.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024