Additional Coverage:
- 10 Frozen Foods Only People Who Grew Up in the ’70s Will Remember (blog.cheapism.com)
##Blast from the Freezer: A Look Back at 1970s Frozen Food Favorites
Frozen food has been a kitchen staple for decades, and the 1970s were no exception. While brands like Stouffer’s and Swanson’s remain freezer aisle mainstays, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to some of the decade’s most memorable frozen meals.
1. Chef Boyardee Frozen Pizzas: Long before frozen pizza giants dominated the market, Chef Boyardee, best known for canned pasta, offered a surprisingly light-on-the-cheese frozen pizza. It may not have been gourmet, but it satisfied a generation’s pizza cravings.
2. Swanson Veal Parmigiana Dinner: Frozen veal parmigiana may seem like a relic of the past, and perhaps for good reason.
A 1975 New York Times review described this Swanson offering as having “mediocre” veal, insufficient cheese, and “mushy” string beans. Ouch!
3. Kellogg’s Danish Go-Rounds: Kellogg’s attempted to capture the adult market with these toaster pastries, essentially a grown-up Pop-Tart. However, they quickly faded into obscurity, proving that not every breakfast pastry can achieve iconic status.
4. Swanson Hungry-Man Dinners: Marketed towards those with “hearty appetites,” these oversized TV dinners were endorsed by sports legends like “Mean” Joe Greene. While still available today, these hefty meals might not align with contemporary health-conscious trends.
5. Swanson Breakfasts: Swanson wasn’t just about dinner in the ’70s. They offered a line of frozen breakfasts, though a 20-minute oven time might not have appealed to those rushing out the door.
6. Morton TV Dinners: A once-popular brand, Morton provided a classic TV dinner experience with options like fried chicken, Salisbury steak, and ham. Sadly, the brand was discontinued after its acquisition in 2000.
7. Libbyland Dinners: These kid-friendly frozen meals boasted a unique selling point: they were apparently taste-tested by Canadian children. The reason for this intriguing detail remains a mystery.
8. Jeno’s Pizza Rolls: Before Totino’s became a household name, these bite-sized pizza snacks were known as Jeno’s Pizza Rolls. A nostalgic favorite for many, they’ve stood the test of time.
9. Bird’s Eye International Recipes: Bird’s Eye ventured into global cuisine with its International Recipes line, offering frozen meals inspired by Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and other cuisines. This concept paved the way for today’s diverse frozen food options.
10. Morton Banana Cream Pie: Morton wasn’t limited to main courses; they also offered frozen desserts like this banana cream pie. A convenient alternative to homemade, it catered to the busy lifestyles of the 1970s.
Read More About This Story:
- 10 Frozen Foods Only People Who Grew Up in the ’70s Will Remember (blog.cheapism.com)