Convenience foods are commercially prepared products designed to save time and effort in terms of meal preparation. They come as packaged meals or mixes, snacks, frozen foods, and canned products, which tend to be shelf-stable and/or require minimal preparation, like microwavable heat-and-eat meals. Convenience foods have become popular in recent times owing to factors like busier lifestyles and smaller households driving demand for single servings.

Advancements in food technology have led to a range of convenience foods being developed to meet this demand, often leveraging cooking appliances like microwave ovens and air fryers. Companies developing convenience food solutions are also exploring ways to ensure that products are healthy for the consumer while maintaining similar quality, texture, and nutritional value offered by conventional cooking methods. Companies are also developing technologies to enhance the sensory appeal of snacks by enhancing textures and flavors.

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