36 Things That'll Help You Get A Hot Meal On The Table With Minimal Effort

Let's feed the hunger so it doesn't become "The Hanger" — your debut in a grisly new horror thriller.

1. Pre-made simmer sauces you can lean on when you're craving a yummy, saucey dish that'd require approximately 58 ingredients if you were whipping it up from scratch. Pour out some Thai Coconut Sauce for all those spices in your cabinet you used *once*.

Amazon

I've tried nearly all of these sauces and can vouch they dress up all kinds of stuff. If you're craving some takeout food you're too lazy to replicate at home, some of these (esp the Thai Coconut Sauce that's shown here) will help you get some of that taste without buying a million ingredients. Psst, they're also Keto- and Paleo-friendly but IMO don't taste like it.

Promising review: "These sauces are magic. A high end trick added to our meal prep. Really tasty options. We have been doing meal prep for quite a while and the salt and pepper meals where getting old. We tried to incorporate skillet sauces into our meals and tried all the brands out there. They were ok but not very healthy. When I saw these on Amazon I had to try them (Keto and Paleo Certified) and they taste amazing. Now we have a different flavor each and every day and we can still keep the diet." —Fernando Pimentel

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15 (available in a variety of combos).

2. A variety pack of A Dozen Cousins ready-to-eat seasoned beans, an extremely tasty recipe of a dinner staple already zhuzhed up for you, unlike the bulk bag of dried black beans you bought at the grocery store but have actively avoided because of all the extra work.

Amazon

The founder based his flavorful creations off his own Creole, Caribbean, and Latin kitchen. These are the ultimate in convenience. You only have to put the bag in the microwave for 60 seconds, which'll help you concentrate on the other parts of your meal. I love mixing the Trini Chickpea Curry with leftover rice for a super satisfying weekday lunch. The black beans are TO DIE FOR.

Promising review: "Who writes a review about beans? Somebody who loves beans but had given up on them, until now. This is a great product. Canned beans from my local supermarket are always a disappointment so I stopped getting them. I don't have time to cook beans myself but A Dozen Cousins beans are fresh and taste terrific. I am trying to eat healthier and these are a great way to do that. I've been trying to avoid packaged, processed foods but the natural ingredients make these different. I can feel good about eating them. The beans are whole and not mashed up like in cans. All of the varieties are seasoned well and versatile. I've had them on their own, in salads and in wrap sandwiches. I'm really happy to have found these and hope they continue to add new flavors and products. Do yourself a favor and order some. You won't regret it." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $24.99.

3. A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey that — I cannot emphasize enough — will make the most meh of leftovers taste like something you paid way too much to have delivered to your house. Heating up what's in your fridge and drizzling this all over it is way faster than cooking up some fresh. (And tastier thanks to this stuff.)

Amazon

Promising review: "It's just the right amount of heat to make it interesting, but not so hot that it'll interfere with other flavors. One of my peeves about spicy versions of normally nonspicy items is that it's often all about the heat but the flavors imparted by the chiles aren't particularly noticeable or interesting. This honey has a great chile FLAVOR to it, in addition to the heat, but it doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the honey at all. I like it on buttered toast and on fried chicken equally well, and this has definitely become a staple 'sauce' for me!" —S. Ferguson

Get it from Amazon for $12.11.

4. A produce dicer to transform those whole veggies you purchase to buy you extra time between grocery trips into the chopped wonders you can also buy at the grocery store BUT go bad lightning fast.

Amazon

Oh and people say using this helps prevents tears from chopping onions!

Promising review: "I love this veggie chopper. I often use it to make veggie soups and to make hash browns with onions and peppers. (Before this I would view that as far too much work due to the need to chop everything so finely.) I also use it to make zucchini spiral noodles for veggie 'spaghetti.' I appreciate the fact that it is easy to store the spare parts inside the spiralizer. Also, the brush is handy for cleaning." —SLC

Get it from Amazon for $22.97.

5. Or a manual food chopper that'll make quick work of herbs, boneless meats, fruits, veggies, and ice while actually feeling kinda fun?!

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It's also dishwasher-safe (top rack only!) so cleanup is super simple.

Promising review: "This is great for cutting lots of veggies super fast. All you have to do is rough chop down your veggies toss them in and give it four to five pulls for perfectly diced chunks for salsa or toppings on eggs or tacos. It comes with a handy cover too so all you have to do is rinse the blade and toss the container in the fridge or cooler." —Kevin B.

Get it from Amazon for $15.30+ (also available in green).

6. A Pig of the Month Club subscription – it comes with lots o' meaty options that are all but ready for ya'. Here's to the hard work having been already done for some amazing ribs that landed on your doorstep.

@pigofthemonth / Via instagram.com

I tried this out last year while staying with my parents (who are big meat eaters and aren't afraid to tell me when they hate food... which they've been vocal about when I've tested other edible goodies for work). They are BIG fans.

You can buy items a la carte here or get a three-month subscription from Pig of the Month for $225.

7. Individually portioned frozen fish for when you wanna whip up dinner for one (or four!) without having to run out to the fish market. Plus they're sustainably sourced so you get full transparency on where your food is sourced!

Blue Circle

Each piece is vacuum packed, shipped with dry ice, and thaws easily in the fridge overnight to get ready for cooking. Even if you have zero experience cooking fish, you'll be able to pull off fixing these with finesse. The directions are right on the back! I love making salmon with a squeeze of lemon and have found that a sriracha seasoning (BuzzFeed's Tasty fiery seasoning to be specific) is delish on the cod.

Get a four-pack from Blue Circle for $20.99+ (available in Atlantic Norwegian Cod, Atlantic Norwegian Salmon, and Sockeye Salmon).

8. Freshly pre-cooked meals that'll help sub in for other grab 'n' go lunches you can shove in the microwave for something that doesn't *taste* like a microwave meal.

@getfreshly / Via instagram.com

I've tried these myself (they really don't taste like microwave meals!) and my coworker Mallory Mower SWEARS by them. Plus I'm sure one of my neighbors lives off of them judging by the weekly box sitting in our apartment building lobby. Plus they even come in a microwave-ready tray because sometimes you cannot be bothered to get out a real plate.

Get them from Freshly for $11.49/meal for four meals a week, $9.49/meal for six meals a week, $8.99/meal for nine meals a week, or $8.49/meal for twelve meals a week

Check out similar recipes to the Truffled Mushroom Steak with Spinach & Wild Grain Sauté featured above and current menu selections here.

9. A rapid egg cooker to help you nail down a protein source in lots of different ways! Or just fix yourself a big batch of deviled eggs, which IMO could make for a great dinner.

Amazon

Promising review: "I love hard-boiled eggs for protein especially when I’m on the go as a student/worker but it’s hard to wait for the water to boil then put In the eggs and get ready all at the same time. This cooker is amazing!! Saves me time, it’s quick and I don’t have to watch it while it cooks I can go get ready and then I hear a loud buzzer notifying me when the eggs are done! (The buzzer is really loud and sounds like a basketball game buzzer) I was surprised how fast the eggs cooked and was afraid they were still raw." —OnAJourney

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors).

10. An Instant Pot – it can handle 9 (!!!!) kitchen tasks in one precious lil' appliance body so dinner's ready as soon as you walk in the door. Reviewers call it their "secret weapon," which I guess isn't so secret anymore.

amazon.com, amazon.com

This baby serves as a rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, sterilizer, and warmer. Pinterest has been all about the Instant Pot for a few years and you should really hop on this bandwagon. Just check out our full review of the Instant Pot and Instant Pot recipes that'll basically cook themselves. Still unconvinced? Look at all the yummy Amazon reviewer photos.

Promising review: "There is not one bad thing I can say about the Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-quart 9-in-1. I've been using it since the day I got it. It makes dinner prep SO easy. I don't know how I did without the Instant Pot this long. It makes dinner fast as a working mother I put everything in set the timer to cook as I am leaving work and when I get home it's done and clean up is easy. I've made a roast in 35 minutes to enchiladas, pasta sauce, oh and the egg feature makes the best hard-boiled eggs I will never make them any other way, and peeling them is SO easy." —Teresa Gleason

Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in 3-, 6-, or 8-quart sizes).

11. And some slow cooker liners to make cleanup a total cinch. I use these and they're THE BEST.

Amazon

I always keep these in my kitchen cabinets on the same shelf as my ziplock bags because have you ever tried to clean out a slow cooker? Yeah? OK, you know what I'm talking about. It's super cumbersome! I used to *not* use my slow cooker because I dreaded the cleanup. These totally solve that! And no, your food won't taste or smell like plastic because of them. Granted, they're not the most sustainable solution but they're incredibly helpful.

Get a box of six liners from Amazon for $2.94.

12. A rotating countertop oven for ~evenly~ cooking all sorts of frozen goodies. Will that frozen pizza ever taste homemade? Unlikely. But it sure can taste delicious thanks to this gadget that'll evenly cook it.

Amazon

Like I needed another reason to ingest more Digiorno's. Don't @ me. It's good.

Promising review: "When I saw the first Pizzazz come out on the market my first reaction was 'Great! Another novelty kitchen gadget. Yeah, I will pass on that one.' Years later, my faithful counter toaster oven dies. Too weak for toasts, I did cook lots of meals for one or two in there without warming up the house, which is desirable during the Arizona summer. As I was researching some models with the desired features, the great reviews on this came up, and I was wondering why so many seemed to love it. We rarely eat pizza or anything fried for that matter. I use my oven to bake and broil lean proteins and vegetables. It turns out, it does that just fine! So far I have cooked chicken and fish filets, stuffed salmon, stuffed mushrooms, refrigerated cinnamon rolls, pizza, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, melted cheese on top of broccoli and cauliflower, and of course, I make great sandwich melts from time to time. It works wonders for warming up buns for burgers or pulled pork sandwiches. I love that you can add the ingredients as food cooks and you can monitor progress easily. The disc is easy to clean but I often use parchment paper for speedy cleaning." —Anania

Get it from Amazon for $54.

13. *Reusable* toaster bags for helping you achieve peak sandwich at home without firing up the stovetop *or* catching your toaster on fire! Gotta love a hot sandwich for dinner!

Amazon

These are also a fan favorite for families with members who have Celiac disease or other food sensitivities.

Promising review: "Unless you are a 'foodie' and need to grill your sandwiches, this bag is a great way to get a warm sandwich — and if you have cheese on it, the cheese will melt. Just make your sandwich and put it in the bag. Put the bag in your toaster and you have a great sandwich! Its so easy, and when I am done, I just rinse the bag under the faucet. Great for kids who love grilled cheese without the fuss of 'grilling'!" —joycetv

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $6.99.

14. Or a panini press so you can get those covetable grill marks and the right amount of char. Your sandwiches, burritos, and quesadillas are going to get a delish upgrade.

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FYI, you can also use it to make pizza or bruschetta because the top locks!

Promising review: "I typically do not purchase appliances with one use but this is so fast and handy that I use this for more than sandwiches. We are empty nesters and I eat alone during the week, leaving me somewhat uninspired to make much of an effort. With common sense, this unit is capable of other jobs...turkey burgers, roasted veggies, quesadillas; to name a few. I do wish there was a temperature control but cannot complain given the price tag. The surface will accommodate two sandwiches, even on oversized bread, such as rye." —helen0225

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in two colors).

15. A handheld veggie spiralizer to help pump those meals full of veggies without spending tons of time on a bigger zoodle contraption.

amazon.com, amazon.com

It has a finger protector, and a container with a bottom lid — so you can automatically and easily catch all your zoodles as you spiralize! Plus, there are three blade settings for thin, medium, or ribbon zoodles.

Promising review: "This little thing is sharp! I love how compact it is and how fast I can zoodle up an entire zucchini. Perfect for small kitchens like mine. I haven’t had any issues cleaning or using it and reach for it almost daily." —Rachel Akiko

Get it from Amazon for $9.97.

16. A batter-dispensing gadget that'll take out the hard part of breakfast-for-dinner. Now everyone can get evenly sized pancakes that are picture-perfect and hot off the griddle. Really, why aren't pancakes considered a dinner food?!

amazon.com

Promising review: "This is an amazing kitchen tool! I saw this listed in a recent article about must-have Amazon products and decided to give it a try. We make pancakes for our Sunday brunch every week and the messiest part is getting them sized right and cleaning up afterwards. This takes care of both and more! It’s SO easy to use, it makes perfect-sized pancakes to your will, and uses up the batter all the way down with no waste. Then, it’s so easy to clean! Plus it’s really fun to use, our kids join in the process. Love, love, love this item! Highly recommend!" —Milica P.

Get it from Amazon for $13.16.

17. A lid opener to help you pop off some tops super fast so you can get to actually cooking. No more huffing and puffing, thinking this may be the time you sprain your wrist for a jar of premade marinara sauce (literally my thought every single time).

Amazon

This cool doohickey actually has four differently sized spaces so it can fit almost any bottle or jar.

Promising review: "This jar opener is like magic. It grips those lids tremendously without a lot of squeezing effort, which unfortunately now that I am 70 years old is needed. With arthritis in my right hand, it is very difficult for me to open anything and this jar opener makes it a breeze. Don’t do without it any longer, you will thank this review later." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in packs of one or two).

18. And speaking of sauce, a microwave pasta cooker that'll help you achieve al dente noods ready to top off with some jarred sauce. Who wants to turn on the stove and wait for that salted water to boil if you don't have to?! Not me.

Amazon

Promising review: "I don't want to get all gushy over a pasta maker, but man...I really love this gizmo! I like spaghetti — either with normal Prego-type sauce or sometimes just with butter and Romano cheese sprinkled on. But I'm lazy and impatient, and don't like things that take a long time to make, with a bunch of steps, and a big clean up afterwards. The Fasta Pasta is perfect for me. I get the exact amount of correctly-measured spaghetti; it's faster than boiling water in a big pot then having to watch and stir the pasta; the pasta comes out perfectly cooked every time; and the cleanup is a snap." —Smilin Sam

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

19. A sous vide to mind your delicious feast for you thanks to its temperature-regulating prowess. Besides, you shouldn't have to babysit a steak to end up with a cut fit for a king.

amazon.com, amazon.com

The temperature range is 32-197 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooker can be controlled right from your phone, so you don't even have to stay in the kitchen while cooking. It also provides cooking notifications, and stays connected through Bluetooth from up to 30 feet away. Plus, you get access to over 1,000 recipes, so you'll have inspiration for yummy meals! Get the Anova app here.

Promising review: "Since I started cooking sous vide, my family says my cooking has gone to a new level. I started with the original Anova, and just recently picked up this Nano. The Nano is awesome because it's much smaller vs. the first Anova, making it easier to store in a drawer or something. It sounds trivial but by making it easier to grab. Set-up is so much quicker, and I can cook a beef roast for 30 hours without adding ANY water. If you're just starting out in sous vide, I recommend this cooker." —Jeff Nichols

Get it from Amazon for $125.92.

20. A rice cooker so you can set it and forget it while you do other noncooking stuff — no more scraping burnt rice off the bottom of your pot!

Amazon

BTW, this 2-cup wonder also works on oatmeal, stew, soup, quinoa, rice, and pasta.

Promising review: "I used to avoid making rice because it was a hassle, requiring vigilance, timing/temperature control, not to mention the cleanup of the sticky mess left behind. This cute little nonstick gizmo makes PERFECT rice while you IGNORE it, sometimes for hours... It comes with a charming recipe booklet that shows things that can be made with it BESIDES rice, like soup, mac and cheese, chili, pudding, etc. This attractive cooker takes center stage in my kitchen. I recommend it highly!" —Cape Cod Kadi

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).

21. A snap-on silicone strainer that'll help you *easily* drain a pot of basically any size without losing a single noodle.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Makes straining pasta, veggies, etc., so easy. Easy clean up and less clunky than a full size strainer. I love it so much I've just bought four more as gifts." —LJ

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors).

22. An automatic pan stirrer with a built-in timer to do, well, the stirring for you! Besides, you've got some important catching up to do on Instagram.

UncommonGoods

Promising review: "My husband loves to cook. We have two very small children, so while his meals are mostly yummy, they are also sometimes burnt. :) This was perfect for him. He's able to turn it on, run into the next room to save the day with a plastic bag and a washcloth for whatever blowout-esque mess I'm dealing with, forget he's cooking, run back into the kitchen frantically when he remembers, and arrive only to find the meal practically cooking itself. Best. Gift. Ever." —Jake the ChefturnedDaddy

Get it from UncommonGoods for $25.

23. A pair of herb scissors for quickly (and efficiently) clipping ingredients without having to pull out your cutting board or sharpest knife.

Amazon

*And* it includes a cleaning comb to get out all the food bits easy-peasy.

Promising review: "These are very sharp. The quickly cut even fine herbs, like cilantro and parsley. They come with a tool to get between the blades for cleaning and getting cut herbs out of the scissors, but the trick will be to not lose the tool, or have other kitchen users misplace it. Without the tool, I imagine the scissors can be cleaned effectively by running water through the blades. But, it will mean (without the tool) that there's more food waste than I'd like, or more effort required to get food out of the blades for recipe use." —DP_STL

Get them from Amazon for $8.99.

24. A food chopper you might think is just another kitchen tool you don't need. But! I used my mom's and then wished I had one the next time I was trying to evenly cook ground beef in my own home. It'll mash ground meat, fruit, and veggies with ease in glass bowls and skillets.

Amazon

Promising review: "The Chopper breaks up ground beef, turkey, etc. much more efficiently than can be done with a spatula or turner. I don't normally purchase incredibly specialized utensils if I can get by without them, however I think this chopper is worth the money because it saves time and makes cooking easier. The nylon material is heat-resistant and seems durable, but the packaging still directs not to leave on a hot surface when not in use." —Karen

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in three colors).

25. A Thaw Claw made to defrost your frozen meat 7x faster than if you just set it out to thaw. No more feeling a certain way about someone who forgot to take that chicken out of the freezer while you were at work.

Amazon

Promising review: "A package of frozen meat would have taken at least two days to thaw in the fridge. I used this for a 2-pound package a couple of days ago, and the meat was thawed within 90 minutes. One of the most practical kitchen gadgets I own." —Llda Schellhase

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

26. A scrap collector that attaches to a drawer and you can push your scraps into quickly while you make way for other meal prep tasks.

Amazon

Promising review: "I am one of the messiest cooks in the world. When I get done, I usually have scraps around my feet where I have knocked bits of veggies off the counter. I've looked for a long time for something to take care of the problem, but everything seemed like overkill. This container is perfect. It's just the right size. I attach it in front of my belly, and all the stuff that usually hits the floor, goes in the container. Plus, I can wipe the counter into it, empty it in the trash, and pop it in the dishwasher." —Patricia Logos

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in green and black).

27. A flip top to help you get every last drop out of that bottle of barbecue sauce your fam swears by for anytime you set chicken down on the dinner table.

Amazon

Also, LOTS of reviewers use this to get the most out of their bottles of beauty products like shampoo, sunscreen, and lotion.

Promising review: "This is a real tool, not a gimmick. Lets gravity get the last of that product out of a bottle — surprised how much was left that I usually would throw away." —SitkaCedar

Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $13.99.

28. A colander spoon to let you scoop food straight out of the pot for a speed trip to Flavortown. Plus it'll be much easier to hand wash than a regular old colander.

Amazon

It's made from toughened nylon and is suitable for use on non-stick cookware. It's resistant to temps of up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's dishwasher-safe!

Promising review: "I've owned this for just over a month and I don't know how I lived without it! From spooning potatoes into boiling water without a mess to draining a full can of beans and far, far beyond, this scoop is a must-have in the kitchen. I find myself reaching for it every day. It has easily replaced the other spoons/scoops that I would usually use. You cannot go wrong with this purchase!" —Jill Clement

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in three colors).

29. A microwave veggie steamer so you won't have to boil water to get in your requisite veggies.

Amazon

It has a 2-cup capacity so it's great for dinner for one, or a side for a larger family meal!

Promising review: "I bought this as a quick way to make veggies after getting home from school. Just pop it in the microwave for two minutes and it’s done! An instant healthy side." —Savannah Geiger

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

30. A Souper Cube, which is really just fancy talk for a silicone freezing tray for soups and stews. Each cube is a perfect portion you can meal prep, freeze, and then pop out and heat up as you want them. Future You is already thanking you.

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Each tray has four fill lines — 1/2 cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, and 250 mL — which is ideal for people who like to portion their food.

Promising review: "So happy that I found these. I’m the only one in my household who enjoys soup year-round. Have you ever tried to make homemade soup for one? I say it’s impossible! But no longer. I can brew up the stock pot with bone broth or my favorite home soup. Fill up my Souper Cubes, freeze, pop out, store my goodies in a freezer bag, and I’m ready for the next batch!" —Debbie R. Texas

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

31. A bamboo cutting board with color-coded mats so you don't have to keep washing the same cutting board over and over again while you're just cooking one dang meal. Oh and the mats? They're dishwasher-safe.

Amazon

Promising review: "It helps me keep my kitchen mess-free and saves me from unnecessary washing up of the board all the time during cooking. I don't have to maintain different cutting boards for different food items too." —A2Z

Get it from Amazon for $28.49.

32. A pair of onion goggles in case your dinner recipe calls for onions, minus The Notebook-like waterworks.

Amazon

Promising review: "The only thing I don't like about these goggles is the fact that I didn't buy them years ago! These are practically magical. I love to cook with onion, and up until now I just resigned myself to it taking a while longer since I would periodically have to step back and get the tears under control to avoid cutting myself. But now! Holy moly — these work!! They're comfortable, they don't fog up, and like I said upfront, I just wish I'd purchased them before. This is not a luxury item — it's a necessity!!" —C. Eastwood

Get it from Amazon for $17.80+ (available in five colors).

33. A cauliflower prep tool to make quick work of that glorious veggie. The quicker you can get to covering it in olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and then roasting it, the better.

Amazon

This tool features an ergonomic handle that'll be easy on the wrist while using, so those with arthritis can use it without worry. It's dishwasher-safe and easy to store.

Promising review: "I love cauliflower, but what a pain it is to cut off the little florets. This actually works, and works well. It doesn't seem very sharp, but it sure preps like it is." —Animal Lover

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two colors).

34. And a compact air fryer can whip just about anything up into the most delicious version of said thing. Like...chicken wings, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes. All sorts of stuff! And this one is the perfect size for solo dinners if that's what you're after.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "This is the perfect little air fryer for one person. It heats wonderfully and cooks food quickly. Chicken wings are my favorite thing to cook in this amazing little contraption, and they taste like they are fried in oil! I’m hooked. I’ve already recommended this product to a few friends." — Corey Sigle

Get it from Amazon for $48.64+ (available in five colors).

35. Silicone baking mats that won't require the time to grease your pan or pull out that roll of aluminum foil to line a baking sheet. Hey, that's a minute sooner that you get to eat. (Also these things do a really great job of helping cook your food.)

Amazon

I have a similar mat and have become a recent convert. I'm going through a lot less aluminum foil these days!

Promising review: "Love this product — makes everything fast, easy, and I know everything will turn out all right." —SallyC

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15.95.

36. And some grain-free pizza bites that'll transform from frozen to hot and delicious in a mere few catchup rounds of TikTok videos your friends texted you while SOMEONE (meaning: YOU, not your friends) was working today. Seriously though, they're *so* scrumptious.

@eatsnowdays / Via instagram.com

Yeah you read that right, these crisp but cheesy pillows of flavor are grain-free, and made with organic vegetables, grass-fed mozzarella, grass-fed butter, free-range eggs, and olive oil. I, a single adult, went through two bags of these quicker than I'd like to admit for some quick dinners, and lunches, and breakfasts. They're SO good and I feel more powerful with this knowledge.

Get two packs from Snow Days for $34.99 (also available on a subscription basis).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.