Solo shoppers using a microwave
If you want one dinner without dividing a larger pack, look for a clear serving statement and check whether the meal can be microwaved from frozen in your appliance.
Who is this for?
Shoppers stocking a small freezer
Choose meals with storage and cooking instructions you can follow. GOV.UK advises putting frozen food in the freezer as soon as it is delivered, so plan to be available to unpack your order.
Shoppers checking dietary requirements
Check the ingredients and allergens on the delivered pack. A vegetarian description does not establish allergen suitability or tell you whether the item is a complete one-person meal.
What should you check?
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| One-person portion | Look for “Meal for 1” or “Serves 1”. Check the product description to distinguish a main meal from a side or meal component; use pack weight alongside, not instead of, the serving statement. | I want one main meal, rather than a pack intended for two people or an accompaniment. |
| Cooking method | Check whether cooking from frozen is specified for your appliance. Read any wattage, stirring and standing instructions on the individual pack. | With only a microwave available, I need to know that the meal has microwave instructions before ordering it. |
| Delivery and storage | Check that the item is sold frozen, rather than chilled and suitable for home freezing. Follow its storage and defrosting directions; GOV.UK advises putting frozen food in the freezer as soon as it arrives. | I need to be at home to put the delivery away promptly and want clear instructions for storing the meal until I use it. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Review the product information while shopping, then check the delivered pack’s ingredients and allergen declaration before eating. Do not use a vegetarian label as an allergen check. | My dietary requirements depend on the exact recipe and label, not just the meal’s name or category. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every frozen listing is a meal for one
Frozen-food categories can include larger meals and components. Waitrose & Partners, for example, lists a frozen risotto labelled for two people.
Check the serving statement and whether the item is a complete main meal before adding it to your basket.
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Confusing home-freezable with supplied frozen
Ocado lists M&S meals marked both “Serves 1” and “Suitable for freezing” within a chilled ready-meal range. Those labels do not mean the meals arrive frozen.
If you want a frozen delivery item, select one listed as frozen. For a chilled meal, check its use-by date and the pack’s freezing instructions.
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Using the same cooking method for every meal
A microwave-ready description does not establish the timing or steps for another product, and some meals may require different equipment.
Check the method before ordering if your equipment is limited, then follow the delivered pack’s instructions when cooking.
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Treating an online ingredient list as the final label
Recipes and labelling can change, so an earlier online description may not reflect the pack delivered to you.
Use online details to shortlist meals, but check the physical label against your dietary requirements before eating.
Retailer and brand references
Tesco
Tesco lists Birds Eye Steamfresh frozen ready meals labelled “Meal for 1”, including a 400g vegetable pasta meal.
- The listing makes the intended one-person portion explicit.
- Check the individual product details and your delivery basket for the cooking information and options relevant to your order.
Iceland
Iceland lists Birds Eye Steamfresh Korean Style Noodles as a 350g “Meal for One” with microwave instructions.
- The serving wording and cooking method help with an initial shortlist.
- Check the ingredients, pack instructions and whether the item can be added to your delivery basket.
M&S
Ocado lists M&S chilled ready meals marked “Serves 1”, “Suitable for freezing” and “Microwavable”.
- These listings offer a one-person option if you are happy to freeze a chilled meal at home.
- “Suitable for freezing” does not mean the meal is supplied frozen; check the delivered pack’s use-by date and freezing instructions.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists frozen vegetarian ready meals, including a pea and asparagus risotto labelled for two.
- The frozen vegetarian category provides a starting point for checking meat-free options.
- Check each product’s serving statement and format rather than assuming a category item is a single-serve main meal.
Joybuy product options
This frozen soup is an option to check if you are considering a meal for one, but its serving count needs confirming before purchase.
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Sajo Vegetable Rice Cake Dumpling Soup 194g
For a one-person meal, check the serving statement to see whether this 194g pack suits you. Confirm the cooking instructions if you need to use a microwave, and read the delivered pack’s ingredient and allergen label.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do when a frozen-meal delivery arrives?
Put frozen food in the freezer as soon as it is delivered, as GOV.UK advises. Follow each pack’s storage and preparation instructions rather than assuming it can be cooked or refrozen in a particular way.
Can every frozen meal go straight into the microwave?
No. Check the individual pack for microwave-from-frozen instructions, including any appliance wattage and standing time. Do not use another meal’s method or timing.
Does “suitable for freezing” mean a meal arrives frozen?
No. Ocado uses that wording on M&S chilled ready-meal listings, where it describes an option to freeze the meal at home. Choose an item listed as frozen if you need it supplied frozen.
Is the online allergen information enough to choose a meal?
Use it when shortlisting, but check the actual pack label before eating. Ingredients and allergy advice can change, and a vegetarian description does not establish allergen suitability.