Taste Test: Frozen Foods For The Big Game

Typically, snack foods for the Super Bowl are unavoidably heavy on the calories. And if you make them from scratch ("the right way," as we like to call it), they can also be time-consuming. So for those of you inviting hoards of friends to your party this Sunday, you might be running to the frozen-foods aisle for a little help. It's okay -- we understand, and we won't tell a soul.

If you have to buy the stuff, you might as well educate yourself about what's out there. So our Kitchen Daily team headed to the frozen foods aisles of our favorite major grocery stores and checked out the offerings. Below, we matched up two top contenders in each of the following categories: Mozzarella sticks, pigs in a blanket, spinach and artichoke dip, pizza rolls, Buffalo wings and sliders. Read our ratings to see how they matched up!

What we learned: If you eat more than 10 of these foods at the same time, you're not going to feel so good. But in moderation, some of these foods are actually quite tasty and rank right up there with homemade concoctions. (Most notably, you should try out spinach-artichoke dip!)

What's your frozen snack food? Leave us a comment below!

As always, our taste test is in no way sponsored or influenced by any of the brands involved.

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Comments

[Rosemary Hirsch]

09:30 PM on 02/04/2012

Yes, all of the above mentioned appetizers are good;they certainly are better than celery and carrot sticks. However, I hate to spoil the party, but do you realize how many fat grams, salt, sugar, etc. are in each of these divine treats. And you wonder why America is obsese. America is the land of plenty...of calories, which contributes to fat.

[Willing to Consider]

08:51 PM on 02/04/2012

I wonder how much Trader Joe's paid for this promotion. They win! They have both bonus items! They're wonderful! They're fabulous!

I wonder how many people know they're owned by Aldi's, the discount supermarket chain, which has their own versions of the same products at lower prices.

[tccat4]

02:50 AM on 02/05/2012

Love Aldi's, their brand names are better than the name brands you buy for a few bucks more. Their prices on fresh fruit and veggies is why I started going there. I was tired of getting ripped off buy big name supermarkets. They may not bag your groceries or haul them to your car, but I can save 30 % every other week when I go shopping. Well worth the trip. Try their hams, as good as cooks and a lot cheaper.....

[xxdiscoxxheaven]

06:26 PM on 02/06/2012

I totally agree on the ham thing! We got a nice size ham (I wanna say8-10) pounds for -9 dollars from aldi's! Would never go any where else for the basics!

[edabeda6]

08:38 PM on 02/04/2012

I'd rather not feel miserable tired and sick for a week. I noticed people who eat a lot of packaged foods have a strong salty musk to them.

[360Dunk]

09:50 PM on 02/04/2012

I thought that salty musk was from poor feminine hygiene all this time.

[tccat4]

02:51 AM on 02/05/2012

they say a skunk smells themself first... and here is a hint buy better soap.

[edabeda6]

08:34 PM on 02/04/2012

yeah have you ever seen Food Matters, you'll never eat this stuff again.

[alwill]

08:29 PM on 02/04/2012

I'll take the White Castle Cheeseburgers thank you.

[jlf2033]

08:10 PM on 02/04/2012

I've been eating the Friday's mozzarella sticks for quite some time now. and not once have they ever tasted like fish sticks.

[inesison]

07:42 PM on 02/04/2012

How do you rate something, then give both good and bad arguments for each? I know just as much as i did before reading this. Some like it some don't - gee thanks

[utter9319]

08:49 PM on 02/04/2012

I think they are saying to only eat these in moderation not make a whole diet out of them.

[inesison]

09:17 PM on 02/04/2012

I thought they were rating them? Doesn't it say "taste test". I thought they were going to test them and tell us which ones were the best? Or did I miss something?

[tccat4]

02:57 AM on 02/05/2012

Everything should be eaten in moderation, #1 rule for diabetics.

[nemo1967]

07:19 PM on 02/04/2012

panel 8, my fav white castle burger mini:)))))))))
people did watch football game on tv many hour..i don't want watch too much tv to see football that pretty bored many hours:/

[gfgarv]

06:17 PM on 02/04/2012

I wouldn't want to go to this persons superbowl party. How many microwaves do you have to have?

[seansand93]

06:12 PM on 02/04/2012

I have to agree, both of those mozzarella sticks suck! I love mozzarella sticks, but now I always get them at restaurants

[ppswg]

05:49 PM on 02/04/2012

KEEP IN MIND, THEY MAY TASE GOOD, BUT THE FOOD COMPANIES DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, THY PUT WHAT EVER THEY WANT INTO OUR FOOD, TO SELL IT, NOT TO PROTECT YOU FROM SO MANY CHEMICALS, FATS, CARBS OR WHAT EVER...FROZEN FOODS ARE THE WORST, READ YOU LABLE, DO YOUR HOMEWORK, BECAUSE THE FOOD GIANTS REALLY DON'T GIVE A DAMN.

[chumleypotts]

09:29 PM on 02/04/2012

Maybe you should calm down, sparky - all that yelling is liable to give you a stroke. You eat what you want, and we'll do the same. Then everybody's happy!

[ppswg]

01:05 PM on 02/05/2012

NOT EXCIETED A BIT, I AM IN THE FOOD EQUIPMENT BUSINESS, I SEE SO MANY THINGS IN THESE BIG PLANTS THAT WOULD SCARE YOU...NO ONE IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY YOUR CHOICE, BUT MANY PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW, THAT IS WHY AMERICA IS THE FATTEST NATION ON EARTH, AND DIABETIES, ALONG WITH HEART PROBLEMS ARE RAMPET...JUST TRYING TO GIVE A BRIEF TUTORIAL OF THE OF WHAT THE EMPHESIS IS ON WITH THE FOOD COMPANIES, SELL PRODUCT, AND BE DAMN WITH THE HEALTH OF THE CONSUMER...I ADMIT THE PEOPE SHOULD AND DO MAKE CHOCES, BUT IF YOU GO TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MALL, AND TAKE A LOOK, IT IS SAD TO SEE YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS LITTERALLY WADDELING THROUGHT THE MALL LOOKING FOR THE CLOTHING STORES THAT CARRY THEIR + + + + SIZES AND SHORTING THEIR LIVES. SO I REALLY AM DIRECTING THIS TO THEM.

[metusmetu]

05:49 PM on 02/04/2012

Put dill pickle slices on your White Castle Cheeseburgers, makes 'em much better! Bacon works too!

[vtmilitia]

05:31 PM on 02/04/2012

What,no February road kill? It'll keep for a whole week in a snowbank if the dog don't find it.

[metusmetu]

06:02 PM on 02/04/2012

What's out running across the roads in February? Polar bears?

[vtmilitia]

10:17 AM on 02/05/2012

Deer,rabbits,moose,partridges,squirrels and an occasional raccoon if it's warm enough.Polar bears,any bear in fact, hibernates through the winter. There is your introduction to winter ecology,the cooking class won't start for a week or two.

[ThisFreakinGuy]

05:20 PM on 02/04/2012

I consider this article a failure. Why? Because of the lack of jalapeno poppers.

[Melissa Abbott Pollio]

05:16 PM on 02/04/2012

Wow... I am kinda of susprised at the backlash this article... which the title of it should tell you that it is about FROZEN FOOD! No one is claiming to be making these foods.... When I clicked on the link to this article I knew that I was reading something about comparing FROZEN FOOD!!! Last time I checked you do need an oven or a mircrowave to heat frozen ideas. If you are looking for an article about actual homemade items you won't find it here... hence the name of the article is: Taste Test: Frozen Foods For the Big Game.

[mrparlor]

05:57 PM on 02/04/2012

yuuuup!