STOUFFER'S® Frequently Asked Questions

STOUFFER’S Frozen Meals can be found using the Where To Buy product locator to identify stores near you that carry our meals and also check out the online shopping options.

We are always striving to ensure excellence in our recipes. Our Culinary Team continually evaluates all of our products to meet our consumer expectations, as well as ours, when it comes to quality and taste.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, 90% of food allergic reactions are caused by: milk, egg, fish, crustacea (e.g., shellfish like shrimp, lobster, crab), tree nuts (almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, etc.), wheat, peanuts, soybean and sesame. These are often referred to as the "Big 9" and we always label them whenever these foods or proteins derived from these foods are present in our products. Refer to the product label for the most accurate nutrition, ingredient and allergen information.

Ice crystals occur naturally on frozen products. Excessive ice crystals (a snowy appearance) may result from fluctuations in storage temperature.

Our team of chefs work incredibly hard to create delicious frozen meals using ingredients you can feel good about. The 2025 – 2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 2,300 mg but Americans eat on average ~3,400mg of sodium per day. Refer to the product label for the most up to date ingredient, nutrition and allergen information. To learn more about Nestlé and our commitments to provide consumers with a range of high quality, nutritious food and beverages, visit NestleUSA.com.

STOUFFER’S primarily uses freezing as a natural method of preservation. Freezing maintains all of the great flavor, texture and color of our products. Refer to the product label for the most accurate nutrition, ingredient and allergen information.

We understand it can be frustrating when something you love is suddenly not available. Contact us and we can help you find another favorite!  

To ensure peak flavor and optimum quality, we recommend using a product on or before the best if used by date printed on the package.

Yes! Click Macaroni & Cheese Slow Cooker Instructions and Lasagna Slow Cooker Instructions.

Yes, you can cook our Stouffer’s Party Size Macaroni & Cheese (76 oz) on the grill.

Click here for Macaroni & Cheese Grilling Instructions.

STOUFFER’S meals were designed to be prepared from a frozen state. Party Size items may be thawed under refrigeration and prepared. Follow recommended preparation instructions on the package. For safety, always ensure the product reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.

50% power is synonymous with power level 5, medium, medium-low, and in some instances, defrost. However, if the microwave has only one setting, you can prepare the product on high starting with half the time listed on the package. If the product has not reached an internal temperature of 165°F in that amount of time, continue cooking on high checking after each minute to prevent overcooking.

We do not recommend using a toaster oven due to the toaster oven's small size and close proximity of the heating element to the meal container. We also do not recommend the use of a convection oven to cook STOUFFER’S meals. Our chefs have found that for the best results our meals require the use of a conventional oven or microwave. Refer to the recommended preparation instructions provided on the package.

You can partially cook your STOUFFER’S  French bread pizza  in the microwave and complete cooking in a conventional oven or Air Fryer to maintain the crispy bread texture. Follow recommended preparation instructions on the package.

Always check the preparation instructions on the package for recommended preparation methods. For our meals in oven-safe trays, it is important that heat circulate around all edges of the trays. To cook properly, the trays should not touch each other or the side of the oven walls. Rotate each tray halfway through the required cooking time. Increase the cooking time 5 - 15 minutes, as needed, until the internal temperature of the item reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not increase the oven temperature.

STOUFFER’S meals are designed to cook well in conventional ovens, microwaves and sometimes an air fryer. See the cooking instructions on your meal packaging or visit the product webpage to find specific cooking details.

STOUFFER’S lasagna is not ready to eat and requires cooking before eating. Follow the cooking instructions on the package or on our website.

Make sure to carefully follow the cooking instructions on the package. Specific cooking instructions are also available on the product page for your STOUFFER’S meal.

Additionally, here are our best tips for success preparing STOUFFER’S Meals in a conventional oven:

• Prepare your meal from a frozen state unless otherwise noted on pack.
• Regularly calibrate your oven to ensure proper temperature
• Be sure to preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the package
• Adjust film/lid as instructed on packing
• Use baking sheet if specified and place baking sheet on center rack if suggested
• Cook recommended time using a timer
• Follow any stir/lid steps or heat adjustments if specified throughout the cooking process
• Carefully remove your meal from oven after proper cooking time – Will be hot
• Ensure your meal reaches the appropriate internal temperature of 165°F or as otherwise stated on the package instructions

The tray should not be reused. It was not designed as a reusable container.

Plastic Trays: Our trays now contain 25% recycled plastic and no longer use black pigment, making them easier to recycle. Be sure to check with your local recycling program to confirm if these trays are accepted.  

Aluminum Trays: This package is recyclable where suitable recycling programs exist. Recycling programs for aluminum packaging may not exist in your area.

Paperboard: The paperboard outer carton is recyclable. However, the pressed paper trays used in our multi-serve meals and select single-serve meals are not recyclable. They contain a layer of plastic material that does not allow them to be recycled. For our Family Size and Large Family Size trays, we changed the exterior from red to a natural color to help move us towards our Nestle USA 2050 sustainability initiative of zero environmental impact in our operations. Please continue to check on-pack for the most up-to-date recyclability.

Serving size information can be found on the Nutritional Facts Panel on the package for all STOUFFER’S meals. Serving size information can also be found on the STOUFFER’S meal webpage.

The STOUFFER'S brand, which dates back to the 1920s, launched its frozen foods division in 1954, offering take-home frozen meals from their restaurants to folks looking for easy dinner ideas or portable lunch ideas. NESTLÉ acquired STOUFFER'S in 1973. 

We believe in creating shared value for our planet, for society, and for our business. Innovation at Nestlé means driving change across our business, from the ingredients and packaging we use to keep our food safe to how we support local communities. Learn more at Nestlé's Commitment to Sustainability | Nestlé USA. 

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