Stouffer's®

FAQs

Questions about our Products or Ingredients

What causes ice crystals to form on top of the product?

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

The polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fat grams do not add up to the total fat grams on the package. Where are the "missing" fat grams?

The fat listed on our package accounts for all of the fat in the product, including the polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fat. However, the three fats may not add up to the total because the balance is made up of unclassified fats such as triglycerides, glycerol and trans-fatty acids.

Why is the sodium level in your products so high?

We offer several selections and a wide range of sodium levels to meet the desires of all of our consumers. If you feel the sodium level in our STOUFFER'S® items is too high, you may want to consider our LEAN CUISINE® line of products.

What is the difference between sodium and salt?

"Salt" usually refers to table salt, technically known as sodium chloride. Salt contains about 40% sodium and 60% chloride. "Sodium" refers to a specific mineral, which happens to be part of common table salt. It is sodium, not salt, which is usually studied in relation to health issues.

How much sodium is contained in a teaspoon of salt?

One teaspoon of salt contains 2,000 mg of sodium.

Why is the sodium level in your STOUFFER'S® Skillets so high?

We offer several selections and a wide range of sodium levels to meet the desires of all of our consumers. If you feel the sodium level in these items is too high, you may want to consider our LEAN CUISINE® Skillets.

What are the round discs in your Skillets?

The round discs in our Skillets are our unique way of delivering our sauce for the product. These discs maintain the flavor and ensure the highest quality.

Questions About our Packaging

Can the tray be reused?

We do not recommend that the tray be reused because it was not designed as a permanent container.

Is the tray recyclable?

Our trays are made from CPET, a crystallized form of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and are marked with SPI code #1. PET is used for such packaging as plastic soda bottles. Unfortunately, the current weak recycling market for colored PET means that the opportunity to recycle this tray does not exist for a substantial majority of consumers in the U.S. We chose this type of tray for our STOUFFER'S® frozen entrees because of its superior performance in both conventional and microwave oven environments.

I prepared a pouch item in my microwave and the contents splatter all over the interior of my oven. Why?

It is necessary to completely penetrate the pouch as holes can re-seal themselves. It might be necessary to make slightly larger holes when piercing so this will not reoccur.

Questions About Preparation

Is it safe to use the product, once thawed?

We do not recommend using any STOUFFER'S® product if it is thawed.

My microwave does not have 50% power. What can I do to microwave your products properly?

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 for half the amount of time. If the product is not done in that amount of time, continue cooking on high but check after a minute or so to keep it from overcooking.

Why can't I prepare your products in a toaster oven?

Our Product Development personnel do not recommend using a toaster oven due to the toaster oven's small size and proximity of the heating element to the container.

Why is my STOUFFER'S® pie boiling over?

Your STOUFFER'S® pie is boiling over because there is steam building up within the pie during the cooking process. Our Product Development personnel recommend using a utensil to further open the slit at the top of the crust before cooking. This should let some of the steam escape and stop the pie from boiling over.

Can I microwave my STOUFFER'S® French Bread Pizza?

We do not recommend preparing this product in the microwave. It will not have the normal crispy, crunchy texture you will expect. However, you might try our LEAN CUISINE® French Bread pizza and our LEAN CUISINE® Cafe Classics pizza which are specifically packaged to be prepared in the microwave.

Can I prepare your Skillets in a wok, a crockpot or in the oven?

Our Skillets were designed to be prepared in a skillet or in the microwave.

Can I prepare only one-half of a package of Skillets?

If you divide the product and do not prepare it all at once, there may be a chance that there will be an uneven distribution of the ingredients.

Do I defrost or thaw your Skillets before preparing the package?

Our Skillets were designed to be prepared from a frozen state.

Miscellaneous Questions

When did you become part of Nestlé?

In 1973.

Do you have coupons available?

We occasionally offer cents-off coupons in local newspapers and through direct mailing programs. In addition, we suggest that you watch for special sales or promotions at your local grocery store.

What is the best way to view your website?

Our website is designed to be viewed with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels or greater. For the best viewing experience, we recommend you use Internet Explorer 9, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox version 4 or above.