TV dinner
Microwave tray meal
A TV dinner is a prepackaged frozen meal sold in a disposable tray, designed to be heated and eaten with minimal preparation.
The name comes from the mid-20th century marketing of these meals as convenient food to eat while watching television.
The term now applies broadly to any frozen prepared meal: I'm too tired to cook—I'll just microwave a TV dinner.
Frozen food brand
- retroEvoking recent past
- vintageQuality from past eras
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- 1960sDecade after the fifties
TV tray · brownie · apple crisp · meatloaf · classic · throwback · old-fashioned · childhood
Shallow portable platform
- reheatMake food steaming again
- precookedHeated before packaging
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
- zapDestroy suddenly with energy
heat-and-eat · instant · defrost · turntable · oven-safe · steaming · entree · side dish
Sealed before sale
- ready-to-eatRequiring no cooking
- time-savingReducing required duration
- effortlessRequiring no strain
- single-servingPortioned for one
grab-and-go · self-contained · shelf-stable · meal kit · disposable · quick · easy · weeknight
Without others present
- single-servingPortioned for one
- quietLacking in sound
- soloPerformance by one
- bachelorUnwed male adult
individual · one-person · independent · private · personal · self-sufficient · living alone · single life
Subzero storage compartment
- ice crystalsSolid water formations
- freezer burnDehydration from cold storage
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- frozen foodsProvisions stored below zero
deep freeze · thaw · cold · icebox · stockpile · freezer section · preserve · frost
Swanson
Frozen food brand
1960s · TV tray · brownie · apple crisp · meatloaf · classic · throwback · old-fashioned · childhood · fried chicken
tray
Shallow portable platform
- reheatMake food steaming again
- precookedHeated before packaging
- compartmentalizedDivided into isolated sections
zap · heat-and-eat · instant · defrost · turntable · oven-safe · steaming · entree · side dish · wattage
prepackaged
Sealed before sale
- ready-to-eatRequiring no cooking
- time-savingReducing required duration
- effortlessRequiring no strain
single-serving · grab-and-go · self-contained · shelf-stable · meal kit · disposable · quick · easy · weeknight · busy
alone
Without others present
- single-servingPortioned for one
- quietLacking in sound
- soloPerformance by one
bachelor · individual · one-person · independent · private · personal · self-sufficient · living alone · single life · studio apartment
freezer
Subzero storage compartment
- ice crystalsSolid water formations
- freezer burnDehydration from cold storage
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
frozen foods · deep freeze · thaw · cold · icebox · stockpile · freezer section · preserve · frost
- frozen dinnersSwanson, microwave meal, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, pot pie
- televisionTV, television, broadcast, TV shows, TV series
- convenience foodready meal, hot pocket, frozen burrito, frozen pizza, microwave meals
- mealssupper, brunch, lunch, luncheon, breakfast
- Processed Foodsmargarine, Cool Whip, Velveeta, Cheez Whiz, artificial sweetener
- microwavablespopcorn, leftovers, instant noodles, ramen, ready meal
TV dinnergourmet meal
Expertly crafted fine food
fine dining · haute cuisine · slow food · comfort food · soul food
TV dinnersit-down dinner
Meal served at tables
formal dinner · family dinner · dinner party · candlelit dinner · Sunday dinner