# Convenience Cooking Shifts American Kitchens

> American home cooks blend frozen proteins, fresh produce and appliances to speed meals without sacrificing flavor.
- Title: Convenience Cooking Shifts American Kitchens · Seattletimes
- Summary: American home cooks blend frozen proteins, fresh produce and appliances to speed meals without sacrificing flavor. Home cooks now combine frozen proteins…
- Keywords: convenience cooking, frozen proteins, fresh produce, countertop appliances, home cooking, protein, meal preparation, fmi, circana, u.s. households, news, local
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/convenience-cooking-moves-beyond-processed-food-in-american-kitchens
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: convenience cooking, frozen proteins, fresh produce, countertop appliances, home cooking, protein, meal preparation, fmi, circana, u.s. households, news, local
## Convenience Cooking Evolution
Home accounts for 86% of all food occasions in America, but speed matters.
## Protein and Convenience Drive Trends
Circana’s Eating Patterns in America report identifies protein and convenience as the top two forces influencing evolving eating habits.
## Meals Under Five Minutes
Half of all meals in the United States take less than five minutes to prepare, according to Circana.
## Family Meals Increase
Forty-four percent of shoppers say they eat more family meals at home than they did a year ago.
## Frozen and Fresh Ingredients Blend
Seventy-six percent of consumers combine fresh and frozen ingredients in the same meal.
## Frozen Foods Reduce Waste
Thirty-seven percent of shoppers use frozen foods to reduce food waste.
## Frozen Chicken for Tacos
Frozen chicken provides protein for tacos, salads, sandwiches or grain bowls.
## Air Fryers Boost Frozen Food Use
Seventy-one percent of u.s. households own an air fryer, and more than half say it led them to purchase more frozen foods.
## Countertop Appliances Simplify Cooking
Pressure cookers, slow cookers and sheet pans reduce active cooking time and cleanup steps.
## Key takeaway

Home cooks now combine frozen proteins, fresh produce and countertop appliances to prepare meals faster while maintaining preferred flavors.