The Value of Cooked Holiday Dishes: Time and Cost

In an age where time has become our most precious resource, it’s no surprise that the prepared food industry is booming. Tishri and Shabbat celebrations, usually characterized by hectic preparations, have become much more comfortable in recent years thanks to the abundance offered by catering companies and marketing chains. Whether it’s ethnic foods or traditional Israeli dishes, the Israeli consumer no longer needs to spend hours in the kitchen to serve a sumptuous meal.

The increase in demand for convenience foods comes not only from laziness or the desire to shorten processes, but mainly from the practical needs of time management and resource saving. Recent studies show that the volume of consumption of convenience foods in Israel has increased by approximately 20% in recent years, mainly during the holiday and Shabbat periods. Many families, especially those with many children or those who are very busy, prefer to buy meals prepared by weight or packaged to avoid intensive work in the kitchen. This, even if the economic cost is sometimes higher than preparing meals at home.

A 2023 consumer survey found that 40% of families in Israel prefer to purchase at least some of their meals as prepared meals during the holidays. This trend is also reflected in sales, when chains reported a significant increase in sales in this area, especially before the holidays. The prepared food sector is estimated to generate more than a billion shekels per year.

Not just at events

The main question in the debate over convenience foods is whether they are financially profitable. On the one hand, the price per dish can be significantly higher than the cost of preparing it at home. On the other hand, if we take into account time savings, shopping costs, depreciation, electricity and gas, the balance can change.

It is also worth noting that prepared meals are a solution in cases where we want to serve diverse foods from different cuisines around the world, without spending hours cooking. So, for example, you can buy traditional dishes of Moroccan, Yemeni, Persian cuisine and more, and put on the table a colorful selection full of world flavors.

One of the interesting trends that has emerged in recent years is the growing popularity of ethnic foods on prepared food menus. Traditional foods such as harayma, couscous, kuba or jehanon are no longer reserved only for special family events, but have become readily available in almost all marketing chains. The competition between sectarian cuisine and popular Israeli cuisine symbolizes the development of the postcard kibbutz on the table of prepared meals.

Ultimately, it is the Israeli consumer who decides whether the food prepared is truly worth the investment. On the one hand, it saves time and resources and allows for a wide variety of dishes. On the other hand, not everyone is willing to pay the high prices for convenience foods.

The choice between self-cooked meals and prepared meals depends on personal preferences, pace of life and understanding of total costs. While some consumers will continue to stick with traditional cooking, many others have already made ready meals the ultimate solution for holiday and Shabbat meals – one that saves time, avoids the mess in the kitchen and guarantee a table full of diverse flavors without having to invest hours of work.

Refrigerate

The development of the prepared food sector has not been limited to food stalls in shopping malls or food markets, but has extended to refrigerators and freezers in supermarkets. The offering includes everything from simple hot dishes like Assem’s “hot dish” to high-quality cooked meals from Beit Tnuva, which include a variety of dishes to suit all tastes.

Categories such as frozen schnitzels, ready-made meatballs and even freezer pizzas have become popular solutions for quick meals, providing a simple and convenient solution for busy parents, students and even families looking for a quick and nutritious alternative to family meals. .

Stay informed with the latest news!

Subscribe to the Jerusalem Post newsletter

At chains like Half Free and Yochananoff, the prepared food industry has reached another level of professionalism. What started as a quick fix has now become a field in itself, as the variety and quality offered by these chains continues to expand and meet the different needs of the Israeli consumer. It is no longer a simple hot meal, but gourmet dishes sold by weight or pre-packaged, traditional dishes and healthy, contemporary dishes.

The increase in demand for convenience foods is also bringing innovation to the field. Today, it is possible to find almost any type of frozen or refrigerated food, allowing consumers to heat and serve a meal quickly – and at the same time easily enhance it with homemade additions that give a personal touch. For example, you can add spices, special sauces or fresh vegetables to a cooked dish, transforming it into a home-cooked meal in minutes.

This field, which started as a simple solution for busy people, has become one of the fastest growing segments in the food world, and it can be expected that in the coming years , we will see even more creative solutions that will continue to make our daily lives more enjoyable. life is easier without sacrificing quality or taste.

The favorite and most common dish in Israel is the classic schnitzel, followed by chickens, and during the holidays, roast beef is the star of luxurious festive tables. But what are the time, pressure and continued shopping in supermarkets worth to us? We checked the prices of our favorite dishes. If we buy the ingredients to make crispy cutlets at home, it will cost us like this:

A bottle of canola oil – about 9 NIS.

A bag of breadcrumbs (350 grams) – about 9 NIS.

One kg of fresh sliced chicken breast – approximately NIS 45 per kg.

That is, the total cost of ingredients to prepare one kg of Schnitzel will be approximately 63 NIS.

On the other hand, if we choose the frozen version of “Mama Chicken – Real Schnitzel”, we will pay around 60 NIS per kg. We checked Yochananof chains for half free, and the price of a kg of crispy chicken cutlets in the prepared foods section is NIS 69.90 per kg.

Here the question arises: does the approximately 10% difference between the personal preparation and the ready-made product justify the time and effort, and does the frozen schnitzel offer any advantage in price terms?

Schnitzel, schnitzel before frying (illustration) (credit: PEXELS)

The ratio is also similar in roast beef and chicken products, but not everything is gold: the significant price difference is actually in the toppings. A kilo of ready rice costs around 35 shekels, while a kilo of dry rice costs around ten shekels. The ratio is also similar in baked potatoes. For example, for a kilo of Tapugan potatoes ready to be baked, we will pay around NIS 30 per kilo.

In conclusion, the dilemma between personal preparation and ready-made meals is not simple, and perhaps the most cost-effective solution is to prepare the side dishes yourself and buy the main dishes ready-made – and thus arrive at a festive moment and particularly economic picture.

The prepared food sector in Israel is constantly growing and reflects changes in Israeli consumption patterns. With all their pros and cons, it seems that convenience foods have become a perfect answer for those looking for convenience and time savings – even if sometimes at a steep economical price.