
The global microwavable foods market was valued at $100,098 million in 2016, and is projected to reach $136,305 million by 2023, registering a CAGR of 4.4% from 2017 to 2023. Microwavable food is defined as a prepackaged meal or food product that requires minimal preparation for cooking. Shelf stable microwavable food, chilled food, and frozen food are categorized under products that can be prepared in a microwave. Microwaves cause water, fat, and sugar molecules to vibrate 2.5 million times per second, producing heat that cooks the food. Foods that can be safely stored at room temperature or "on the shelf" are called shelf stable microwavable foods. These foods are pretreated by heat or dried to destroy food-borne microorganisms. Microwavable chilled food is stored at refrigeration temperatures, i.e., at or below 0 to ?5°C. Chilled food products have high quality and are microbiologically safe at the point of consumption, although they have a low shelf life. Microwavable frozen food is preferred over microwavable chilled food, as it can be stored for longer periods and can be prepared in less time. Freezing maintains the nutritional value of the food items and also increases their shelf life. Microwavable frozen products do not require any added preservatives because microorganisms are unable to grow when the temperature of the food is below ?9.5°C.