Gordon Ramsay launched a frozen food line even though he said microwaves are for 'lazy cooks' (2024)
Samantha Grindell
·2-min read
Gordon Ramsay announced he's releasing a new frozen food line.
But in December 2020, the celebrity chef told Insider he thinks microwaves are for "lazy cooks."
He even said he didn't have a microwave in his own kitchen.
Gordon Ramsay is the latest chef to get into the frozen food business — despite voicing previous disdain for microwavable food.
On August 24, People announced that Ramsay was releasing his first line of frozen meals called "By Chef Ramsay," which will be sold exclusively at Walmart.
According to the collection's website, the line consists of eight frozen entrees that are Ramsay's own recipes, from lasagna to fish and chips.
"I'm elated to bring my favorite dishes into homes across the country," Ramsay told People. "It thrills me that these dishes are so widely available for anyone to experience, and I hope they inspire the home chef in everyone."
The move is a natural step for a chef of Ramsay's fame, as his peers like Wolfgang Puck and Guy Fieri also sell frozen meals. But it is a surprising move for Ramsay considering he's spoken out against microwaves in the past.
"Ugh, I mean, microwaves are for lazy cooks," Ramsay told Insider reporter Rachel Askinasi in December 2020, adding that no machine can replicate "the texture and the searing and the contrast" cooking on a pan creates.
Ramsay went on to concede that microwaves can be helpful for reheating meals or getting something slightly warmer before you broil it, but he said they do not "impart flavor" in food in any meaningful way.
"I was watching videos two weeks ago for Thanksgiving of people sticking turkey in the f*cking microwave," he told Insider at the time. "Now, you know, if you thought deep fat frying the turkey was not enough, how the f*ck do you get flavor out of a turkey with a microwave? Are you kidding me?"
In fact, Ramsay said in his interview with Insider that he didn't even have a microwave in his own kitchen.
A representative for Ramsay did not respond to a request for comment.
Gordon Ramsay launched a frozen food line even though he said microwaves are for 'lazy cooks' Gordon Ramsay announced he's releasing a new frozen food line. But in December 2020, the celebrity chef told Insider he thinks microwaves are for "lazy cooks." He even said he didn't have a microwave in his own kitchen.
The reasoning behind the frozen dinners is to allow people to get a taste of what Ramsay's skills have to offer at home, and to “bridge the gap” between his famous dishes seen on television and in his expensive restaurants.
On August 24, People announced that Ramsay was releasing his first line of frozen meals called "By Chef Ramsay," which will be sold exclusively at Walmart. According to the collection's website, the line consists of eight frozen entrees that are Ramsay's own recipes, from lasagna to fish and chips.
In his early culinary career, Ramsay apprenticed under Marco Pierre White, Joel Robuchon, and Guy Savoy, among others. At just 27 years old, however, Ramsay began his own career as a master chef. In 1993, he became head chef of the newly opened Aubergine restaurant in London.
Gordon Ramsay, Guy Fieri, Andrew Zimmern, and Kardea Brown are all releasing lines of frozen meals exclusively at Walmart. “People” recently announced that Ramsay was releasing his first-ever By Chef Ramsay line, which is already available at Walmart.
Now in its 23rd year of holding three Michelin stars, Gordon Ramsay's flagship restaurant provides elegant modern French cuisine using the finest seasonal ingredients and employing both classic and modern techniques.
Most chefs will never admit to using a microwave, especially when they're cooking professionally. In fact, almost every chef we reached out to for this story made a point to say that their restaurants don't even have microwaves on site. But what goes on inside their homes is a different story.
Microwaved food will continue to cook for a minute or so after the machine is turned off. So try to resist the temptation to eat straight away and let the food stand for a minute for the molecules to finish bouncing round.
Microwaves are a safe, effective, and highly convenient cooking method. There is no evidence that they cause harm — and some evidence that they are even better than other cooking methods at preserving nutrients and preventing the formation of harmful compounds. Still, you should not: overheat or underheat your food.
For his part, Ramsay fully supported the line in this article for People magazine: Gordon Ramsay Launches His First Frozen Food Line at Walmart. “I'm elated to bring my favorite dishes into homes across the country.”
While some frozen meals from the grocery store may appear to be a healthy choice, they often fall short when it comes to their nutritional value. Many of these meals are highly processed and may contain fewer nutritious ingredients than expected.
Per Ramsay, they bumped into each other a day before Super Bowl 2023 in the same Arizona pizzeria. "I was sat in Chris Bianco's Pizzeria [Bianco] in Arizona on Saturday night with some friends, and Paul Rudd was behind me — I was talking to him," Ramsay exclusively told us.
Alan Wong takes the top spot as the world's wealthiest chef by a long shot, with a jaw-dropping estimated net worth of $1.1 billion (£870m). Wong is best known as the co-founder of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, a company set up to showcase Hawaii's locally grown ingredients and diverse culinary styles.
Home Chef meals are designed to be stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to prep and eat them. You may be able to store certain meals in the freezer if their ingredients are freezer-friendly.
Meats and seafood also benefit from the cold treatment. In the case of proteins—and specialty fish—they are often frozen or chilled, then thawed multiple times for transport before making it to restaurants. Getting them frozen means you get them at their best.
Yes, every meal is made fresh to order.Then we freeze your meals the night before delivery to make sure they stay absolutely fresh during delivery. *Meals can arrive defrosted and are safe to refreeze for future use.
Founded in 1997, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants comprises the restaurant business of acclaimed chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author Gordon Ramsay. It is one of the largest privately-owned restaurant groups in the UK, with additional restaurants internationally across the USA, France, Dubai, Singapore and more.
Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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