Description: Pre-cooked, lightly seasoned pork in brown gravy from the new “heat n’ eat” line by Tyson Foods Inc.

Preparation summary: When thawed, heat in microwave for four minutes on high. Cooking time doubles if frozen. Product can also be boiled in its bag (10 minutes) or heated in conventional oven (20 minutes) at 325 degrees.

Highpoints: Meat is fork-tender and more savory than expected. The gravy’s rich, home-style flavor caused my domestic partner to wax sentimental over his Midwestern roots. Bring on the watermelon and pecan pie for dessert!

Lowpoints: Product cries for mashed potatoes on the side. Jiggly suet left on some of the pork pieces difficult to detect beneath the gravy.

Retail Price: $6.99

Availability: Most major grocery stores

Description: Fresh pasta pillows stuffed with kefalotyri cheese, Greek olives, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. About 18 come in the pack.

Preparation summary: Boil in three quarts of water. Cook for five to six minutes. Drain and serve.

Highpoints: The kefalotyri cow’s milk cheese in the filling melts betta’ than feta, and is less salty. Flavor from olives becomes evident through contemplation. Cooked “ravioli” can be enjoyed in their naked form, or a dab of olive oil does the trick.

Lowpoints: Conjoined triangles in the package remain love-locked throughout the boiling process. Pinkish, mulch-like filling very un-Athenian.

Retail Price: $3.99

Availability: Trader Joe’s

Description: Family-size frozen dinner of four pre-cooked breaded chicken breasts over potato-onion gratin from Huxtable’s Kitchen, based in Vernon, Calif.

Preparation summary: Microwave seven minutes if thawed; 12 minutes if frozen. Oven cooking times range from 25 to 45 minutes.

Highpoints: The photograph on package cover.

Lowpoints: Mealy chicken breasts punished by stale tasting breading, which reveals odd and sporadic waves of garlic with mismatched spices. The over-cheesy potatoes start out watery then turn into grout-like paste after cooling. Scraping leftovers from the plate is tedious and requires steel wool.

Retail Price: $9.95

Availability: Costco

Description: Eight toaster pastries topped with swirls of white icing and filled with cinnamon, brown sugar and corn syrup solids.

Preparation summary: Heat in toaster at lightest setting for one cycle, or in microwave for three seconds on high.

Highpoints: Offers all the decadent sweetness of a cinnamon roll sans the excess dough. Buttery, baked flavor an added bonus. A perfect indulgence for nesters addicted to “American Idol.”

Lowpoints: As with the entire line of Pop Tarts, the intense heat they capture in the toasting process requires burn ointment if handling them with bare hands.

Retail Price: $2.19

Availability: Most major grocery stores