Description: A frozen, 16-ounce rendition of shepherd’s pie made with “seasoned” beef, vegetables and gravy and topped with whipped potatoes.

Preparation summary: Peel back cellophane wrapper one inch from plastic container and cook on high in microwave for nine-10 minutes. Or bake in conventional oven on cookie sheet for 25-30 minutes.

Highpoints: As a disgruntled Brit would politely say, “None, actually.”

Lowpoints: You’ll need dental floss, salt, pepper and butter to get through this defective shepherd’s pie. The ropy beef is incorrigible, and the whipped potato topping is flavorless. Prepare for a big mess because the few teaspoons of gravy contained in the meal bubbles out of the tray during the heating process.

Average retail price: $3.89

Availability: Trader Joe’s

Description: Boxed fettuccine noodles with flavor packet and Parmesan cheese topping that also includes two cans of white chicken meat in Alfredo sauce by Progresso.

Preparation summary: Preferred oven method calls for mixing canned Alfredo sauce with chicken into a non-greased casserole pan with 2/3 cups hot water and seasoning packet. Bake covered for 25 to 37 minutes, then sprinkle with grated cheese topping.

Highpoints: Say goodbye to constipation.

Lowpoints: Your complete kit to white-trash casserole cooking results in goopy consistency and a fake Alfredo flavor achieved by myriad additives impossible to pronounce. The canned chicken in white sauce by Progresso smells like Alpo and tastes like thrice-reheated cafeteria food.

Average retail price: $2.99 to $3.99, depending on place of purchase.

Availability: Most major grocery stores and Longs Drugs.

Description: Frozen half-moon dumplings filled with whipped potatoes, minced broccoli and cheddar cheese. Box contains 10 pierogies.

Preparation summary: Can be boiled, sautéed, baked or deep-fried. Best when served with onions sautéed in butter.

Highpoints: If you’ve never eaten classic Polish pierogies, this is an excellent place to start since you’ll be hard pressed to find them in local restaurants. The stuffed dough pillows taste close to homemade and don’t tear apart as easily when boiling.

Lowpoints: The addition of broccoli in the filling adds a funny chlorophyll tint to the traditional white dough casings, and with little extra nutritional value gained. Yes, there are places where green vegetables just don’t belong.

Average retail price: $4.20

Availability: All major grocery stores.

Description: Ridged potato chips designed to taste like baked potatoes with sour cream and cheese fixings, plus a hint of hickory smoke.

Preparation summary: Ready to eat.

Highpoints: No need for chip dip. And zero grams of trans fat.

Lowpoints: A potato chip made to taste like a potato? The product development folks at Frito-Lay Inc. have resorted to mad science with their flavor inventions. The so-called “works” in these chips amount to nothing more than an amalgamation of every seasoned potato chip that came before it – ranch, cheddar, barbecue, et al. It’s hard to tell which chemically induced flavor you’re eating.

Average retail price: $3.19

Availability: All major grocery stores.