Description: Single grilled chicken Italian panini with breast meat, provolone cheese, grilled onions and peppers on Italian white bread, meant for the microwave only.

Preparation summary: Sandwich heats on its own carton when flipped upside down to expose the microwave “platform.” Cook on high for two minutes and 45 seconds to three minutes and 15 seconds.

Highpoints: Sweet pepper and onion medley imparts a pleasing flavor to the fair amount of chicken meat contained inside the sandwich.

Lowpoints: Panini, my foot! The bread is too white and the panini press is sorely missed.

Average retail price: $2.73

Availability: Major grocery stores

Description: Pancakes and three breakfast sausage links contained in plastic bowl for use in the microwave. Separate syrup packet included.

Preparation summary: Microwave on high for one minute. Remove the top film and turn links. Heat for an additional minute.

Highpoints: Makes McDonald’s breakfasts taste griddle-fresh.

Lowpoints: The pancakes turn out as rubbery as the sausage links. Product is way overpriced for its measly contents.

Average retail price: $3.27

Availability: Major grocery stores

Description: One-pound plastic tub of soft licorice pieces.

Preparation summary: Ready to eat.

Highpoints: As all licorice makers tout, it’s free of trans-fat and cholesterol. Pieces melt in your mouth much faster than Red Vines and other American brands of licorice that are less emulsified.

Lowpoints: Low-intensity flavor doesn’t quite send you to Strawberry Fields.

Average retail price: $3.99

Availability: Trader Joe’s

Description: Frozen, 10-inch pizza topped with marinara sauce, Italian sausage, Fontina cheese, reduced-fat mozzarella, Parmesan, spicy ham, salami and basil.

Preparation summary: Cook on middle rack in preheated 400-degree oven for 11 to 12 minutes.

Highpoints: The sausage on top is pleasingly spicy and has detectable levels of fennel. Thin, cracker-crispy crust puts you in direct contact with the proteins sitting above it without leaving you in carb overload

Lowpoints: The round ham slices in the topping are as tough as cowhide and the pizza could use about three more ounces of sauce. Also, keep a hawk’s eye on the pie when it’s baking because the line between “done” and “burnt” is narrow.

Average retail price: $6.59

Availability: Major grocery stores