Hot Pockets
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hot Pockets are microwaveable sandwiches composed of cheese and meat wrapped up in a flaky crust. Hot Pockets are advertised as "America's Favorite Stuffed Sandwich" and are currently produced by Nestlé. There are over 20 varieties of Hot Pockets, including both breakfast and lunch/dinner varieties (see list below). Nestlé also offers Lean Pockets, Croissant Pockets, Pot-Pie Pockets and Hot Pocket Pizza Minis; in 2005, Hot Pockets Subs and Hot Pocket Fruit Pastries were introduced.
Hot Pockets were invented by Paul Merage and David Merage in the 1970s. They founded the company Chef America Inc. and began producing Hot Pockets for the market in 1983. In 2002, the Merages sold Chef America to Nestlé for $2.6 billion. Initially only available in the United States and Canada, they are now sold by Nestlé in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom under the Maggi brand. Quote from Nestlé 2005 Full Year Financials: "In Europe, the roll-out of Hot Pockets, small microwaveable frozen meals, is gaining momentum in France, Germany, Spain and the UK."
Hot Pockets, which come frozen, are often known for a "sleeve" or "crisper" in which they cook in the microwave. This sleeve comes packaged with individual Hot Pockets, and are meant to be disposed of after use. The sleeve converts microwave energy into heat to crisp the crust, which would normally be penetrated by microwaves.
Recently, Hot Pockets brand has introduced whole grain crusts, following a trend of many convenience product purveyors of offering healthier choices. This new variety is part of their "Lean Pocket" line, under the heading "Lean Pocket Ultra".
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[edit] List of varieties
Hot Pockets
- Bacon, Egg, & Cheese
- Barbecue
- Beef & Cheddar
- Beef Taco
- Cheeseburger
- Chicken & Cheddar with Broccoli
- Chicken Fajita
- Chicken Melt
- Four-Cheese Pizza
- Four-Meat & Four Cheese Pizza
- Ham & Cheese
- Ham, Egg & Cheese
- Italian Style Meat Trio
- Jalapeño Steak & Cheese
- Meatball & Mozzarella
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Philly Steak & Cheese
- Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza
- Sausage Pizza
- Sausage, Egg & Cheese
- Steak Fajita
- Supreme Pizza
- Three Cheese & Chicken Quesadilla
- Turkey & Ham with Cheese
Hot Pockets Subs
- Meatballs & Mozzarella
- Philly Steak and Cheese
- Ham & Cheese
- Pepperoni Pizza
Hot Pockets Biscuits
- Bacon, Egg, and Cheese
- Sausage, Egg, and Cheese
Pot Pie Express
- Chicken
- Chicken & Broccoli
- Turkey
Lean Pockets
- Bacon, Egg, & Cheese
- Barbeque
- Cheeseburger
- Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar
- Chicken Fajita
- Chicken Parmesan
- Ham & Cheddar
- Meatballs & Mozzarella
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Philly Steak & Cheese
- Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza
- Sausage, Egg & Cheese
- Steak Fajita
- Three Cheese & Broccoli
- Turkey & Ham with Cheese
- Turkey, Broccoli & Cheese
Lean Pockets Ultra
- Meatballs & Mozzarella
- Supreme Pizza
- Ham & Cheese
Lean Pockets Subs
- Meatballs & Mozzarella
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Philly Steak & Cheese
Croissant Pockets
- Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar
- Egg, Sausage & Cheese
- Five Cheese Pizza
- Ham & Cheddar
- Italian Style Chicken Melt
- Meatballs & Mozzarella
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Philly Steak & Cheese
- Turkey Bacon Club
Hot Pockets Fruit Pastries
- Apple
- Cream Cheese & Strawberry
- Strawberry
Hot Pockets Pizza Minis
- Pepperoni
- Sausage & Pepperoni
- Double Cheese Pizza
[edit] Hot Pockets in popular culture
Mike Myers' character in the Austin Powers trilogy, Dr. Evil, offers a Hot Pocket to his son, Scott Evil, in 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. And in the sequel, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil asks Mini-Me if he would like a Hot Pocket. He also encourages his subordinate, Frau Farbissina, to enjoy a Hot Pocket while awkwardly conversing about their previous night's unsatisfying sexual encounter.
Jack McFarland serves these at the cafe that he has set up outside of his apartment on a 2002 episode of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace.
The character Taz 'Rat' Finch in the 2003 film The Core is obsessed with Hot Pockets to the point where he requests them in addition to Xena tapes as payment for "hacking the planet."
Jim Gaffigan has a comedy routine about Hot Pockets.
In the South Park episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft," the boys are seen eating only Hot Pockets and playing World of Warcraft addictively.
