Frozen microwavable foods represent the largest and fastest growing microwavable foods product segment, according to a study produced by Persistence Market Research, New York.

Microwavable food is a pre-packaged meal that requires very little preparations, and in time, has become an important part of modern diet. Busy life schedules coupled with increasing number of working women and ease of preparations are factors boosting the microwavable foods market.

Packaging plays an important role in ensuring that the food remains suitable for cooking in microwave oven, even after a longer period of time. Different technologies used for packaging include patterned susceptors technology, new tray lidding methods and new cook bag techniques.

North America and Europe are the largest market for microwavable foods, the study says, with the Asia-Pacific region expected to be fastest growing market for microwavable foods.

However, consumer perception toward microwavable food acts as a restraint for the microwavable foods market. Sometimes microwavable food can be perceived as an inferior substitute for fresh food. That’s why the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), McLean, Va., launched a national effort to encourage consumers to take a fresh look at frozen foods.