'One Of The Best Frozen Meals I've Ever Had': Shoppers Love This Store-Bought Rao's Dinner

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On the list of the best and worst restaurant chain frozen meals, we plumbed the highest highs and lowest depths of the freezer case, uncovering must-buys from some of our favorite eateries and a few microwave trays so foul that we were tempted to compile a blacklist. Rao's restaurant is one of the hottest reservations in New York City, with additional outlets in Miami and Los Angeles, and the name has become a byword for high-quality home Italian food, such as one of the top-ranked pasta sauce brands we tried. Rao's is about more than just premium marinara, however; the brand also delivers a frozen meal that social media consumers can't stop raving about: its Made For Home penne alla vodka.

"My favorite meal that is quick and easy and requires me to do absolutely nothing but throw it in the microwave," raved one Kroger buyer of this Rao's meal. "Sauce is excellent — rich and creamy, perfect amount of sweetness to cut down on acidity," gushed a Redditor who found this meal at Whole Foods. "Pasta is [a]l dente! Followed by salty, nutty and funky flavor of Parmesan and Romano cheese. Wouldn't think it is frozen. Could use as main meal or as a side for chicken/steak or salad dish." Meanwhile, yet another satisfied customer on Amazon summed things up nicely: "Rao's has truly nailed it with this frozen meal — premium quality, incredible taste, and all-natural goodness. If you're a fan of Italian food, you have to try this. It's easily one of the best frozen meals I've ever had. Highly recommended!"

At its best, frozen pasta preserves the bite and springiness of the noodles, and delivers a flavorful sauce. The worst specimens are mushy messes with a homogenous, often watery excuse for a coating that congeals into overly sweet, salty, or even bland tastelessness. The user reviews for Rao's penne alla vodka rave that this dish hits all the high notes you love to see in a frozen meal.

Good homemade pasta sauce requires balancing ingredients for the best profile, and Rao's hits the nail on the head. Penne alla vodka gets its unique savor from the namesake spirit, which adds both creamy texture and an inimitable flavor to the tomato-based sauce. The list of ingredients in Rao's frozen version consists of all pronounceable whole foods, and exactly what you would expect from a homemade version of this beloved Italian dish: tomatoes, heavy cream, vodka, garlic, spices. This is likely the main reason why so many reviews carry on about the fact that this meal tastes like it was made with love, as opposed to a cheap, disposable frozen puck of mediocrity.

Several comments also praised the texture of the noodles, stating that Rao's achieved the all-important al dente mouthfeel to the penne. Sometimes, with frozen pasta, not tanking the consistency is the biggest obstacle, and Rao's did what needed to be done. A frozen meal that is as enjoyable as homemade is a rare accomplishment, and worthy of the higher price that consumers pay for Rao's products.