22 Discontinued Frozen Foods We're Probably Never Getting Back

Frozen food first appeared almost 100 years ago but really took off after World War II, creating perhaps the biggest culinary revolution since humans discovered fire. Home cooks could store fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables for much longer periods of time, changing shopping habits forever. Plus, when items were defrosted, they retained all their nutrition, texture, and flavor.

The first frozen foods appeared in 1945 in the United States, and within a decade had expanded to a vast range, including brands from Safeway Foods, and A&P. Since then, consumers have been tempted with every kind of frozen food. While some have stayed the course, others were not so lucky. From hearty TV dinners to sweet treats, here are 22 discontinued frozen foods we're probably never getting back.

The granddaddy of TV dinner companies, Swanson was the first on the market in 1953 with a frozen plate of sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, and peas. It was followed by fried chicken and beef options, and in 1983 they unveiled Le Menu Dinners. The fancier range included chicken breast florentine and flounder filet, and was discontinued in 1994. But it wasn't the company's only frozen foray.

In 1986, Swanson launched microwavable Great Starts Breakfast Sandwiches, which had four flavor varieties, as well as the Duets line: Chicken nuggets stuffed with four fillings — pizza, Mexican style, ham and cheese, and spinach and herb. The next year, bigger versions hit shelves, with fillings including creamy green bean and mushroom, and saucy tomato and cheese. Duets disappeared from shelves in around 1990, followed by the breakfast sandwiches six years later. 

French fries have been a kitchen staple in the United States since 1947 but in 2002, two years after launching its green ketchup, food manufacturer Heinz decided the humble potato-based snack needed an overhaul. Thus, Funky Fries were born. Described by the company as: "The most radical thing to hit french fries since ketchup itself," Funky Fries were marketed squarely at children, with sweet and savory flavors including Cinna-Sticks, Cocoa Crispers, and Sour Cream & Jive.

However, it was the fourth french fry variety, Kool Blue, that really stood out from the crowd, because it lived up to its colorful name. Despite Heinz' hopes that kids would pile their plates high before covering them in green ketchup, Funky Fries were gone by 2003.

There is a lot of frozen food that isn't good for us but some brands were trying to provide healthier meals, and The Budget Gourmet was among them. It's range of frozen meals launched in 1987, and included sirloin tips with country vegetables and glazed turkey. A 1992 advert featured the tagline "things that make you go 'mmmm'" and pitched the frozen meals to women and, unusually, men.

Priced at $1.89, The Budget Gourmet frozen meal range — which was expanded to include a light version and side dishes – all sought to rival Nestlé's Lean Cuisine. In 1987, manufacturer All-American Gourmet was sold to Kraft, which then sold The Budget Gourmet brand to Heinz in 1994. In 2001, Heinz sold it to Luigino's, before the range was discontinued in around 2005.

Celebrity food endorsements are nothing new, and in 2007, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan put his name and face to the Hulkster Cheeseburger. The colorful packaging described the contents as "Flame Broiled Cheeseburger on a Bun" but not everyone was persuaded to dig in. Discontinued Foods! posted on X: "The burger itself was dubiously beef, and the 'cheese' was listed in the ingredients as 'melt.'"

It wasn't the only skeptical review of the Hulkster Cheeseburger. Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia also pointed out the odd combination of ingredients, before comparing it to a McDonald's double cheeseburger. Sadly, the frozen version came off worse. One patty and a single slice of melt, while the fast food outlet had two of both. By 2011, one of them was gone — guessing you know which one.

In 2015, Tombstone pushed the flavor envelope with their limited edition 'Hulapeño' frozen pizza. As the name suggests, its toppings included pineapple and jalapeño peppers, as well as "real Wisconsin mozzarella." Matt Zion may have struggled with the pronunciation in his video review, but he seemed impressed with the amount of jalapeños, and said: "I've never really been a fan of pineapple on pizza, but this works."

One poster on X said: "I am going to state for the record that pineapple, jalapeños, and a salty meat like pepperoni or ham is a truly delicious pizza topping combo and I genuinely love it." The same year saw Tombstone unveil a bratwurst limited edition pizza, which also included the Wisconsin mozzarella, as well as a spicy brown mustard sauce. 

For more than 50 years, Freezer Queen TV dinners were a staple item in many homes across the United States. Their frozen meal range included broccoli with cheese sauce and "man size" beef patties with gravy. Unfortunately, the Buffalo, New York-based company that had been at the forefront of the TV dinner market was brought to an embarrassing end. 

In early 2006, inspections noted the presence of live cockroaches in the gravy tank, and dried food left on machinery. In June, the USDA told Freezer Queen in a letter that the factory was being closed due to: "Cockroach infestations, sanitation performance issues and serious insanitary conditions observed throughout your establishment," according to Discontinued Foods! on X. The next month, the factory closed.

Fusion food has been a thing for years, and Trader Joe's decided to get in on the action in 2019 with its take on the bao bun. Michelle Jenkins at DailyWaffle reviewed a box of four, which cost $3.49, and were described as: "Philly cheesesteak in a fluffy bao bun with shredded beef, onion and bell pepper."

Club Trader Joe's also gave the frozen buns a whirl, and both bloggers came to the same conclusion: The supermarket brand's buns were good, but they needed a lot more filling. Whether that was why they were pulled from supermarkets in 2023 is a mystery, but devotees were devastated. One Redditor posted: "I prefer the traditional pork bao, but these were a favorite of ours and they will be missed."

Frozen foods and microwave technology were a match made in heaven, and the Oscar Mayer company knew a great opportunity when it saw one. In 1987 it unleashed Zappetites, microwaveable snacks that were so easy to cook, kids could do it. One print ad reads: "All they'll have to do is open the multipack, take out up to 3 single servings, push a button and in about a minute they'll have a hot snack size food ..." 

The range included a cheeseburger — complete with sesame seed bun — deluxe Italian bread pizza and snack chili cheese dog. As well as roping in a baby-faced Adam Sandler to advertise Zappetites, the brand name was slapped on everything from mugs to gardening gloves. They were discontinued around 1993. 

The frozen food revolution wasn't just great for meat and vegetables, it gave the vegetarian market a boost too. Trader Joe's was just one brand to capitalize on this with its Meatless Breakfast Patties. They were very popular thanks to their deep flavor and solid texture, but bizarrely were withdrawn in around 2021 because they contained eggs and were non-vegan. 

Fans expressed their sorrow on social media, with one Redditor posting: "I am beyond sad that Trader Joe's discontinued their Meatless Breakfast Patties. The flavor was delicious and so reminiscent of breakfast patties I used to eat ..." In 2023, an all-vegan version of the breakfast patties was launched. 

The R&B legend has worn many hats during his long career, but in 2004 he added 'frozen ready meal manufacturer' to his collection. The packaging included the tagline: "The soul is in the bowl," while the range of boxed meals included chicken and sausage gumbo, seafood gumbo, down home pot roast, and red beans and rice.

Fans hoped that the frozen meals would be as good as Smokey's music, but they ended up with mixed reviews. One Redditor said: "In my experience, gumbo from the frozen aisle is always a travesty. The word 'gumbo' just sets expectations too high," while a commenter on X wrote: "They were advertised on a near constant loop at Safeways during that time. Never had the urge to buy one though." Smokey's frozen dinners faded out in 2009.

In 2016, the TV series "Stranger Things" put frozen treat Eggos firmly at the front of the national consciousness — but it wasn't enough to stop Kellogg's from yanking a much-loved part of the waffle range from supermarkets. Waf-Fulls, launched in 2000, were a breakfast snack combo of fluffy waffle and strawberry, blueberry, or apple interior. 

In 2023, Kellogg's replied to a post on X asking for Waf-Fulls to be brought back, saying: "Unfortunately, those were discontinued because they did not have enough fans. We're sorry to disappoint, but appreciate your interest." While devotees on X tagged stars such as Kim Kardashian and Barack Obama, hoping to put their social media muscle behind the campaign, Eggo Waf-Fulls remain consigned to the freezer drawer of history.

Food manufacturers are always looking for that extra edge that will have consumers beating a path to their products. In 1973, Downyflake hit on a bold concept when it launched Hot n Buttery frozen waffles. 

Downyflake's advertising promised a "buttery puddle in every square" which is quite the achievement for a product that was toasted upright. Questionable coating aside, it found an audience. One Facebook user wrote: "These were quick when we were getting ready for school and had something fast before catching the bus." Hot n buttery waffles stopped clogging up toasters in 1994. 

Finding a healthy breakfast the whole family will eat was a challenge for some, until Trader Joe's Multigrain Waffles came along. They were a hit with many people, including Freezer Meal Frenzy, who said that the waffles were a "healthier take on a classic breakfast treat, but thankfully, they don't sacrifice anything in the flavor department."

Despite their popularity, Trader Joe's confirmed to The U.S. Sun in 2023 that the Multi Grain waffles had been discontinued, giving no reason for the decision. One Redditor posted: "We absolutely loved the multigrain waffles. They had good flavor and didn't get soggy." Sadly, the multi grain waffles weren't the only popular variety to be pulled from the store's refrigerators: Their gluten and wheat-free banana waffles also vanished in 2009. 

In 2003, Pillsbury launched its iconic breakfast snack Waffle Sticks, putting smiles on the faces of millions of kids in the United States. This microwaveable frozen treat came with a cup of sauce in chocolate chip, cinnamon, blueberry, and buttermilk varieties, and was a big hit. One Redditor said: "These were so freaking good. Kids will never know how treasured these were with all the kids of the time. I can taste these even today."

Sadly, after 20 years, Pillsbury decided to retire waffle sticks and their moreish dipping sauces. While many fans took to social media asking for them to be brought back, replies on X were not exactly positive. The company's account insisted each request would be passed on to "the team." To date, they have not returned.

Of all the frozen foods that have been discontinued in the past few decades, few hit harder than Klondike's Choco Taco. Created in 1983, the folded ice cream treat was snapped up by millions across the United States, who loved the combination of waffle, chocolate, ice cream and nuts. Then, in 2022, Klondike pulled the plug, citing an "unprecedented spike in demand across our portfolio," according to CNN.

The response was immediate. Even Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian offered to keep the brand alive, messaging parent company Unilever on X: "I'd like to buy the rights to your Choco Taco and keep it from melting away from future generations' childhoods." While that never came to be, in 2024, Taco Bell and Salt & Straw teamed up to offer their version. 

Howard Johnson's first became iconic as a hotel chain, then for their delicious range of frozen foods. Topping the lot were their Toastees, launched in 1960 and available in plain corn flavor or blueberry. Their vivid packaging and square shape made them instantly recognizable, and both adults and children adored them.

Unfortunately, the brand and its frozen foods fell victim to changing and increasingly challenging economic times. As the number of Howard Johnson's outlets dwindled, so did their product range, with Toastees ending their successful run in 2008. One poster on X said: "I mourn these things, the blueberry ones were the best!"

Some brands have one or two products that are discontinued but ice cream company Ben & Jerry's puts everyone in the shade. They have 35 listed on their flavor graveyard – but there are more than 300 that have been pulled from freezers over the years.

While flavors like Chocolate Peppermint Crunch lasted for three years, others were part of special editions whose profits went to charity, such as 2017's Marshmallow Moonand Apple Crumble back in 2001. Others fell victim to economic conditions, like Fresh Georgia Peach, on sale between 1986 and 1991. One flavor that kept coming back was Key Lime Pie. Launched in 2006, it was discontinued then revived between 2009 and 2011, before a third appearance between 2012 and 2013.

No list of discontinued frozen foods is complete without mentioning Jell-O Gelatin Pops. This creamy, fruity concoction launched in 1983, came in strawberry, raspberry, grape, and orange flavors. One Facebook user said: "[They] really did have an unmistakable 'Jelloness' that set 'em apart from other popsicles."

Jell-O was also behind two other popular frozen treats: The chocolate/vanilla Pudding Pops, which hit stores a year after Gelatin Pops, and the Creme Savers Pudding, launched in 2002. Both Pudding Pops and Gelatin Pops were yanked from stores in 1993, while the Savers Pudding was available until around 2011. 

In 1987, the iconic Betty Crocker brand launched two frozen ice creams in the United States: The Soft Sundae and the Brownie Sundae. The former was a paper cone filled with smooth vanilla ice cream and a dollop of sauces, including hot fudge and strawberry. 

The Brownie sundae featured a slab of ice cream, complete with a swirl of fudge, sitting between two slices of brownie. Sadly for fans of the soft sundae, it only stuck around for a couple of years before being discontinued with not much in the way of complaints from customers. The brownie sundae had a little more staying power, before it too was pulled from supermarket freezers in around 1990.

For three years, between 2012 and 2015, Good Humor delighted ice cream lovers with its Hershey's Mounds bar. The frozen take on the classic chocolate bar was a combination of dark chocolate, creamy coconut and ice cream was a winner ... for those who could find them in supermarkets.

Poor marketing meant many people had no idea about the Mounds bar, potentially negatively impacting sales. One poster on X said: "It is a federal crime that I never saw these in stores. They would still be stocked to this day." Others have suggested that the flavor combination wasn't a winner in the long term, or that using non-fat milk in the ice cream recipe gave rival products the taste edge. 

Kids of all ages went crazy for Good Humor's Popsicle Micro Pops, launched in 1999. Vibrant tubes were filled with red, white, and blue balls flavored with strawberry, lemon, and blue raspberry. Think of them as a frozen take on boba or bubble tea with the taste ramped up to 11. Popsicle was also behind Shots, a lemon and lime-flavored version of the frozen treat. 

One Redditor said: "I remember the ice cream truck going by and chasing it down on my bike just to get one of these." Production of Micro Pops was halted in the early 2000s, and while no official reason was given, rumors swirled about the use of aspartame in Shots, and the risk of choking among young consumers.

The frozen food industry wasn't all TV dinners, breakfast snacks, and sweet treats. Some companies thought a little sideways and dipped a toe into the beverage market too — and Happy Hour was one. In 1969, it unveiled a line of colorful cocktail mixers that kinda did for adults what freeze pops did for kids. 

Dubbed the Frostail, the stylish range comprised sachets of fruit-flavored mixers for the Mai-Tai, whiskey sour, gimlet, and daiquiri. All party goers had to do was pop them in the freezer, before squeezing them into a glass and adding a dash of alcohol for each cocktail. Frostails may have lasted long enough to ring in a new decade, but were discontinued in around 1973.