Japanese food is famous all the world. Everyone knows sushi, tempura and tofu. A lot Japanese food is so well presented it looks art. It is therefore a little surprising that Japan's "dish the year" 2022 is frozen food. Each year, the Gurunavi Research Institute decides the winner for its culinary award. The prize is given to food that highlights trends what people eat. Frozen food got the prize 2022 because the Coronavirus pandemic. Many people did not dine at top restaurants. Instead, they stocked on frozen food and ate at home. The winning frozen food was very basic - no examples of haute cuisine. The judges selected a variety frozen meat and pizzas - still in their air-tight bags.
Gurunavi said the pandemic has resulted food companies experimenting different ways of freezing food. They want to make sure that frozen food tastes good, even after it thaws . One of Japan's largest supermarkets has opened a specialized food shop called @Frozen. It sells 1,500 different frozen food items. Japan's convenience stores have expanded their frozen food sections, and frozen food vending machines are popping everywhere. Some sell frozen sushi. Japan's Frozen Food Association said changing lifestyles have increased the popularity frozen food. Japan's population is aging, so many older people find frozen dishes more convenient than cooking scratch.
