Hot Pockets are a popular convenience food, offering a quick and easy meal solution. Understanding their nutritional content is essential for making informed dietary choices. This article provides a detailed look at the nutrition facts, ingredients, and other relevant information about Hot Pockets.
Nutritional Information
A typical serving of Hot Pockets provides a certain amount of essential nutrients. Here's a breakdown of the key nutritional components:
- Total Fat: 15g (19% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 7g (35% Daily Value)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 25mg (8% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 740mg (32% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrate: 38g (14% Daily Value)
- Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% Daily Value)
- Total Sugars: 4g
- Includes 2g Added Sugars (4% Daily Value)
- Protein: 10g (18% Daily Value)
- Vitamin D: 0mcg (0% Daily Value)
- Iron: 2.6mg (15% Daily Value)
- Calcium: 190mg (15% Daily Value)
- Potassium: 220mg (4% Daily Value)
It's important to note that the % Daily Value (DV) indicates how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet, based on a 2,000-calorie intake.
Key Ingredients
The ingredients in Hot Pockets vary depending on the specific flavor. However, some common ingredients include:
- Enriched Flour: (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
- Water
- Tomato Paste
- Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese: (Pasteurized Part Skim Milk, Nonfat Milk, Modified Food Starch*, Cultures, Salt, Vitamin A Palmitate, Enzymes, *Ingredients not in regular mozzarella cheese)
- Cooked Seasoned Pizza Topping: (Pork, Water, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Textured Soy Protein Concentrate, Modified Cornstarch, Salt, Spices, Beef, Soy Protein Concentrate, Flavoring, Sodium Phosphate, BHA, BHT, Citric Acid)
- Pepperoni Made With Pork, Chicken, and Beef: (Pork, Mechanically Separated Chicken, Beef, Salt, 2% Or Less of Spices, Dextrose, Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Oleoresin of Paprika Color, Sodium Ascorbate, Flavoring, Sodium Nitrite, BHA, BHT, Citric Acid to Help Protect Flavor)
- Vegetable Oil: (Soybean Oil and/or Palm Oil and/or Fractionated Palm Oil and/or Canola Oil)
- Margarine: (Palm Oil, Water, Soybean Oil, 2% or Less of Sugar, Monoglycerides, Soybean Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate and Citric Acid [Preservatives], Annatto and Turmeric Color, Vitamin A Palmitate Added)
- Sugar
- Salt
- Modified Food Starch
- Dough Conditioner Blend: (Calcium Sulfate, Salt, L-Cysteine Hydrochloride, Garlic Powder, Enzymes)
- Dried Garlic
- Citrus Fiber
- Dried Onion
- Maltodextrin
- Spices
- Whey
- Potassium Salt
- Soy Lecithin
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavor
- Soy Flour
- Paprika Oleoresin Color
- Egg Whites
Allergen Information
Hot Pockets contain several common allergens. Consumers with allergies should be aware of the following:
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- Egg
- Wheat
- Milk
- Soy
Always refer to the product label for the most accurate and up-to-date allergen information.
Preparation Instructions
Hot Pockets are designed for quick and easy preparation. Here are the general cooking instructions:
- Remove wrapper.
- Cook according to the chart below. (Since ovens vary, cooking times may require adjusting.)
- Remove sandwich and let sit for 2 minutes.
Environmental Impact
The production of Hot Pockets, particularly those containing beef, has environmental implications. Beef production is associated with a high carbon footprint compared to other protein sources. This is due to factors such as land use, methane emissions from livestock, and the energy required for feed production and transportation.
Shelf Life and Storage
Hot Pockets have a shelf life of approximately 420 days. They should be stored in the freezer to maintain their quality and safety. Products remain in the database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores, even when they have been discontinued (products may remain in stores and pantries long past the date they cease to be manufactured).
Additional Considerations
- Product Score: The product score is based on weighted scores for nutrition, ingredient, and processing concerns. Generally, nutrition counts most, ingredient concerns next, and the degree of processing least. The weighted scores are added together to determine the final score.
- Label Information: It is always important to refer to the product label for the most accurate nutrition, ingredient, and allergen information. Manufacturers may change the product's packaging or formulation at any point in time.
- Serving Suggestions: Hot Pockets can be served with a fresh salad to create a more balanced meal.
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