Bushra Griffith
Hot Pockets are popular frozen snacks that come in a variety of flavours, including ham and cheese. They are convenient, quick, and easy to prepare in the microwave or oven. But are ham and cheese Hot Pockets healthy? While they are a good source of protein and made with real cheese, there are some concerns about the ingredients, processing, and nutritional content. For example, Hot Pockets contain additives like sodium nitrite, which has been associated with cancer, as well as artificial trans fats and sugar. So, while they may be tasty and convenient, it's important to consider the potential health implications and consume them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Enriched flour, water, fully cooked ham, reduced-fat cheddar cheese, margarine, palm oil, soybean oil, sugar, modified food starch, vegetable oil, malto-dextrin, salt, whey, dough conditioner blend |
| Additives | Sodium nitrite, tricalcium phosphate, sodium phosphates, disodium phosphate |
| Nutrition | High in protein, calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, sodium, and fruit, vegetable and nut content |
| Processing | High processing concerns |
| Health | May contain unhealthy artificial trans fats, derived from animals treated with antibiotics, hormones, and/or growth promoters |
| Preparation | Can be prepared in the microwave or oven |
| Storage | Keep frozen or refrigerated, do not re-freeze |
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What You'll Learn
Hot Pockets' nutritional value
Hot Pockets are marketed as a convenient, quick, and portable snack or meal. They are available in a variety of flavours, including Ham and Cheese, and Pepperoni Pizza.
The nutritional value of Hot Pockets varies depending on the flavour. For example, the Hickory Ham & Cheddar flavour contains added sugar, salt, and various other additives such as sodium nitrite, tricalcium phosphate, and sodium phosphates. According to the World Health Organization, the product has high processing concerns. It contains fats derived from animals that may have been treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters, such as palm oil, canola oil, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids.
On the other hand, the Pepperoni Pizza flavour is made with reduced-fat mozzarella cheese and contains no artificial flavours. Both flavours are good sources of protein and are claimed to be made with real cheese.
Hot Pockets should be kept frozen or refrigerated and can be prepared in a microwave or oven. They are intended to be eaten hot but consumers are advised to let them cool down before consuming to avoid burning their taste buds.
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Hot Pockets' ingredients
Hot Pockets are a convenient snack option that can be easily stocked and sold. They are available in a variety of flavours, including Ham and Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza, and Four Cheese Pizza. The ingredients in Hot Pockets vary depending on the flavour, but here is an overview of the ingredients in the Ham and Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza, and Four Cheese Pizza flavours:
Ham and Cheese:
The Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets are made with real cheese and no artificial flavours. They are a good source of protein and are filled with hearty ingredients. The main ingredients in this flavour are:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Fully cooked hickory ham (cured with water, sugar, salt, sodium phosphate, dehydrated pork broth, potassium chloride, carrageenan, natural smoke flavour, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite)
- Reduced-fat cheddar cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, skim milk, modified food starch, cultures, salt, flavours, potassium chloride, annatto, vitamin A palmitate, enzymes)
- Imitation cheddar cheese (water, modified food starch, casein, soybean oil, whey, salt, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium phosphate, lactic acid, sodium citrate, natural flavour, annatto)
- Seasoning (whey, cheddar/blue cheeses, buttermilk, natural flavour, maltodextrin, coconut oil)
Pepperoni Pizza:
The Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets are also made with real cheese and no artificial flavours. They are a good source of protein and have a crispy crust. The main ingredients in this flavour are:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Pepperoni (pork, beef, salt, spices, dextrose, lactic acid starter culture, oleoresin of paprika, sodium ascorbate, flavouring, sodium nitrite, BHA, BHT, citric acid)
- Reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, nonfat milk, modified food starch, cultures, salt, vitamin A palmitate, enzymes)
- Tomato paste
- Vegetable oil (soybean oil, palm oil, fractionated palm oil)
- Margarine (palm oil, water, soybean oil, sugar, mono- and diglycerides, soybean lecithin, potassium sorbate, citric acid, annatto, turmeric colour, vitamin A palmitate)
Four Cheese Pizza:
The Four Cheese Pizza Hot Pockets are made with a variety of real cheeses, including parmesan, cheddar, reduced-fat provolone, and mozzarella. They are a good source of protein and are wrapped in a garlic buttery crust. The main ingredients in this flavour are:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, nonfat milk, modified food starch, cultures, salt, vitamin A palmitate, enzymes)
- Reduced-fat cheddar cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, skim milk, modified food starch, cultures, salt, flavours, potassium salt, annatto, vitamin A palmitate, enzymes)
- Reduced-fat provolone cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, nonfat milk, cultures, salt, modified food starch, vitamin A palmitate, enzymes)
- Parmesan cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Vegetable oil (soybean oil, palm oil, fractionated palm oil)
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Hot Pockets' additives
Hot Pockets are generally considered unhealthy. While they are a good source of protein, they contain a long list of additives, preservatives, and modified substances.
The Hickory Ham & Cheddar Hot Pocket, for example, contains several food additives, including sodium nitrite, tricalcium phosphate, sodium phosphates, and disodium phosphate. Sodium nitrite is of particular concern, as it has been associated with cancer.
Other additives in the Hickory Ham & Cheddar Hot Pocket include potassium chloride, potassium salts, and sodium erythorbate. The product also contains palm oil, canola oil, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, which can contribute to the intake of unhealthy artificial trans fats.
Hot Pockets have also been criticized for containing ingredients derived from animals treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters. In 2014, Nestle USA recalled 238,000 cases of its Hot Pockets due to concerns about meat from "diseased and unsound" animals.
Overall, while Hot Pockets may be convenient and tasty, they are highly processed and contain numerous additives that may have negative effects on health.
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Homemade ham and cheese pockets
Ham and cheese pockets are a delicious snack, but are they healthy? Well, it depends on the ingredients used and how they are prepared. Hot Pockets' ham and cheese snacks, for example, are made with real cheese and are a good source of protein. They are also conveniently easy to heat and can be prepared in a microwave or oven. However, they contain additives, such as sodium nitrite, which is associated with cancer, as well as antibiotics and artificial trans fats.
If you want a healthier alternative, you can make your own ham and cheese pockets at home. Here's a recipe for homemade ham and cheese pockets that serves eight:
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/3 cups (320ml) warm water (between 100-110°F, 38-43°C)
- 2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) Platinum Yeast from Red Star instant yeast (1 standard packet)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or pure cow ghee)
- 1/4 cup flour (unbleached, all-purpose white flour), plus extra for dusting
- A pinch of salt
- 8 slices of good quality ham
- 8 slices of cheddar cheese (or another cheese of your choice, such as Swiss or Gouda)
- 1 egg, beaten
- Fresh or dried parsley, chopped (optional)
Method
- Whisk the warm water, yeast, and sugar together in a bowl. Cover and let sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy.
- Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Mix by hand or with a dough hook on low speed for 1 minute.
- If the dough is too wet, add a little more flour. Knead the dough slowly for 7 minutes by hand or with your dough hook on low-medium speed.
- Once the dough is smooth and elastic, shape it into a ball. Place it in a large, lightly greased mixing bowl and turn it over to coat all sides.
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm environment (about 75°F or 80°F/ 24°C or 27°C) for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down to release the air and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
- Slice the dough in half, then cut each half into quarters to get 8 pieces.
- Flatten each piece of dough into a rectangle (about 4 x 6 inches).
- Place a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on one side of each dough rectangle, then fold the dough over to enclose the filling.
- Pinch the edges to seal the pockets and use a fork to crimp them.
- Brush the tops and sides of each pocket with egg wash and sprinkle with parsley, if using.
- Cut 2-3 slits into the tops of the pockets for air vents.
- Let the pockets rest and rise for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Bake the pockets for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown, rotating the baking sheet once or twice during bake time.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Feel free to experiment with different fillings and cheeses to make these ham and cheese pockets your own. You can also make these pockets freezer-friendly and store them for a quick snack or breakfast on the go!
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Hot Pockets' cooking instructions
Hot Pockets are a convenient snack that can be prepared in a microwave or oven. Here are detailed cooking instructions for both methods.
Microwave Instructions:
Unwrap the Hot Pocket and discard the crisping sleeve. Place the Hot Pocket on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high heat. For a 1100-watt oven, cook for 2 minutes, and for lower wattage/compact microwaves, cook for 3 minutes. Let it sit for 2 minutes to complete the cooking process.
Oven Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350° F. Unwrap the Hot Pocket and place it on a baking sheet without the crisping sleeve. Bake for 28 minutes, flipping it once if desired, then carefully remove it from the oven.
Air Fryer Instructions:
Unwrap the Hot Pocket and place it in the bottom of the air fryer without the crisping sleeve. Set the air fryer to 360° F and cook for 13-15 minutes, depending on the size of your air fryer and the number of Hot Pockets being cooked. Carefully remove the Hot Pocket from the air fryer and let it cool before enjoying.
Toaster Oven Instructions:
Preheat your toaster oven to 350° F. Unwrap the Hot Pocket and place it on the rack without the crisping sleeve. Bake for 22-28 minutes, flipping once if desired, then carefully remove it from the toaster oven.
Always ensure your Hot Pockets are cooked thoroughly and reach an internal temperature of 165° F before consuming. Additionally, Hot Pockets should be kept frozen or refrigerated, and if thawed, it must be done under refrigeration (40°F) for a maximum of 12 days without refreezing.
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Frequently asked questions
Hot Pockets Ham and Cheese contains sodium nitrite, which has been associated with cancer. It also contains fats derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters. The product has been classified as having high processing concerns.
The ingredients in Hot Pockets Ham and Cheese include water, enriched flour, fully cooked ham, reduced-fat cheddar cheese, and natural smoke flavor.
The calorie count for a Hot Pocket Ham and Cheese is not available, but the product is described as a good source of protein and hearty.
Yes, there are other options similar to Hot Pockets Ham and Cheese. You can make your own ham and cheese pockets from scratch using pizza dough, ham, and your favorite cheese.
