Can You Find Great Breakfast In Freezer?

Eventually, it happens to everyone … you're in a tearing hurry to get out the door and all you've got time to do is throw something in the microwave or toaster while you finish getting ready then grab it and hit the bricks.

Or maybe you fall victim to the advertising. Who, despite Jim Gaffigan's hilarious routine (available on YouTube) hasn't been seduced to the Hot Pockets dark side?

Whatever the reason, it's a safe bet you've at one time or another had to grab something from the freezer for breakfast.

But if you haven't, or if it's been a while, or even if you're thinking of trying something new but you just aren't quite sure what to pick, you need to read on.

We combed the freezer cases of major grocery stores and picked a tasty-looking assortment of quick-fixing breakfast options. Some ride the microwave, others come from the toaster, but they're all some meat/egg/cheese formulation. Each selection is rated on an A-F scale, and nutritional information is given for each. The usual criteria of taste, appearance and overall impression are joined this time by accuracy of preparation instructions, as these should be "fire and forget" breakfasts.

Hot Pockets Bacon, Egg and Cheese: 160 calories, 8 grams fat, 40 mg cholesterol, 240 mg sodium, 17 grams carbs.

We'll start with the granddaddy of all fast breakfasts, Hot Pockets. If you're a hardcore fan of the lunch or dinner forms of these creations, you might be a bit taken aback by the breakfast version. For one thing, they're tiny, as in two-bite tiny. However, the flavor is quite good, with good bacon and tangy cheese. And that famous "crisping sleeve" actually works quite well. Final grade: B-.

Toaster Scrambles Cheese Sauce, Egg and Bacon: 180 calories, 12 grams fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 310 mg sodium, 16 grams fat.

If you have time to stand by your toaster and keep an eye on these, they're great, but during testing it seemed like no two of them toasted quite the same. You haven't experienced morning gross until you've bitten into an undercooked Toaster Scramble. Properly cooked, however, the outer shell is nicely flaky and the filling, while somewhat pureed in consistency, is nonetheless tasty. Final grade: B.

Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit Sandwiches (meal size): 430 calories, 30 grams fat, 115 mg cholesterol, 830 mg sodium, 28 grams carbs.

Don't let the nutrition numbers on this one scare you. When the Jimmy Dean folks say "meal size," they mean it. This was one of only two entries in the test that actually made a satisfying breakfast with one serving. However, the two-stage cooking process is a bit annoying, and the biscuit has a gummy texture. The sausage is tasty, as you'd expect, and the egg is firm and doesn't taste overly processed. Final grade: B-

Jimmy Dean Omelets, Ham and Cheese: 250 calories, 19 grams fat, 295 mg cholesterol, 770 mg sodium, 4 grams carbs.

The carb-conscious breakfast eater won't find a better choice than the 4 measly carbs per omelet here. The cholesterol might be a little scary, though, as it's 98 percent of your recommended daily allowance. What you get for that dose, though, is as close to a real omelet as you'll get without firing up the stove. The eggs are light and fluffy, the ham has a great salty kick, and the cheese is sharp. Best of all, the package instructions work perfectly. The only downside is that the omelets aren't perfectly portable …careful handling is called for, lest you wear your breakfast. Final grade: A-.

Great Day Breakfast Burritos, Sausage, Egg and Cheese: 440 calories, 19 grams fat, 120 mg cholesterol, 1,070 mg sodium, 52 grams carbs.

It seems that in every one of these comparisons, there's one serious misfire, one product that, through inattention, poor formulation or just plain bad culinary thinking, fails miserably. These burritos would definitely fill that category. While there is an oven-cooking option, the microwave preparation was used to keep things equal. The end result was a soggy tortilla, flavorless filling and a tongue-bludgeoning amount of salt. Oh, and the tortilla gets greasy on the outside, presenting a danger to your business clothes. Final grade: D-.

Red Baron Biscuit-Style Scrambles, Bacon: 390 calories, 19 grams fat, 65 mg cholesterol, 970 mg sodium, 37 grams carbs.

One of the best frozen pizzas on the market also proves to be one of the best frozen breakfasts around. Just pop the pizza onto the nifty crisper tray, let the microwave do its voodoo, and you'll be presented with a tender-in-the-middle, crispy-on-the-edges pizza topped with two cheeses, scrambled eggs and a generous helping of bacon. Note: If you've got a microwave with a turntable, you can just heat it for 4 ½ minutes and skip the "stop and turn" step. Final grade: A+.

Aunt Jemima Griddlecake Sandwiches, Sausage, Egg and Cheese: 350 calories, 20 grams fat, 150 mg cholesterol, 900 mg sodium, 30 grams carbs.

Remember the "bad culinary thinking" mentioned above? Well, it rears its ugly head in this entry. It's an obvious attempt to recreate the McDonald's McGriddle in the freezer case, but it goes way too far over the sweetness line. The pancakes that serve as buns are cloyingly sweet. and the artificial maple flavor completely drowns out the sausage, egg and cheese. It also has a tendency to be a bit slippery, making one-handed eating challenging. Final grade: C-.

So the Red Baron flies away with the win here by a whisker over the Jimmy Dean omelets, and the pizzas actually also win as the best buy, coming in at just over a dollar apiece. For a breakfast this good, that's a real steal.