The myths behind Osem's instant meal series

Remember when we thought Instant Meal was just for tired students or hungry soldiers? Well, we’ve got some surprising news for you—Instant Meal has undergone a major makeover and has become a surprisingly satisfying meal solution with ingredients we all know.

But let’s start from the beginning. It’s 8:00 p.m., your stomach is rumbling like a winter storm in Northern Europe, and the thought of cooking has you raiding the pantry and finishing off packs of cookies. What can you do instead? Enter Osem's Instant Meal.

Tali Gochman, Osem-Nestlé's food technologist, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the series, which includes more than 20 flavors: "We realized that our lives have gotten completely hectic, so we upgraded the Instant Meal to fit everyone—from kids wanting a snack after school to tired parents looking for a tasty meal in under three minutes."

But wait, you’re probably thinking, "Come on, another fast food item loaded with fat and salt?" Well, here’s a big surprise that left us stunned too: none of the meals in this series come with a red warning label. No sodium, no sugar, no saturated fats. Don’t believe it? Head to your nearest supermarket and check for yourself.

Gochman explains: "We worked really hard to clean up the ingredient list. It was like playing Tetris, but with food. Today, when you read the label, you’ll only find things you recognize from your own kitchen."

Now, let’s talk about the "elephant in the room"—or more accurately, the "instant food in the kitchen." Let’s face it, when we hear "instant," we might cringe a little, right? But Gochman reminds us: "Instant is not a dirty word. It just means 'immediate' in plain Hebrew. And honestly, who doesn’t want a tasty meal right away?"

At Osem’s kitchen, they love challenges. After cleaning up the label and removing all the scary stuff, they still had to keep flavors everyone loves. Because who wants to bring bland food into the house? "It was a bit like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while wearing boxing gloves," Gochman says proudly. "But we did it!"

And what about all those mysterious ingredients we once thought were in Instant Meal? Gochman laughs: "You know, there was a time when people thought we had to add all sorts of unpronounceable ingredients to keep the food preserved. Today, we use advanced technology that helps maintain freshness without adding anything scary. Some call it magic; we call it science."

It’s no wonder Osem’s Instant Meal has become the generic name for similar products, even from competing companies. Osem has a track record of turning products into household names, much like Bissli and Bamba. All you need to do is open the cup lid or pour the contents from the bag, add the seasoning packet, pour in boiling water, wait 3–7 minutes depending on the meal type, and that’s it—you have a meal. Quick, convenient, and no messy kitchen.

When it comes to consumer creativity, it turns out even the sky isn’t the limit—or in this case, the cup. Even Osem has been surprised by your ideas, like adding noodles to salads, using Instant Meal mashed potatoes as a base for pies, and even making meatballs out of the pasta.

A small tip from Gochman: "Try adding fresh vegetables or grated cheese to your Instant Meal. It will upgrade the meal instantly and add extra nutritional value."

But let’s get back to the health aspect, because this myth really needs to be debunked. Gochman explains: "As a company under Nestlé’s global umbrella, we’re committed to quality and standards that are truly on another level. It’s not just the final product; it’s every single ingredient. It’s a bit like having strict parents—it can be annoying, but in the end, you come out a champion."

So, the next time you're in a rush and want something warm and delicious, don’t feel guilty. Long cooking sessions with comforting food are great, but not feasible when you're hungry and tired. With Osem’s Instant Meal, you can save time for the things that really matter—like watching another episode on Netflix.

Next time someone asks, "What? You’re eating Instant Meal?" you can smile confidently and say, "Yes!" and continue enjoying a tasty, nutritious meal. Osem’s Instant Meal is a quick, satisfying dish born from a meticulous development process, with attention to quality and health, and adapted to the changing needs and preferences of consumers. If you’re looking for a quick solution for a nutritious and delicious meal, the Instant Meal is definitely an excellent choice.

Discover the Ingredients of Osem’s Instant Meal

In collaboration with Osem