Hot Pockets makers missed the boat on new subs

Hot Pockets makers have been turning sandwich fixings into hand-held meals for more than 20 years. They’ve stuffed croissants, pot pies and even pastries. Now, they’ve added fresh-baked bread to the menu.

Some members of The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel liked the flavor and smell of the new soft bread pockets, but they weren’t wowed by the overall flavor of the sandwiches. They gave the Pepperoni Pizza subs a three-star rating, and it was downhill from there.

The Meatballs and Mozzarella flavor eked out a two-and-a-half-star score, and the Lean Pockets Pepperoni Pizza version with low-fat cheese got just two stars, a poor ranking.

“It has a nice pepperoni flavor and soft bread,” said Vicki Deschaine of the Pepperoni Pizza sandwiches. “Not too bad for convenience food.”

“Great bread, but it hardly makes up for the mediocre filling,” said Skip Hubbard.

Tina Johnson said the sandwiches might be OK for a family food emergency. “Well, it’s pepperoni pizza stuffed into a fairly decent bread roll. Save these for your desperate college student.”

Andy Hoye said the Meatballs and Mozzarella subs were pretty good. “Try it when convenience is important,” he suggested.

The sandwiches are stored in the freezer and heated in the microwave for about 2 minutes.

Hubbard liked the meatball sub best of all, although he was reluctant to say so while his fellow tasters were panning the sandwiches aloud. “I almost hate to admit it, but these are good!” he wrote.

Laura Hollman thought the smell of the bread was appetizing but complained that the subs all tasted the same. “(They’re) quite unhealthy, all of them.”

Marcia Oranen agreed that the flavor of the sandwiches was predictable. “Tastes like a typical Hot Pocket. The bread is tough and it has a frozen food taste. Yuck.”

Donald Clegg called the Meatballs and Mozzarella subs “unbelievably fake” and “memorably bad” before bestowing the lowest possible score on the sandwich.

The Lean Pockets ranked the lowest of the sub sandwiches. Some tasters complained that the cheese didn’t melt very well and that the pepperoni had an “off” flavor.

“The bread is really good, but the tomato sauce is pretty overpowering,” Johnson said.

Peggy Kazanis didn’t like the bread or anything else about the sandwich. “Chewy outside; unpalatable inside,” she said.

Hot Pockets makes two other kinds of subs including: Ham and Cheese and Philly Steak and Cheese. There are two other kinds of Lean Pockets in grocery store freezers, Meatballs and Mozzarella and Philly Steak and Cheese.

Hot Pockets Subs, Pepperoni Pizza

Price: $2.79 for 11 ounces, 2 sandwiches

Nutrition per serving: 410 calories, 16 grams fat (6 grams saturated, 35 percent fat calories), 17 grams protein, 48 grams carbohydrate, 25 milligrams cholesterol, 4 grams dietary fiber, 980 milligrams sodium.

Taste: • • •

Value: • • •

Comments: “It has a nice pepperoni flavor and soft bread. Not too bad for convenience food.” – Vicki Deschaine

“When I was a college student I could eat this stuff. Now I would have to be real hungry. Real hungry.” – Larry Inman

“I can see kids running out of the house eating this.” – Marilyn Moore

Hot Pockets Subs, Meatballs and Mozzarella

Price: $2.79 for 11 ounces, 2 sandwiches

Nutrition per serving: 390 calories, 14 grams fat (5 grams saturated, 32 percent fat calories), 45 grams carbohydrate, 25 milligrams cholesterol, 4 grams dietary fiber, 1,000 milligrams sodium.

Taste: • • 1/2

Value: • •

Comments: “Smells nice, there’s big chunks of sausagelike substance, but somehow it tastes just like the other two. Quite unhealthy, all of them.” Laura Hollman

“Don’t believe the pictures on the boxes. The sandwiches aren’t stuffed that full.” Vicki Deschaine

“Meatballs taste artificial; tomato taste is too strong. This is the only time I will ever taste this product.” – Larry Inman

“Meatballs in rubber crust.” – Peggy Kazanis

Lean Pockets Subs, Pepperoni Pizza with Low-Fat Cheese

Price: $2.79 for 10 ounces, 2 sandwiches

Nutrition per serving: 310 calories, 7 grams fat (3 grams saturated, 20 percent fat calories), 42 grams carbohydrate, 30 milligrams cholesterol, 4 grams dietary fiber, 850 milligrams sodium.

Taste: • •

Value: • •

Comments: “The sodium must be off the charts here. Salt is the main flavor component. That and rubbery pepperoni. Disgusting.” – Donald Clegg

“Great bread. Bad filling. Oh, to be 5 again and actually enjoy things like this.” – Skip Hubbard

“Bland and dull. Pass on this one.” – Andy Hoye