eli5: How do “instant” versions of foods (instant oatmeal, coffee, rice, etc.) exist? Why are they not the standard since they’re so efficient?

Question

eli5: How do “instant” versions of foods (instant oatmeal, coffee, rice, etc.) exist? Why are they not the standard since they’re so efficient?

In: 11

Answer 1

Instant items are typically precooked and then dehydrated versions of food. While they are easy to prepare for a meal, they often taste not quite as good and have less nutritional value than fresh counterparts. They also require a certain level of processing to make, which is often more effort for a large company to provide than just local farmers selling potatoes to grocery stores over boxes of potato flakes, etc.