Ourhome OnTheGo "Providing Unique and Luxurious Flavors with Frozen Lunchboxes" [The World of Convenience Foods]

Lee Hyejin and Park Jeonga, Researchers of Ourhome Fresh Ready Meal Team
Minimizing Heat Treatment to Preserve Ingredient Flavors
Additional Releases Planned for Chinese and Indian Cuisine

(From left) Park Jeong-ah, Lee Hye-jin, Ourhome researchers

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] "We are focusing on providing menus with the taste and quality as if dining out, even with frozen lunch boxes."

On the 24th, researchers Hyejin Lee and Jeonga Park from Ourhome's Fresh Ready Meal Team stated in an interview with Asia Economy that the direction and goal of 'On the Go' is not simply to serve a meal, but to allow customers to experience unique and luxurious flavors every day.

Ourhome's frozen lunch box brand On the Go was launched in July 2019, promoting a simple yet elegant meal. Currently, it offers 13 menu items including Usamgyeop Bulgogi Rice Bowl and Ragu Bolognese Pasta.

Ourhome judged that frozen distribution products are more suitable for lunch boxes in terms of taste and storage compared to room temperature or refrigerated products. Frozen products minimize excessive heat treatment compared to room temperature products, allowing the diverse natural flavors of each ingredient to be preserved. Researcher Park explained, "Room temperature products undergo excessive heat and pressure, so while they are stable, many lose the original taste of the ingredients," adding, "The frozen method is suitable for preserving both the fluffy texture of rice and the crispness of side dishes."

Compared to refrigerated lunch boxes, frozen ones have the advantage of a relatively longer shelf life, allowing for long-term storage and consumption. Researcher Lee said, "Refrigerated lunch boxes have the advantage of freshness, but as the expiration date approaches, the freshness and taste quality are likely to change," and added, "On the other hand, quick-frozen products are manufactured minimizing moisture loss, so they can be consumed at the best quality even after thawing."

Among the products released so far, the 'Hambak Steak Set Meal' has received the best response from consumers. Ourhome believes that although it is a familiar menu, the reason for purchase is that preparing ingredients and the cooking process are complicated for home cooking. Researcher Lee evaluated, "The key was balancing the thick meat cooked to retain its juices while keeping the paired ingredients like fried rice, wedge potatoes, and green beans moist."

On the Go plans to add various menus such as Chinese, Indian, and Indonesian dishes within this year. Researcher Lee expressed determination, saying, "As we promote 'a gourmet journey around the world,' we will raise the quality and satisfaction to a level where people can experience local cuisine without traveling abroad." Along with menu diversification, they also intend not to neglect improving the quality of existing products. Researcher Park emphasized, "We continuously monitor consumer responses and carry out renewal work," adding, "We will steadily continue efforts to enhance the completeness of released products."