Hot Pockets are microwaveable turnovers usually containing cheese and meat. Hot Pockets are currently produced by Nestlé internationally.

There are over twenty varieties of Hot Pockets, including both breakfast and lunch/dinner varieties. Nestlé also offers Lean Pockets, Hot Pockets Croissant Crust (formerly called Croissant Pockets), Pot Pie Express, Hot Pocket Pizza Minis (originally called Hot Pockets Pizza-Snacks), Hot Pockets Subs, Hot Pockets Calzones, Hot Pockets Panini, and Hot Pockets Breakfast items which include the meat, egg and cheese varieties, and the Fruit Pastries.

Hot Pockets were invented by Paul Merage and David Merage in the 1970s. They founded the company Chef America Inc. and began producing Hot Pockets for profit in 1983. In 2002, the Merages sold Chef America to Nestlé for $2.6 billion. Initially only available in the United States, they are now sold by Nestlé in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom under the Maggi brand. Quote from Nestlé 2005 Full Year Financials: "In Europe, the roll-out of Hot Pockets, small microwaveable frozen meals, is gaining momentum in France, Germany, Spain and the UK." In Canada, Nestlé distributes some Hot Pockets products as part of the Stouffer's Bistro or Lean Cuisine lines, although the Hot Pockets brand itself is absent from product packaging.

Hot Pockets, which come frozen, are often known for being packaged with a crisping sleeve. The material within sleeve converts microwave energy into heat in order to crisp the crust, which is usually penetrated by microwaves. The sleeves, branded "Qwik Crisp" (like most crisping papers) and now under pen name "Crisp & Carry!", are common in most Hot Pockets varieties. Recent Hot Pockets Subs brands have refrained from using such crispers, as some sandwiches are said to be soft-baked. On the back they say Crisp and Crunch.

Hot Pockets came under fire recently for using cheese that contained meat. The courts found in favor of the food maker citing that "Hot Pockets does not claim to offer a vegetarian solution, and as such including meat in the spinach and cheese pocket is perfectly legal."

Recently, Hot Pockets began introducing whole grain crusts, following a trend of many convenience product purveyors offering lower carbohydrate choices.

For a long time, along with the jingle, it had used the slogan "The hot meal in a pocket" and "When you want a hot meal without a big deal".

Since our yummily-stuffed hand-held sandwiches first appeared on supermarket shelves in the early 1980s, America has been, well - eating them. We created convenient, delicious and affordable LEAN POCKETS® sandwiches so our customers could take a portion of their breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks to go. And, 25 years later, it seems they really went with it.

The Early Years

Now everyone knows the great-tasting sandwich with a tasty crust. The HOT POCKETS® brand sandwich. And while now they’re ready in a matter of minutes, their rise to fame took only slightly longer. Thanks to Chef America Inc.’s specially formulated, patented dough, classic filling combos and microwave-crisping sleeves, the ‘80s brought us a packaged food icon. Building on the convenience and quality consumers wanted, in 1987, we introduced LEAN POCKETS® brand to meet the needs of health-conscious consumers.

As this trend toward better for you lifestyles continues, so does the expansion of the LEAN POCKETS® sandwich line. Made with Whole Grain, Chef-Inspired and Stuffed Quesadilla options have made their way into our sandwiches and the busy on-the-go schedules they’re made to satisfy.

Wow does innovation taste good.

There are many good contributions in sandwich history. Over the past decade, in the frozen hand-held food and snacks category, we’re proud to have contributed quite a few of them ourselves. Here are a few of our faves:

2001/02	LEAN POCKETS® brand wake up the world with sandwiches for Breakfast. We’re talking delicious scrambled eggs and cheese with either bacon, ham or sausage. Nice.
2003	LEAN POCKETS® brand tips our sombreros to Mexican-style varieties. Here we introduce Mexican flavors wrapped in a corn tortilla flavored crust.
2005	LEAN POCKETS® brand SUBS. Oh happy day. Now we’re making premium sub sandwiches featuring soft baked bread and your favorite sub shop flavors
2005	Cheese please. LEAN POCKETS® brand varieties become even better-tasting with "crispier, cheesier crust". Craziness.
2006	Take a number people. LEAN POCKETS® brand varieties now feature delicious deli-style thin sliced meats.
2007	Good grains it’s LEAN POCKETS® brand Made with Whole Grain. A tender crust with a good source of fiber and topped with whole grains, and 6-8 grams of fat per serving makes eating well on the go a go!