There is an increasing use of frozen food in the UK, with 92 per cent of Britons using the products at least once per week according to market research platform YouGov.

The data found that value for money is the top reason shoppers buy frozen food at 62 per cent ahead of quality and taste at 50 per cent and 47 per cent respectively.

The lower-income households reported the highest levels of regular use of frozen food with over one in ten (11 per cent) using it every day, compared with eight per cent of middle-income and four per cent of higher-income shoppers.

Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) said that they but frozen food as often as they did 12 months ago, while 11 per cent purchased it more frequently and 15 per cent less frequently.

This reflects the fact that purchasing habits have continued to remain largely stable over the past year.

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Additionally, convenience-related benefits also rank highly with over two-fifths choosing simplicity to cook (43 per cent) and quick preparation (41 per cent).

The lower-income shoppers are the most likely to buy frozen food due to good value for money (65 per cent), while higher-income consumers place more emphasis on retained freshness (42 per cent compared to 33 per cent of lower-income consumers).

The most widely purchased frozen food items are potato products including chips, roast potatoes and hash browns, with 77 per cent saying they would consider buying them already frozen.

Desserts and ice cream and pizzas and garlic bread follow at 63 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.

There are certain categories which have distinct differences by income with higher-income consumers less likely than lower-income shoppers to consider buying frozen meat and poultry (30 per cent compared to 41 per cent).