Deconstructed food has a lot of promise for the quick-service. This technique offers numerous benefits: potential for new product forms that tend to be the best transaction drivers; opportunity to attract non-traditional customers; ability to deliver new flavor and texture experiences; potential to empower and give freedom to consumers so they can construct and consume food the way they choose instead of providing a pre-packaged item; and the potential to develop new product forms with limited new SKUs.

Definitely sous-vide, due to its adaptability. Its prevalence allows for the portability of ingredients with re-sealable packaging.

Braising and stewing provide very flavorful results. All flavors are captured in the sauce/ liquid. The result is a complex product that does not lose valuable nutrients and flavors. These meals can be efficiently prepared (already sauced with vegetables added) by manufacturers and packaged in frozen bags. Braised, stewed, and poached dishes can become part of the rice or noodle bowls, soups, and hearty stews commonly served in quick-service.

Braising and stewing have become extremely popular. There are two reasons behind this: The first is the growing popularity of comfort foods. The second is the use of non-primary cuts of meat. What used to be considered scraps or by-products are now being used as center-of-the-plate items. The challenge is making exotic cooking methods compatible with a quick-service model and doing that at a competitive price point that is reasonable for consumers and still allows you to make a profit.

I see individual sous vide being used in quick-service before many of the other new ideas because it allows for pre-portioning and, with the right reheating equipment, it can be done without a lot of skilled labor to execute.

The sous vide revolution is coming. What a great way for quick-serves to cook! This will revolutionize what can and is sold by quick-service chains. It will allow them to bring in and use cuts of meat, slow cook them, but have them available on demand.