The Best Frozen Lasagna: Our Taste Test Results (PHOTOS)

We're here to save you from having to taste some pretty awful versions of this favorite comfort food.
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You don't have to be a genius to make lasagna, but we know you don't always have the time to slow down, prepare all the elements, assemble 12-or-so layers, and then wait an hour for it to bake. We know that in desperate times you sometimes turn to frozen lasagna, so we decided to see what all the fuss was about and conducted a taste test to find the best. As it turns out, we mostly just found the worst.

We stuck to microwaveable lasagnas, since our office kitchen is inexplicably lacking an oven. After doing a frozen macaroni and cheese taste test, we're now very familiar with the fact that frozen pasta has a tendency to be gummy. But let's just say we had no idea how many more problems we'd find with frozen lasagnas -- muddiness, beef overload, wateriness, greasiness, and the most common problem -- they take forever to heat up (some take as long as 20 minutes).

Which brands did the best? (And more importantly, which brands should you avoid?) Check out the slideshow below to read the rankings. (And then go make some homemade lasagna.)

As always, this taste test is in no way influenced or sponsored by the brands included.

Frozen Lasagna Taste Test, 2013
#1: Trader Joe's Garden Vegetable Lasagna(01 of14)
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Comments: "Tastes homemade, with a nice light tomato sauce. So cheesy, creamy, spinachy. Comforting." "Tastes homemade and fresh, but the tomato sauce is too sweet." "Love this. Would eat it again and again." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#2: Amy's Cheese Lasagna(02 of14)
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Comments: "Simple, well done. There's not a lot going on to mess up." "Not bad, not amazing, but totally edible. Just a little boring." "Not much to complain about." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#3: Stouffer's Lasagna Italiano(03 of14)
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Comments: "A hint of sausage, with a nice creamy cheesiness." "This is no homemade lasagna, but I'd eat it again." "Tastes exactly like I'd expect frozen lasagna to taste. Not amazing, but good sauce." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#4: Trader Joe's Spinach Lasagna(04 of14)
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Comments: "That is a LOT of spinach. Whoa. So much. But at least it's fresh tasting." "Dear loads of spinach, it's so nice to see you. I can see why someone wouldn't like it, but I love it." "Tastes healthy but not in a repugnant way." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#5: Amy's Vegetable Lasagna(05 of14)
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Comments: "Typical frozen-food lasagna." "Average. Totally average." "I like the spinach, but it's not as good as some other vegetable lasagnas." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#6: Saffron Road Three Cheese Lasagna(06 of14)
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Comments: "So greasy, it leaks all over the place. But it doesn't taste horrible." "Aside from sitting in an oil bath, they also made the mistake of adding bell peppers." "Really cheesy, so I love it." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#7: Trader Joe's Family Style Meat Lasagna(07 of14)
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Comments: "SO meaty, basically a giant meatball smothered in pasta. Can't complain about much but the massive amounts of grease." "Not bad! Real hearty meat flavor, big chunks." "Looks like something I want to eat all the time. But it just tastes like weird beef balls." "Very homey tasting! Super hearty. Although, a little salty." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#8: Cedar Lane Garden Vegetable Lasagna(08 of14)
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Comments: "Decent but watery from all the vegetables. At least it's creamy?" "Too much spinach, but there was some compensating creaminess." "If you like that frozen veggie medley sort of thing, you could eat this." "Not as bad as other garden veggie lasagnas, but also not good." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#9: Amy's Roasted Vegetable Lasagna(09 of14)
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Comments: "It looks so creamy, but it doesn't deliver any of that comfort. It just tastes like cheap carrots." "Not bad, but tastes strongly of carrots." "Strictly edible. Not enjoyable." "The vegetables taste a little freezer-burned. Breadcrumbs are weird." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#10: Stouffer's Five Cheese Lasagna(10 of14)
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Comments: "Creamy, cheesy, and ... oh wait, the tomato sauce is so acidic and sugary that it's fluorescent flavored." "This tastes like what I'd expect from frozen lasagna." "UGH. The sauce tastes like ketchup. Terrible." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#11: Trader Joe's Roasted Vegetable Multi-Grain Lasagna(11 of14)
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Comments: "I hate to say it, but this tastes too healthy. And it's got a bad dried-oregano aftertaste." "Muddy and overly vegetal (almost seaweedy)." "Tastes like it's trying to be healthy, but it's sitting in a pile of grease. FAIL." "There's kind of a smoky/watery taste. Whole wheat pasta is gross. REALLY greasy." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#12: Stouffer's Lasagna With Meat & Sauce(12 of14)
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Comments: "This tastes exactly like Chef Boyardee. That's not a compliment." "This is weird." "Tates like Chef Boyardee, but freezer-burned." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#13: 365 Organic Vegetable Lasagna(13 of14)
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Comments: "Really thick, hard whole wheat pasta. And then there are lawn clippings on top." "Cardboard-like pasta." "How does this have no flavor in it? Is it real food?" "No, no, no. Bland sauce, mushy vegetables." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
#14: 365 Organic Beef Lasagna(14 of14)
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Comments: "So nasty. So beefy. No flavor except the flavor of boiled meat." "Foul. Reminds me of awful meatloaf." "Looks like pooh. Tastes like it too." "This looks objectively revolting. Woof. This is the Taco Bell taco of frozen lasagna." (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)

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