ALL THE GOOD STUFF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT
Curious to learn more? Hopefully we can answer your question below, but in case you do have an additional question, please email us directly at info@afiafoods.com, or complete the form on the Contact Us page at the bottom of this site page.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How do I pronounce Afia?
We say "Ah Fee Ah!" Afia is also sometimes spelled Afiya in English, which may help with pronunciation.
How do I pronounce Kibbeh?
Popular question! The answer is that there's at least a couple ways to pronounce Kibbeh. In our native Arabic, we pronounce it as "KIBB-ay" but it can also be pronounced "KIBB-uh."
Is the Falafel ready made?
Yes, the Falafel is already formed and ready to cook! After removing the Falafel from the freezer, heat it in the oven (425°F for 10-12 minutes, with an option to broil for 3-5 minutes for an extra crunch) or in an air fryer (375°F for 8-10 minutes).
Is the Kibbeh ready made?
Yes, the Kibbeh is already formed and ready to cook! After removing the Kibbeh from the freezer, heat the pieces in the oven (425°F for 10-12 minutes, with an option to broil for them 3-5 minutes for an extra crunch) or in an air fryer (400°F for 10-12 minutes).
How many Kibbehs come in a package?
The standard 9 ounce package contains an average of 8 Kibbehs, but it does vary slightly because of weight.
How many Falafels come in a package?
Our falafel are packaged by weight in a 9-ounce package, which averages approximately 15 pieces per package.
Is the Falafel deep fried?
We flash fry our falafel in Non-GMO high oleic sunflower oil to help them keep their shape before they are frozen and packed.
This is a healthier option than deep frying since flash frying prevents the entire Falafel from being saturated. Fortunately, with our current flash frying technique, each serving (3 Falafel) is still only about 8% of the recommended daily value of total fat.
Can the falafel be left out of the freezer?
Because we do not use preservatives in the Falafel, we recommend keeping the product frozen until it is ready to be heated and eaten.
The Falafel can stay in the refrigerator for up to 10 days after it has been taken out of the freezer, but it is not safe to keep the food in the pantry.
Where can I find Kibbeh near me?
Currently our Kibbeh can only be found regionally in Texas, at H-E-B and select independent retailers. You can also order in bulk at deliveredcold.com!
But letting us know where you'd like to see our kibbeh helps us plan for the future! Please fill out this anonymous survey.
Where can I find Falafel near me?
Our falafel can be found in more than 2700+ stores nationwide including:Bristol Farms, Harmons, Harris Teeter, H-E-B,HuckleBerry's, Gelsons, Good Earth(Natural Foods), Giant Foods, Jimbo's, Lunardis, Natural Grocers, Nugget Markets, Metropolitan Market, Mother's Market & Kitchen,Publix, Rainbow Grocery, Raley's, Safeway(North Cal), Sprouts Farmers Market, Wegman's, Whole Foods Marketand many others throughout the U.S.
We're expanding all the time, so check ourWhere to Buypage for more info!
My store doesn't stock the flavor I want. How can I get it?
Help us tell them! If there's a flavor you'd like to see stocked at your local store, the best thing you can do is tell your store manager, and also click on this survey to tell US so we can tell them, too!
Is Afia falafel or kibbeh available for Food Service?
Yes! Find more information on our food service sales page
Where can I find information on partnership opportunities?
Reach out to us via our contact form!
INGREDIENTS & ALLERGENS
Is the meat you use halal?
Yes, any Afia product that contains meat has ONLY halal meat! Our beef is US sourced halal beef, and our chicken is US sourced halal chicken raised with no antibiotics ever.
Is the Falafel Kosher?
Our falafel is not Kosher certified.
Every flavor of our falafel is completely vegan and gluten-free, with no binders or preservatives, no soy and no nuts.
Is the Falafel vegan?
Yes, all of the Falafel flavors are vegan, with the exception of the Three Cheese Falafel which contains dairy.
Are the Bowls vegan?
Our Mediterranean Falafel Bowls are completely vegan, with 12 grams of plant-based protein per container. Our Chicken Meals are NOT vegan.
Is the Falafel gluten free?
Yes, all flavors of the Falafel are gluten free.
Are the Bowls gluten-free?
All of our Mediterranean Falafel Bowls do NOT contain gluten. For the Chicken Bowls the Harissa Honey Chicken contains gluten through the couscous, but the Lemon Potato and Garlic Sumac Chicken do not contain gluten.
Do Afia products contain any top 8 allergens?
All Afia falafel and Mediterranean Falafel Bowls are free from top 8 allergens (milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans).
Our Za'atar Falafel does contain sesame seeds, as does our new Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes Mediterranean Falafel Bowl.
Our Kibbeh contains wheat, but is free of other top 8 allergens.
Where do your ingredients come from?
We buy all of our ingredients in the U.S. This helps us ensure quality and that when we say we know what is in our food, we mean it. You can read all of the ingredients of our products at their product pages:
Which products are non-GMO?
All Afia spices, falafel and our Mediterranean Falafel Bowls are certified non-GMO.
Is the Turmeric Falafel really spicy?
Our Turmeric falafel gets a kick of heat from cayenne spice, but if you're a longtime Afia fan, you may notice that we've dialed it back since the early days.
COOKING & PREP
What's the best way to heat up the falafel and kibbeh?
Heating up the Falafel and Kibbeh in the air fryer, oven, toaster oven are all great options and recommended, it gives the products that delicious crunch!
Do I need to thaw the falafel before I cook it?
No! If you're following the directions on the bag, you can put the falafel in the oven or air fryer directly from the bag without thawing.
Can I microwave the falafel?
You can microwave our products but we don't recommend it as you lose the crunch.
If you choose to, we recommend placing 3 falafel on a plate and microwaving on high for 90 seconds. Add 30 seconds for every additional falafel.
Can I pan fry the falafel?
Our falafel is optimized for reheating in an oven or air fryer. If you choose to pan fry, heat all falafel to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
We recommend thawing the falafel in the fridge before pan frying or deep frying, to ensure even cooking.
What's the best way to heat up the bowls?
Our Mediterranean Falafel Bowls heat easily in a standard microwave for 3.5-4.5 minutes. After heating, we recommend crumbling up your falafel to ensure delicious texture in every bite. If you want your falafel extra crispy, you can remove them from the container before heating your meal in the microwave and bake or air fry the falafel separately. Our Chicken Meals also heat easily in a standard microwave for 3.5-4 minutes. We recommend heating for 2.5 minutes, then stirring in the chicken before heating another 60 to 90 seconds.
Can I heat the bowls in the oven?
No! Please do not put the bowls in the oven.
Can I heat the bowls on the stovetop?
Yes! If you don't have a microwave, we recommend reheating your falafel bowl or chicken meal on the stovetop. For the Mediterranean Falafel Bowls, simply remove the contents to a skillet or sautee pan. Break up rice and vegetables and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cook falafel for another 3 minutes until heated through. For our Chicken Meals, empty the bowl into a lightly oiled pan, cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes - stirring after 5 minutes. Finally, uncover the pan and cook for an additional minute or until the meal is at your preferred texture.
SUSTAINABILITY
Is your packaging recyclable?
The sleeves of our Mediterranean Falafel Bowls and Chicken Meals are 100% recyclable (discard the plastic safety seal separately).
In fact, we designed our containers with reusability in mind, and hope you'll use them as we do to brighten your home as a bird feeder, plant starter, or catch-all! Tag us on @afiafoods if you do! Our freezer bags for our falafel and kibbeh are 99% recyclable. Check with your local recycling authority to find your options for recycling lined pouches suitable for freezers.
You've Changed, Man
Why can't I find the Three Cheese Falafel or Sun-Dried Tomato Falafel anymore?
As we grow, our products are always evolving to meet our customers demands. Be on the lookout for new or limited time flavors in the future!
Why can't I find the Spicy Kibbeh anymore?
Wow, you've been with us a long time! Our Spicy Kibbeh was DIVINE, and always sold out at the farmer's market when people had a chance to try it.
Maybe we can bring it back some day!
Why can't I order online anymore?
The short answer is, it's really hard to ship frozen food, especially if you want to do it sustainably!
Since our most popular products are now widely available in stores across the U.S., we've paused sales through our website while we try to figure out how to do it in the best, safest, and most sustainable way for us, our customers, and the environment. In the meantime, you can order our frozen products in bulk from deliveredcold.com
