# Concentrated Cooking Pastes Knorr's Fast & Flavourful Paste Recipe Testing Was Accelerated with AI By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-05-27 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-and-flavorful-cooking-paste References: [unilever](https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2026/how-ai-is-making-unilever-foods-unmissable-online-and-instore/) & [knorr](https://www.knorr.com/uk/knorr-paste.html)  [Knorr's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cooking-pastes) Fast & Flavourful Paste is a range of highly concentrated, versatile [cooking pastes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/organic-thai-green-curry-paste) that help at-home cooks instantly add depth and richness to dishes, marinades, glazes, and dressings. While the Sundried Tomato & Herbs Cooking Paste, with a touch of balsamic vinegar, goes well with pastas and grilled proteins, the Roasted Chicken, Lemon & Black Pepper Cooking Paste brings a zesty, bright, savory edge to roasted potatoes, traybakes, and chicken. AI was used to cut the development time of Knorr’s Fast & Flavourful Paste in half. Before any live testing began, Foods R&D teams digitally tested a wide range of recipes and identified the top flavour and texture combinations upfront to minimize physical testing. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 78% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [AI](https://www.trendhunter.com/ai) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **AI-accelerated Recipe Development:** A reduction in development time through digital simulation enables faster portfolio expansion and niche flavor experimentation. - **Concentrated Flavor Format:** Compact, shelf-stable pastes offer potential for premiumization and lower logistics costs through smaller packaging footprints. - **Multiuse Culinary Pastes:** Versatile pastes act as culinary building blocks that can spawn cross-category products such as marinades, sauces, and meal kits. ### Where This Applies - **Food Manufacturing:** The combination of AI-driven R&D and concentrated formulations can decrease trial costs and support modular, scalable production systems. - **Retail Grocery:** Shelf-ready, high-impact pastes present opportunities to redefine private-label ranges and create new impulse and club-store product placements. - **Foodservice & Catering:** Single-portion, high-flavor pastes provide consistency and labor-efficiency in high-volume kitchens while enabling rapid menu variation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [International Cuisine-Inspired Pasta Sauces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dolmio-intensify-pasta-sauces.md) - [Bouillon-Based Food Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-food-remix.md) - [Fakeaway Meal Recipes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unlimited-time-menu.md) - [AI Recipe Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cookfast.md) - [Gen Z Cooking Seasonings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knorr-aromat-seasoning.md) - [Chef-Inspired Cooking Pastes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knorr-flavour-base.md) - [Flavor-Fueled Wrestling Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flavourmania.md) - [Easy-to-Use Liquid Recipe Seasonings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knorr-liquid-seasoning-chili.md) - [Plant-Based Indian Cuisine Pastes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/butter-chicken-tarka-paste.md)