préparées

Préparées is the feminine plural form of the past participle préparé, the adjective and participle derived from the verb préparer (to prepare). In French, préparé describes something that has been made ready or arranged in advance and must agree with the noun it modifies. The full paradigm includes préparé (masculine singular), préparée (feminine singular), préparés (masculine plural), and préparées (feminine plural).

In culinary and consumer contexts, préparées occurs most commonly as part of phrases such as plats préparés or salades préparées, indicating ready-to-eat or pre-cooked items produced for sale. Such items typically require little to no additional preparation, often just heating or serving.

Beyond food labeling, préparées describes feminine plural nouns that have been prepared in advance. For example, with feminine nouns like salades, one says salades préparées. With masculine nouns such as plats, the form is préparés, as in plats préparés. In general, the term signals a state of readiness or pre-assembly by a producer or kitchen.

In French grammar, préparées is listed as the feminine plural form of the past participle of préparer and is used as an adjective to describe a prepared state. It commonly appears in menus, product labels, marketing copy, and other contexts where the degree of preparation is relevant. It is not typically a standalone concept or proper noun, though it may appear in branding or titles in specific cases.