Frozen foods may seem convenient and accessible – yet that doesn’t have to mean they’re unhealthy! You could even uncover nutritious options in the freezer aisle with some research.
Food stored quickly in the freezer helps preserve quality while protecting it from deterioration due to oxidation. When shopping at leading frozen food specialists for frozen goods that need to be kept cold, look for blanched or partially cooked products, as this helps minimize oxidation.
- Freshness
Frozen food may provide an equally healthy option to fresh food when it comes to nutrition, yet it isn’t always feasible or convenient to stock up on. How does their nutritional value compare?
Frozen foods contain similar nutritional profiles as their fresh counterparts because most frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness before quickly freezing to preserve flavour and nutrients.
However, many frozen foods contain added ingredients like sugar or sodium to maintain freshness, so read labels. Also, look out for options without too many preservatives or additives.
Frozen foods can be ideal if you don’t have much time or kitchen space to prepare fresh meals, as long as they’re stored correctly and consumed before their recommended dates. Many frozen options contain more antioxidants than fresh options!
- Ease of Preparation
Freezing is one of the easiest methods of food preservation due to its ability to retain the original quality of raw materials without altering them significantly like other commercial preservation techniques like canning, pickling or dehydration (George 1993). Freezing requires minimal energy input when processing foods; it also provides long-term preservation with little degradation of product quality over time (George 1993).
A great freezer should have the capability of maintaining temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit to minimize microbial spoilage of frozen foods and keep their original colour, texture, and flavour intact.
If you’re freezing food, choose airtight packaging such as plastic or waxed paper bags, rigid containers made of glass, aluminium or canning jars designed for freezing – these will withstand the lower temperatures better. Also, avoid placing meat wrappers directly into a freezer bag, which will help reduce bacteria that could ruin their quality during storage.
- Nutritional Value
The nutritional value of leading frozen food specialists depends on how they were prepared before freezing. For instance, blanching or precooking vegetables before freezing can result in the loss of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C, while just freezing them without further treatment retains all their original nutrient content.
Fresh produce can often be harvested before it ripens and transports for storage before being sold at grocery stores, which depletes its nutrient content and can result in less-than-ideal meals on your plate. By comparison, frozen fruits and vegetables tend to be harvested at peak ripeness and immediately flash-frozen to preserve their nutrition content and ensure you receive quality foods.
Frozen fruits and vegetables can often provide as much nutrition as their fresh counterparts; when selecting frozen food, it’s essential to check its ingredient list to ensure there isn’t too much sodium (a common preservative) or added sugars.
- Variety
Leading frozen food specialist offer a convenient solution for meeting recommended dietary intake of most nutrients. When selecting frozen products, however, read their nutrition labels closely to avoid those high in saturated fat, added sugars or sodium content.
Frozen fruits and vegetables make an ideal ingredient to have on hand for quick and healthy weeknight dinners, from smoothies to topping oatmeal or whole grain toast with almond butter or sauteing with extra virgin olive oil and garlic for lean proteins as side dishes. Frozen seafood or meat also provides fast, convenient solutions.
Freezing foods is also beneficial in that it reduces food waste. Fresh produce and raw ingredients often go to waste because of outer peels, pits, and bones; or because they expire before being used for cooking. Frozen foods minimize this waste by keeping their full value – purchasing frozen veggie entrees can save 40 percent on the cost compared to buying fresh broccoli as part of a salad or for another dish!
- Convenience
Frozen foods offer great convenience. They can be stored for extended periods without losing nutritional value, and they’re easy to prepare, helping reduce food waste. Frozen meals also simplify life for busy individuals without much time for cooking – heat in the microwave! They offer healthy options at an affordable price point.