Is there any benefit from frozen vegetables and is it worth buying them

Есть ли польза от замороженных овощей и стоит ли их покупать

The debate about whether the benefits of frozen vegetables and fruits has been going on for a long time. Some argue that it is better to eat fresh foods, others are convinced that the cold perfectly preserves the beneficial properties of plant foods. Both points of view are correct in their own way, and the devil is in the details. It is fundamentally important what specific vegetables and fruits are in question: where they were collected, how long they were stored, by what technology they were frozen and how they were prepared.

When the benefits of frozen vegetables are greater than fresh
Features of industrial shock freezing technology
How to determine the quality of purchased products
A Few Tips for Homemade Vegetables

When the benefits of frozen vegetables are greater than fresh

Doctors insist that a person's diet should be rich in vegetables and fruits, and they are right. The menu should be planned so that there is at least 1/3 of all products of plant foods. Otherwise, the body will not receive the required amount of fiber, vitamins and microelements necessary for normal functioning.

To paraphrase a well-known commercial, we can say that not all vegetables are equally healthy. The benefits of a cucumber just picked from your own garden are beyond doubt. However, useful substances are gradually destroyed, therefore, after lying in the refrigerator for several days, vegetables, fruits and berries become less valuable. They are still delicious, but vitamins (especially vitamin C) they are much less.

Vegetables and fruits from supermarkets always look great, but here their quality is in big doubt. These fruits are grown in other countries. They are plucked long before ripening in order to bring them to the buyer whole and beautiful. They ripen along the way. The amount of vitamins and trace elements in such vegetables cannot be determined. Most often, they lose in the usefulness of quality products frozen immediately after ripening.

Another unpleasant nuance: to preserve the presentation, some fruits are treated with chemicals. They are able to lie longer and lose even more useful substances. It is possible that in the supermarket you buy beautiful, tasty, but practically "empty" products. The meaning of their & nbsp; use in & nbsp; food is generally lost. And if you take into account the possible chemical processing, then such food can harm.

To maintain vital energy, stay healthy and beautiful, we need only the right vegetables and fruits, then there the those that contain the maximum amount of useful substances. The rest — just empty food. It's delicious, but useless.

Frozen vegetables — a great option if you can not buy fresh high-quality fruits. It is important to find a reliable manufacturer who strictly adheres to the technology of industrial freezing and storage of products. Alternative — cook your own vegetables for the winter.

Features of industrial shock freezing technology

In the conditions of industrial enterprises, the shock freezing method is used. Producers prepare the freshest products. It's in their interests, because eliminates expenses for storage of fruits. Vegetables, fruits, berries are washed, cleaned, processed in accordance with technology.

It is curious that some fruits are blanched before freezing — for a short time immersed in boiling water. This is necessary to create a protective film that will not allow vegetables to lose their beneficial properties.

The freezing temperature varies depending on the chosen technology. With classical shock freezing, it is 30-40°C, and if the cryogenic method is used, then all 60°C. Finished products are stored at a temperature of −18°C.

If the technology is broken, and the fruits are thawed and then re-frozen, it is better not to buy them: they are potentially harmful. At the moment of defrosting, such vegetables and fruits spread, turn into porridge, and juice flows out of them. If the products have been through several freezing cycles, they may spoil.

How to determine the quality of purchased products

When choosing frozen vegetables, be guided by the following criteria:

Brand. Responsible manufacturers care about reputation, so choose products from trusted brands.
Freezer status. Look for signs of frost on vegetable bags. If there is, then the food has already been defrosted. Don buy under no circumstances!
Packaging. Feel the package. It should be tight, whole and without lumps of ice inside.
Labeling. The package must be labeled —— from composition to freezing technology. If the package contains vegetables containing GMOs or dyes, the manufacturer must also write about this.

After purchasing vegetables, store them properly. If the temperature in the freezer is 6°C, the products should be used within 1–2 weeks. At 12°C they will last 4–6 weeks. Acceptable shelf life at 18°C ;— 1 year.

Frozen vegetables should be cooked in the minimum amount of water. They do not need to be pre-washed and thawed. The manufacturer took care of preparation.

Some tips for home-made vegetable preparations

If possible, refuse salts and preservation. It is better to freeze the harvest from your garden or fresh farm produce.
Cherry, raspberries, strawberries, strawberries, currants, cherries, apricots, gooseberries, pears, peaches, grapes, eggplants, tomatoes, sorrel, bell peppers, cauliflower, asparagus beans, carrots tolerate freezing best. Give preference to these fruits.
Fruits and berries are ideal for baking, making jellies, compotes. Vegetables can be boiled in a small amount of water and used for side dishes.
Before freezing, the fruits should be washed, dried, cut or divided into inflorescences. If you decide to blanch vegetables, then dip them in boiling water and hold 1.5-5 minutes.
Put dry prepared vegetables into portioned bags or containers and send to freezer.

Pay attention! Bags or containers must be hermetically sealed. Air can damage the quality of the workpieces.

The main thing about the benefits of frozen vegetables and features of choice

Remember, no harvest can compete with high-quality fresh vegetables. But if you have to choose between imported fruits and frozen, the second option is better. Follow these rules: