Today, due to work, hobbies and various other obligations, we often don’t have time to prepare meals from scratch and with the freshest ingredients. Which often leads us to resort to frozen food. Frozen food refers to any food that has been flash-frozen and kept at a temperature below 0°C until the moment we decide to prepare it as a meal. Freezing is a food preservation method that slows down the growth of microorganisms and enzymes that cause food spoilage and foodborne illness. Freezing also preserves most of the nutrients, colour, flavour, and texture of food.
The benefits of frozen food
Practicality: Frozen food can save us time and energy when shopping and preparing meals. We can easily stock up on frozen food and use it when we need it or freeze fresh food to extend its shelf life and reduce food waste.
Variety: Frozen foods can provide us with a wide range of options to satisfy our tastes and preferences. We can find frozen foods from different cuisines, cultures, and regions. We can also combine various frozen foods to create our own meals.
Nutrition: Frozen food can be just as nutritious as fresh food, if not more so. Frozen fruits and vegetables are harvested at the peak of ripeness and frozen within hours, which helps retain nutrients and antioxidants. Frozen meat, poultry, fish, and seafood are also flash-frozen to preserve their quality and freshness.
The downsides of frozen food
However, like many other things, frozen food also has its drawbacks. To be more specific, frozen food can lose some of its quality over time due to ‘freezer burn’, the formation of ice crystals, or dehydration. Frozen food can also contain large amounts of sodium (salt) and various additives. These additives are used to improve the look, taste, shelf life, or consistency of frozen food. Frozen food can also have a greater impact on the environment than fresh food because of the energy required for freezing, transportation, and storage.
Tips for choosing and using frozen food wisely
Frozen food can be a good choice for busy people who want to eat quality meals without spending a lot of time or money on cooking. Frozen food can offer convenience, affordability, variety, and nutrition when used and selected wisely. Freezing does not affect the caloric value, nor the fibre, protein, or mineral content of the food. It’s a good idea to check the nutrition label and ingredients list of frozen food before buying – look for frozen foods that are low in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, added sugar, and additives. It is ill-advised to thaw frozen food at room temperature, as this can contribute to the growth of bacteria and cause food poisoning. Instead, thaw frozen food in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Eat in moderation: You should enjoy frozen food as part of a balanced and varied diet that includes a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats. We should not rely on frozen food as our only source of nutrition, so let’s eat reasonable portions of frozen food and avoid overeating.
