Frozen Food Cooking Mistakes Revealed
By Sara Butler
Frozen foods are a great way to stock up on affordable fruits and vegetables that you can use in a variety of ways to add nutrition to your meals. They keep for months in your freezer and are a great resource to meet the recommended daily allowance of fruit and vegetables in your balanced diet. But there are a few mistakes people make when storing, prepping, and cooking frozen foods that you should be aware of. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make with frozen foods so you can avoid them.
You Don't Thaw Vegetables
Some vegetables will retain a lot of water when frozen, such as spinach. If you add it to your favorite casserole without first thawing and draining it, then you might be in for a soupy, unappetizing mess. Thaw vegetables before adding them into your favorite recipes and make sure to squeeze out excess water, too.
Overcooking Vegetables
When cooking frozen vegetables, it's really easy to accidentally overcook them. That's because since they're colder when cooked than fresh vegetables, they'll cook faster. This is a plus when it comes to prep time but makes it really easy to go a little too far with cooking, which can impact the taste and texture of the food.
Taking Too Long to Thaw Frozen Berries
Thawed frozen berries are very tasty but getting them thawed just enough to enjoy them is a delicate procedure. If you let them thaw all the way in the refrigerator before incorporating them into dishes, then they won't have an appetizing texture when you go to use them. That's why you should only let them thaw partially before throwing them into your favorite recipe.
Adding Too Much Water on the Stove Top
When cooking vegetables on the stove top, you'll get better results if you cook the vegetables in some grass-fed butter or olive oil rather than water. The added healthy fats can help you absorb more of the nutrients of the vegetables when you eat them, too. If you're tempted to add water to frozen vegetables to cook them, only use a splash.
Incorrect Storage
When you by a bag of frozen vegetables that you may not use all at once, such as peas, then don't leave the open bag unsealed in the freezer. That can impact taste and texture. You're far better off putting them in a freezer bag or glass container for storage that won't allow air to get inside.
You should use frozen foods to supplement your nutritional needs, but make sure to treat them right!
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