How do I choose frozen vegetables?

There are many great frozen vegetables to choose from.

Healthy Vegetables

There are many reasons to eat more vegetables. A higher intake of vegetables has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of many types of cancer. It is also believed that consuming more vegetables helps protect us from coronary heart disease, stroke and cataracts. Many other health conditions appear to improve with increased vegetable intake.

Are frozen vegetables as good as fresh ones?

We admit it's hard to beat the taste and texture of vegetables straight from the garden, but it's comforting to know that frozen vegetables are not only convenient and practical, but also nutritious.

Freezing vegetables does not change their nutrition in and of itself, and frozen vegetables are processed quickly after they are picked.

Before freezing vegetables, they must be blanched, which can affect the nutritional content, although most are blanched using steam rather than water (which is less effective). Fresh vegetables also lose nutrients during distribution and storage, as temperatures may be unstable and some physical damage may occur. So all in all, there is little difference between fresh and frozen in terms of nutrition.

Potassium

Another reason vegetables are so important is that they are the best source of potassium in our diet. Most of us consume much more sodium (from salt) than the recommended amount, so many of us suffer from high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Adding potassium to our diet can help reduce the effects of sodium on blood pressure.

Tips

The goal is to buy frozen vegetables at the end of the store. Place frozen vegetables in the refrigerator as soon as possible to avoid partial thawing. Use freezer bags when it is hot.

Remember that frozen vegetables are partially cooked before being frozen. Therefore, when adding frozen vegetables to a hot dish, add the frozen vegetables directly. Do not thaw them first, as they may get soggy on the plate.

Do I need to wash frozen vegetables?

No. Frozen vegetables should be washed before they are flash frozen and packaged. Therefore, they will save you additional washing preparation steps.

How to choose the best frozen vegetables

When choosing frozen vegetables, you may want to know which ones will provide you with the best nutrition and taste. One way to make sure you're getting the best frozen food is to check the label! Non-GMO foods will be labeled on the bag. We recommend choosing vegetables that do not have any added vegetables.

You can also check the nutritional information. This will tell you how much sodium, fiber, protein and fat are in the product. Avoiding foods high in fat and sodium and choosing a mix of foods high in fiber and protein will help you eat healthier. Many frozen foods, such as chickpeas and quinoa, contain more than 5 grams of protein per cup!