Picture courtesy: Tweet by Safal on Twitter
Frozen foods refer to foods that are frozen so that they can be consumed later.
In India cold storage has come into news thanks to a vaccine. We need super cool storage solutions to transport and stock those vaccines at very, very low temperatures.
We also need good refrigeration to store frozen foods. As we do not have good cold storage facilities all over India...specially in rural areas where fruits and vegetables are grown. The loss of fruits and vegetables due to absence of cold storage is tremendous.
Many companies do a wonderful job of providing frozen foods. I think the Safal peas is the most popular frozen item in India. Probably, the oldest too.
Can you believe it now frozen raw jackfruit is also available. One of the biggest minus points of having a raw jackfruit subzi or a Kathal Biryani is the time and effort needed to cut the raw jackfruit. Removing the sticky thing from the sticky fingers is a big challenge. But now that frozen raw jackfruit is available. All, you need to do is open a frozen packet! Snip it, cook it, eat it.
Frozen corn I think is the second most popular frozen food item. Frozen vegetables are available. Frozen exotic vegetables are available at exotic prices. Frozen exotic fruits are available at
exotic prices. Remember buying frozen Blueberries for Rs.200 or so AGES back! Er, they did not taste yum, but at least I had the satisfaction of having Blueberries usually priced at Rs.400 for a
tiny box! Not sure about the nutrition though. One of the most popular "superfoods"!
Frozen pizzas is again a popular item. So also french fries and hash browns. Er, if I have left out your favourite food, sorry. Er, excuse this vegetarian for not mentioning all the non-veg
frozen foods.
Nowadays you get Frozen Chapatis, Frozen Parathas. You get ready-to-eat Frozen Pav Bhaji, Baingan Bharta, Biryanis, other subzis, etc.
I have my freezer (top compartment of fridge) filled with these, er, goodies. Latest addition was the Amul Cheese-Onion Paratha! Not had it yet. No...I don't need a cheat day to eat it.
Are Frozen Foods Healthy? Nutritious?
Newspapers and media are always there to tell you about the benefits of canned food. Canned food is as (or more) nutritious than fresh fruits and vegetables. I have not seen many such articles or news items on frozen foods.
Frozen vegetables, peas, corn, etc are natural -- so it is safe to eat them. Of course, fresh is always better.
Usually no chemicals are added for preserving vegetables and fruits.
I checked out eatright.org site.
Here are some points from (click on the Heading below to read the entire article):
Frozen Foods: Convenient and Nutritious
By Esther Ellis, MS, RDN, LDN
Frozen foods are an affordable way get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and often frozen within hours, locking in nutrients and flavor. Generally, frozen foods retain their vitamins and minerals and there is no change to the carbohydrate, protein or fat content.
Frozen foods have more vitamins and minerals compared to fresh because fresh foods lose vitamins and minerals over time while freezing preserves nutrients.
She says choose wisely.
Not all frozen foods are created equal — many can be high in saturated fat, added sugars and salt.
When selecting frozen meals or convenience foods, compare Nutrition Facts labels to find nutritious choices.
Dangers of Frozen Foods
Frozen foods (specially non-veg) should be thawed according to instructions. If they are not thawed properly and not heated/cooked properly, then there is a risk of food poisoning.
In case you are having ready-to-eat frozen food -- TV dinner meals --these may contain a lot of fat, sugar , salt, additives and preservatives. May be a good idea to avoid them. Or have them rarely (once a month)?