5 Common Mistakes When Buying Frozen Fruits and Vegetables; Key Tips on Purchasing and Storage
Frozen fruits and vegetables can be a nutritious, affordable option. However, choosing products that contain sugar or high-fat sauces, and ignoring packaging condition, are among the common mistakes when buying them.
Frozen fruits and vegetables can be a nutritious and affordable option; But choosing products containing sugar or high-fat sauces and not paying attention to the condition of the packaging are common mistakes when buying them.
According to Ambassador Arjan, frozen fruits and vegetables are an easy and affordable way to increase the consumption of plant foods; But not all frozen products are the same in terms of nutritional value. Knowing the points to pay attention to when buying helps to choose healthier products.
Ambassador Arjan wrote, nutritionists recommend avoiding five common mistakes when buying frozen fruits and vegetables.
1. Buy frozen vegetables with cream sauce or butter
Frozen vegetables are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber; But some products come with cheese, butter, cream or spicy sauces. These compounds can increase the amount of saturated fat, sodium and calories of the product.
Buttered corn, creamed spinach, broccoli with cheese sauce and green beans with butter and garlic are common examples of these products.
It is better to choose plain frozen vegetables without sauce as much as possible to have more control over the ingredients and nutritional value of your meal.
You can use spices, herbs, olive oil, garlic or lemon juice to flavor these vegetables.
2. Buying frozen fruits containing added sugar
Fruits are naturally sweet; However, some frozen products are packed with sugar or sugar syrup to increase sweetness. This increases the product's added sugar content without adding any significant nutritional benefit.
Berries, peaches, cherries, mangoes, and strawberries are among the fruits that may come in packages containing sugar or syrup.
For a healthier choice, opt for frozen fruit with no added sugar and check the ingredients label. If the fruit is offered plain and without additives, it is usually a better choice.
3. Not reading the list of product ingredients
Many frozen fruits and vegetables do not contain additives; Because the freezing process helps to preserve them and usually there is no need to add special preservatives.
However, some frozen products contain ingredients that may reduce their nutritional value or increase fat, sugar, and sodium intake.
For this reason, it is important to check the list of ingredients and the nutritional value table when shopping. Choose products with simple ingredients and minimal additives and pay attention to the presence of ingredients such as butter, cream, cheese, salty seasonings and added sweeteners.
Consuming too much added sugar, sodium, fat, and calories can negate some of the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables.
4. Ignoring ice crystals and damaged packaging
When buying frozen products, don't just pay attention to the name and type of product; The condition of the packaging and the appearance of its contents are also important.
Torn packaging, the presence of large ice crystals, the contents sticking together in the form of a solid mass and a large accumulation of mold inside the package can be signs of damage or improper storage of the product.
This condition sometimes indicates that the product has partially thawed and refrozen during transportation or storage; An event that may change its quality, texture, and taste, and in some cases, affect food safety.
Therefore, it is better to choose packages that are healthy and completely closed and their contents are still kept frozen.
5. Thinking that frozen products always have less nutritional value than fresh products
A common belief is that fresh fruits and vegetables are always more nutritious than frozen ones; But nutritionists say that frozen products can also be a suitable option to meet the body's daily need for fruits and vegetables.
In many cases, the nutritional value of frozen products is comparable to fresh samples, and sometimes even some nutrients are better preserved in them.
Fruits and vegetables are usually harvested at the peak of ripeness and frozen shortly thereafter. This process helps to preserve some of the nutrients. On the other hand, fresh produce may lose some of its nutrients during harvesting, transportation and storage.
Some studies have also shown that frozen fruits can have more antioxidant activity than fresh ones under certain conditions.
Due to these differences, experts recommend using both fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables to enjoy the nutritional benefits.
Recommendations for better purchase and storage of frozen products
Nutritionists offer some practical recommendations for choosing, storing and consuming frozen fruits and vegetables:
Choose simple ingredients: buy products that have minimal or no additives at all.
Consider buying larger packages: If you use the same type of fruit or vegetable frequently, buying larger packages can cut costs. Frozen products can usually be used for several months if stored properly.
Maintain the cold chain: When you return from the store, keep frozen products as cold as possible and put them in the freezer as soon as possible.
Manage cooking time: Add frozen vegetables in the final stages of cooking, for example when boiling pasta, to better preserve their texture, flavor and some of their nutrients.
Use frozen fruits in smoothies: These fruits can cool and thicken the smoothie without adding ice.
Add frozen fruit to meals: You can add frozen berries or banana slices to oatmeal, homemade breads, and foods like French toast.
In general, fresh, frozen and even canned fruits and vegetables can play a role in providing the body's daily need for plant-based food. It is important to pay attention to the composition of the product, the amount of added sugar and salt, the condition of the packaging and the storage conditions.