Frozen foods are widely known for their convenience and yet are perceived to be unhealthy. In reality, it is just the opposite. While fresh food is dubbed as the freshest and filled with nutrients, these same nutrients are present in frozen foods too. Frozen foods have contained high sodium levels in the past, but there are still many kinds that remain free of preservatives which are very healthy. Read on to find out about how, contrary to popular belief, frozen foods are good.
Frozen Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables have always been the picture of freshness and health. Frozen fruits and vegetables too contain the same amount of nutrients as their unfrozen counterparts and remain fresh for much longer than what is believed.
Unfrozen fruits and vegetables are usually picked a few days prior to their ripening. After picking they are packed and shipped to stores and they lose their nutritional value in approximately 3 days. Whereas, frozen foods, even seafood, are frozen within a few hours after they are picked/ caught which keeps them fresh and nutrient-filled for a longer time.
Frozen Snacks
A lot of health-conscious consumers have changed the way companies freeze and sell frozen food, especially frozen snacks. Compared to simple and well-cooked home meals, snacks, in general, are not as healthy and contain saturated fats. Yet, there is a way to buy a healthy kind of frozen snack! Many frozen foods contain vegetables and natural ingredients without Sodium, and these prove that frozen foods are good. There are two main criteria that frozen foods must satisfy in order for you to make a healthy purchase:
IQF technology: The IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) technology is a game-changer when it comes to freezing food. Unlike normal freezers that freeze items together and form ice crystals, the IQF technology allows each item to be frozen individually so as to avoid ice crystals to be formed. At the crux of it, ice crystals are the reason that cells of food items expand and cause changes in food. Ice crystals also decrease nutrients. With IQF, the formation of ice crystals is curbed which thereby keeps food fresher and nutritious.
No added preservatives: As mentioned frozen foods have been infamous for adding preservatives especially Sodium or Sodium Chloride and starch. But there are several frozen food products in the market that are preservative-free and are clear about their ingredient list. One should make sure to read the ingredients of frozen foods to choose healthy options.
One wide range of frozen foods that have both qualities is the ITC Master Chef Frozen Snacks collection. This range is frozen with IQF technology and is all about no preservatives. These snacks come in a wide assortment of dishes from Hara Bhara Kebabs to Chicken popcorn, which is easy and healthy to make. What makes it even better a range is that they are known to be curated by chefs from ITC hotels themselves. They also sell ITC Master Chef Frozen Prawns which are rich in protein, and ITC Frozen Vegetables which are picked at ripening and frozen fresh. Both these products are also frozen with IQF technology and are filled with nutrients.
Other benefits of frozen foods include lesser food waste as frozen foods remain nutritious for a long time. Another great thing about frozen food is that one can stock up on it during sales at a lower price and consume it at their own convenience which saves money!
