Opponents of the use of preservatives of various kinds unequivocally assert: fresh vegetables and fruits are much more useful than any frost. And they are right! If you have your garden and garden, it is there that grow the most useful gifts of nature. But if you are a city dweller who buys vegetables in the store. This statement is not so categorical. It is worth considering the conditions of transportation and storage of these products. Often the conditions are such that they reduce useful qualities to naught.
How is the freshness of fruits and vegetables determined? It is determined by the amount of vitamin C in the product. This vitamin is so fragile that after a couple of days of storage the amount of it falls at times. For example, broccoli and asparagus lose up to 80% of vitamin C after two days of storage, and spinach - up to 75%.
Today, deep freezing of vegetables, fruits and berries is the only one hundred percent natural option for canning. It allows you not to lose the taste and useful properties of products. The time between picking vegetables and freezing is very small, so frozen vegetables-berries are a useful product.
How is the frost done?
The main principle of quick freezing of vegetables and fruits is a decrease in the temperature of the product from its surface to the core. The juice of vegetables and fruits at a certain moment turns into the tiniest crystals of ice. Modern technology can bring the temperature inside the fetus to the desired -18 degrees in the shortest possible time. This temperature is the same throughout the entire freezing process. Therefore, in the cells of the fruit, ice crystals are formed uniformly, without disturbing the structure of plant fibers. The faster the vegetables are frozen, the less damage to the fibers. Such vegetables and fruits retain almost all useful properties, not much differing in the degree of utility from the newly torn ones.
If the freezing was not fast, the ice crystals increased, destroying the fiber structure and, as it were, dehydrating the fruit. Such vegetables are not suitable after defrosting. Therefore, it is not recommended to defrost vegetables and fruits in advance.
If the package says "Instant freeze", then this is a useful product. You can safely buy such "frozen vitamins".
Any fresh fruit will most benefit from their use when they are only collected. These products are seasonal. Then they froze. So, choosing a "fresh" vegetable instead of frozen, we get less vitamins.
Another objection to the opponents of frozen vegetables is its price. Frozen vegetables are more expensive than fresh ones. Especially when compared with prices during the harvest. But in winter, this difference is not so noticeable. Frozen vegetables have no waste, they are washed and cut. This saves our money and time.
There is an opinion that in frozen vegetables and fruits put dyes. But in fact, their color is so bright, because before they are frozen they are given a steam or boiling water to preserve color and nutrients.
Thanks to the technology of high freezing, we can enjoy the gifts of nature all year round.
For whom is this beneficial?
For residents of the city, not having their own gardens and gardens. Citizens and in the summer suffer from a lack of vitamins, and in the winter and even more so.
To those who are on a diet. In 5-10 minutes you can prepare a useful dish.
People with weakened immunity. After all, these vegetables are treated before freezing, and the rest of the bacteria kills the cold.
For those who do not have time to waste time at the stove: businessmen, students, young mothers. And everyone who just does not like cooking.
And as for those who are very fond of cooking and creating culinary masterpieces. After all, these vegetables can be added to stew, casseroles, soups, meat dishes, vegetable pilaf and other culinary delights.
Vegetarians. Now it is very fashionable to be vegetarians, but in our climatic conditions it is very difficult to get the right amount of useful substances for the organism.
How to choose frozen vegetables?
Try to buy products of famous manufacturers.
Be sure to read the preparation method and shelf life on the packaging.
Vegetables should be scattered in the package. If there are frozen lumps, then they have already been thawed.
Now you know if frozen vegetables preserve useful properties.