Freezing is one of the most effective ways to preserve nutrients and extend the shelf life of foods . Thanks to this method, you can store food for a long time without worrying about its spoilage and loss of beneficial properties.
When it comes to healthy eating, it's important to remember that cooking at home is one of the best ways to ensure you have a balanced diet. However, we often feel too lazy to cook or don't have the time. Sometimes it seems like cooking healthy meals is too difficult. However, what if there are actually methods that can help you simplify this process?
For example, as an option, freezing foods allows you to preserve many nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, that can be lost during long-term storage or heat treatment.
Read which foods you should start freezing to start eating right and saving your time.
Fruits
Frozen fruit is a great option for a healthy diet. One of the advantages is that the fruit does not lose its nutritional value and retains its flavor when frozen. In addition, it is already peeled or cut, which makes it much easier to use in cooking.
If you have leftover fresh fruit, simply spread it on a baking sheet and freeze it, then store it in airtight bags or containers. This will keep your fruit fresh for up to a year, so you can always have it on hand for smoothies, desserts, or other meals. Frozen fruit will keep its quality for up to 12 months.
Bouillon
Not everyone has a lot of time for a lunch break. So a good solution is to freeze the broth, which can then be used in the preparation of various dishes. It is suitable for soups, stews, roasts and even for cooking cereals without oil. Frozen broth is stored for up to six months, unlike how it spoils quickly in the refrigerator.
To freeze broth, pour it into silicone molds or freezer bags. You can also use ice cube trays to keep handy portions on hand for sauces or stews. Frozen broth thaws quickly and is convenient to add directly to the pot.
Ginger
Ginger is an ingredient with a spicy taste and numerous digestive and health benefits that will add more spiciness to your dishes. In frozen form, ginger retains all its beneficial properties, which is no less important. In addition, it can be added not only to dishes, but also to make delicious vitamin teas.
To freeze ginger, simply place the unpeeled root in a freezer bag. You can grate the frozen ginger directly into your dish when cooking. You can also chop it before freezing. Whole ginger will keep for up to six months, and chopped ginger will keep for three to four months.
Vegetables
Vegetables, like fruits, are great for freezing. Not only do they retain most of their nutrients, but they also allow you to enjoy the taste of a variety of vegetables even when they are out of season. Frozen vegetables sold in stores are harvested at their peak ripeness, which allows them to retain maximum nutrients and flavor.
If you decide to freeze your own vegetables, the process is not difficult. The very first step is to prepare them: clean, cut and blanch them (briefly immerse in boiling water and then cool in cold water). This helps to preserve the taste, color and texture after freezing. Then, the vegetables should be spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and placed in the freezer. Once frozen, they can be transferred to bags or containers for long-term storage.
Cereals, porridge
Grains and cereals are an important source of carbohydrates, which are the body's main source of energy. However, they can be time-consuming to prepare, especially when it comes to heartier varieties like wild rice or quinoa.
To make them cook faster, you can make a large batch and freeze it for later use. Simply cook rice, for example, cool it to room temperature, then spread it in an even layer on a baking sheet and freeze.
After that, transfer the rice to freezer bags, remove excess air, and store them in the freezer.
When it's time to use frozen grains, simply place them in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight to thaw. Then, they can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave and added to a variety of dishes—soups, stews, pilaf.
Meat and seafood
Meat and seafood are great sources of protein that add satiety and nutrition to your diet. Instead of buying them regularly, you can buy them on sale and freeze them, which will save you money and keep ingredients on hand for a variety of meals.
Meat or seafood can be frozen either raw or cooked. If you are freezing already cooked food, be sure to let it cool to room temperature before placing it in the freezer. Warm food can cause condensation, which can lead to ice crystals forming, which will affect the texture when reheated.
It's a good idea to freeze foods in portions that you can use at once. For example, salmon fillets can be divided into individual freezer bags or containers so you don't have to defrost more than you need. Grilled chicken can be shredded or cut into pieces before freezing.
