Although frozen food has many nutritional issues, in today's fast-paced life, who can resist the temptation of frozen food? In daily life, it is acceptable to eat some frozen food in moderation, provided that strict control is exercised during the selection, storage, and cooking processes.
1. Pay attention to brand and expiration date
Generally speaking, major brands offer better quality assurance. When purchasing, carefully check the packaging for information such as product name, manufacturer's address, production date, and expiration date. Although frozen food has a long shelf life, it's still best to choose products that are closer to their production date.
2. "Observe and discern" when choosing loose frozen food
Loose frozen food in supermarkets is always popular, but extra care should be taken with this "picked-over" food. If the frozen food is partially white, it's often due to large temperature fluctuations during refrigeration, causing moisture loss and dryness. Avoid purchasing such products. Choose products that show no signs of thawing and have no sticking between individual pieces.
Dumpling wrappers: Truly good dumpling wrappers contain no additives. We can tell from the color. If the wrapper of a good dumpling is white, it definitely contains an additive—a whitening agent. Good dumpling dough is not perfectly white.
Filling: The more "perfectly formed" and fragrant the filling, the more suspicious it is, as it may contain binding agents, thickeners, and artificial flavorings. Therefore, when buying dumplings, try to buy the best quality, not always the cheapest.
3. After purchasing, take the frozen food home as quickly as possible to avoid thawing on the way.
If you can't eat it immediately, put it in the refrigerator right away. Even after placing the food in the refrigerator, it should be consumed as soon as possible. Because refrigerator temperatures are not always stable, frozen food stored for a long time often shows ice crystal formation, cracks, and sticking, significantly reducing its nutritional value.
4. During storage, avoid placing it with other raw fish, meat, or poultry.
Storing different foods in the same space can cause cross-contamination of bacteria and food spoilage. Opened frozen food should be consumed as soon as possible; any leftovers should be tightly sealed and stored in the freezer.
5. Use the right amount of water when cooking.
When cooking, use less water rather than more. The more water used, the more water-soluble vitamins are lost. Most nutrients in food dissolve in water, such as 10%–25% of minerals and 15%–25% of vitamins. To reduce nutrient loss, you can add an appropriate amount of starch to thicken the sauce when cooking certain foods, keeping the sauce coating the food. Leftover sauce should also be fully utilized.
6. Pay attention to cooking time.