It’s in the middle of the summer, but that doesn’t meant that we should ignore the freezer as some fruits and vegetables practically thrive on ice without losing their flavor and nutrients. I’ve made it at practice to have at least a few frozen items in the freezer to add a handful of color, texture and nutrients to my dishes. See which ones fair best in the cold. Come and cook with us!
The following five produce items are great choices to pick up in the frozen grocery aisle. If possible, go for organic and according to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, check the packing for a “Grade A” rating, as this means that its contents confirm to the highest USDA quality standards. Also, once your open your produce, store any unused amount in a freezer bag, rolling up the bag to squeeze out extra air.
Corn: Frozen corns is blanched prior to freezing which can boost levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, both carotenoids that fight vision loss. Freezing also preserves the flavor of corn kernels, compared to the canned version. For best quality, consume within six months.
Peas: Frozen peas have nearly as much taste and texture as the just-shelled ones and some studies even claim that freezing them increases their antioxideant activity. They are also packed with vitamin C that remains relatively stable even after one year in the freezer.
Spinach: Steam spinach to break down the its cell walls and make its antioxidants more accessible, say scientist. Also, ounce for ounce, they contain more calcium than milk. However, beware that the folates in spinach, which my fight heart disease, decline by more than 40% between the 3rd and 6th month of frozen storage.
Blueberries: This superfood doesn’t lose its anthocyanins – flavanoids that help prevent heart disease and cancer even after they are frozen. They are so good – and highest in their nutrient levels – when consumed within four months.
Cherries: Deep-chilled cherries hang on to more cancer-fighting anthocyanins than the canned kind. The downside is that the polyphenols degrade by 50% after six months, but only 25% by the three-month mark. So don’t wait too long…
Yes, in an ideal world we go to the farmer’s market and pick our local and seasonal produce for our meals. These choices are great for when you ran out of time and still want some color on your dinner plate. So make sure that your freezer is stocked with these goodies to add variety to your soups, stews, pasta sauces, risotti as well as smoothies, frozen yogurt treats, compotes, pies and baked goods. Hope you are enjoying your warm summer with some of these cold picks. Come and cook with us!
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