Are Frozen Vegetables Good?

In this era where everything must be labeled organic or there’s something wrong with our food, buying frozen vegetables might bring us some guilt, as they are not fresh, and we didn’t peel or chop them ourselves.However, purchasing and cooking with frozen vegetables may not be as terrible as we might think, as according to information from Muy Interesante, studies have shown that even without freezing, some foods lose nutrients.On the other hand, vegetables are usually frozen immediately after being harvested, so they retain most of their nutrients. Some studies have even demonstrated that certain foods, such as broccoli or kale, have higher levels of riboflavin and antioxidants, respectively, when frozen compared to when they are fresh.Benefits of Buying Frozen VegetablesPerhaps you don’t need convincing to buy them, but frozen vegetables not only save you time, they also prevent you from throwing away old tomatoes or carrots that you bought, never used, and left forgotten at the back of the vegetable drawer.Another advantage of buying a bag of frozen vegetables is that they are available year-round, even if they are out of season. However, it’s important to know exactly what frozen vegetables you are buying, because while many of them do not contain added preservatives, some may lose some nutritional value with the addition of salt, sauces, or seasonings that should be indicated on the product packaging.On the other hand, the way you defrost them is also important. When this process takes place, there is a “reactivation of the microorganisms and spores present,” along with a “release of exudate liquid,” which can pose a contamination risk, says Dr. Elena Aguilar, for Muy Interesante.She states that the best way to do this is to move them to the refrigerator the night before, or to do it directly in the microwave, but try to avoid letting them thaw at room temperature. Finally, although frozen foods have a longer shelf life, keeping vegetables in the freezer for more than two years could potentially reduce their nutritional value. So now you have a much clearer picture of using frozen vegetables, their pros and cons.