Foods You Should Always Buy Frozen, According To Professional Chefs
Many people believe that fresh produce is the only way to get the best nutrition. However, frozen foods are often picked at their peak ripeness and flash frozen immediately to lock in vitamins. This makes the freezer aisle a smart place to shop for quality and value.
There are many foods that even professional chefs prefer to buy frozen. Here are five foods they recommend grabbing from the freezer aisle.
Berries
Fresh berries are expensive and tend to grow mold within just a few days of purchase. Frozen berries are picked when they're at the perfect ripeness and are much more affordable year round.
While speaking to allrecipes, cookbook authors Rachel Riggs and Jeanine Donofrio recommended using frozen berries to add color, flavor, and nutrition to smoothies.
Peas
Fresh peas begin to lose their natural sweetness the moment they're picked because their sugars turn into starch. In contrast, frozen peas are processed so quickly that they retain that bright, sweet flavor.
"Frozen peas are one of the few vegetables that I think are just as good frozen as fresh, so I always keep a stash on hand," Donofrio told allrecipes.
Fish
Most fish sold at the fresh counter was actually frozen on the boat and thawed for display. Buying it still frozen ensures it stays at a safe temperature until you are ready to cook.
It's often cheaper and higher quality than the thawed options. You can take out one fillet at a time, which helps reduce expensive food waste.
Edamame
Fresh edamame is hard to find in many grocery stores and has a very short shelf life. The frozen variety is available year round and can be prepared in minutes.
It's an excellent source of plant-based protein. You can buy them in the shell for a fun snack or already shelled to toss directly into stir fries and salads.
Shrimp
Frozen shrimp are one of the quickest-cooking animal proteins available at the grocery store. Recipe developer and content creator Jeanette Donnarumma recommends adding a bag of raw, tail-on shrimp to your grocery list for an easy way to feed the whole family.
Donnarumma says frozen shrimp are ""clean, consistently sized, and endlessly versatile for scampi, tacos, stir-fries, and cocktail platters."
The takeaway
Many people view frozen foods as a less healthy option, but that's not always the case. These five items are convenient to store in the freezer and still packed with lots of nutrients.
Freezer storage is a helpful way to make food last longer and get the most out of every bite.