THE SANE VIEW
Frozen food has long had an image problem. Many home cooks sniff at freezer fare, dismissing it as poor quality, less nutritious than fresh, and somehow not good enough if you proudly prepare meals from scratch. But according to nutrition scientists it’s time for this frosty attitude to thaw.
The experts are not, of course, referring to the ever-expanding range of pre-prepared food vying for space in the freezer aisle, from bangers and burgers to pizzas and chips. But when it comes to frozen produce such as fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, scientists say these foods can be just as nutritious – more so, even – than fresh.
These days, food often has a long journey from field to fork. Apples, for example, can appear on the shelf a full 12 months after being picked, and some of the nutrients degrade during that time. State-of-the-art freezing and food transport methods allow produce to be snap-frozen moments after harvest. The more quickly this happens, the more the nutrients are preserved and the less the flavour and texture deteriorate.
FROZEN CAN BE MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN FRESHÉ