Relax! Professional suggestions for freezing meals the protected, wholesome means – extra way of life

Pandemic or not, frozen meals is useful for many people. For individuals who wish to prep meals prematurely, freezing tomato pulp or a scorching sauce is an effective way to chop down on cooking time. Hold the following pointers in thoughts whereas freezing meals.

• Retailer your meals proper: Hermetic containers and sealable baggage are the very best choices. Don’t use glass containers, as they’re prone to break on freezing. Plastic containers are good, too, as they are often transferred simply between the freezer and microwave.
• Cool earlier than you freeze: It is very important let any dish cool barely after which put it within the fridge to chill correctly. Solely then you need to put it within the freezer.

• Reheating carried out proper: Many microwaves at the moment have a defrosting function. You may put the frozen meals in a microwavable bowl to defrost. Hold stirring at intervals in order that it heats evenly. Don’t neglect to cowl it to keep away from splatters. Don’t thaw frozen meals in water; as an alternative, thaw it within the fridge itself.
• Watch out with fruits and veggies: Freeze recent greens the identical day you purchase them. Wash, clear, minimize, blanch and freeze. For freezing fruits, choose agency and ripe fruits. Wash rigorously, minimize into small items, and pack in small parts. Freeze in exhausting hermetic container. Don’t retailer fruits for a very long time.
• Label your meals: Label your meals with date, and keep in mind to make use of FIFO — first in, first out.
• What to not freeze: Veggies with a excessive water content material, reminiscent of cucumber, lettuce, celery, zucchini shouldn’t be frozen. Additionally, potatoes, mushrooms, milk, eggs, buttermilk, yoghurt, cream cheese, spices, canned meals, and coconut cream or coconut milk usually are not advisable for freezing.

(Inputs by chef Nishant Choubey, dieticians Shivika Gandhi and Garima Goyal

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