Is frozen food the future? The truth exposed
January might have been and gone, but there are still some positive resolutions you can keep for what you choose to cook and eat.
When chilled food was re-branded as “fresh”, frozen food looked and felt uncool. But now, Birds Eye are on a mission to expose the truth, hailing the home freezer as the guardian of nutrients, freshness and home economy.
GOODNESS ME
After all, almost every fish that heads into stores has been frozen early in the supply chain to keep it fresh. Some stay frozen as they are packed up for sale, some thaw out for the fishmonger. As Clarence Birdseye discovered early in the 20th century, flash freezing ingredients at source prevents heat, oxygen and bacteria spoiling the
food. By storing them in the freezer, you’re locking in the goodness ready for when you choose to cook it. Birdseye’s breakthrough gave millions of people access to veg and fish all year round for the first time.
Frozen peas are immensely popular in the UK, with over 35,000 tonnes grown in Yorkshire for Birds Eye every year. Freezing locks in the goodness of a wide range of vegetables, from edamame beans to sweetcorn, broccoli to green beans. The freezer becomes a larder of fresh- tasting veg.
For anyone looking for a return to their childhood, Birds Eye Omega 3 Fish Fingers taste great and contain plenty of omega 3, linked to helping cognitive function and heart health.
FREEZE YOUR ASSETS
Taking advantage of the freezer also means there’s no such thing as seasonality, and it can create some quality time for you, too. With the Steamfresh range, you can grab one or two portions of mixed veg in minutes without the prep, whenever you want. A microwave steams frozen veg brilliantly, retaining texture and nutrients. Just use a little water and cover them.
It’s always good to know you have an option at hand. If a Friday night takeaway is your thing, you could save hundreds of pounds a year by opting for something from the freezer instead, like fillets of fish or oven-baked chicken. It’s also faster, given it’s there when you want it. For a quick and tasty lunch, why not try Birds Eye’s Veggie Bowls, which contain two of your five-a-day, or new versatile Sweet Potato Waffles? There is plenty of choice.
Of course, the freezer really comes into its own with regard to food waste. Many people feel dismay when they needlessly throw away food that has been forgotten in the fridge. Reach into the freezer for a handful of sugar snap peas to cook into your favourite dishes, and you’ll help to avoid leaving leftovers.
It’s best to think of your freezer as that old acquaintance whose all-round brilliance has perhaps been overlooked in recent years. So isn’t it time you started things up again with your modern friend who has plenty to offer?
