The Hidden Gems in Your Freezer Aisle
The Hidden Gems in Your Freezer Aisle
When you’re grocery shopping on a budget, the frozen foods aisle may quickly become your best friend. In terms of produce, frozen is almost always cheaper than fresh. But even if money is no object, you still might want to consider taking a stroll between the freezers. That’s because some foods actually retain more nutrients frozen than they do fresh, at least after a few days of sitting in your fridge. What’s more, contemporary technology has made frozen versions of food just as palatable as fresh, especially when prepared correctly. So whether you’re looking to save a few bucks or just stock up on nutritious foods that spoil quickly when purchased fresh, check out our list of hidden gems in the supermarket’s freezer aisle:
- Seafood. Seafood, especially fresh seafood, is notoriously expensive. The good news is that most types of fish and seafood can be purchased frozen. That means that it’ll last longer at your home and also fit neatly into your budget. One of the biggest perks of buying frozen fish is that you can stock up and try a few different varieties, even within the same week if you want. Since seafood is chock-full of healthy fats (including the all-mighty omega 3s), you should try to eat it a few times a week.
- Veggies. Canned or frozen? When it comes to veggies, frozen is the healthier option. Typically canning involves heat, which can cause some of the vitamins and minerals in vegetables to dissipate. Freezing, on the other hand, keeps these healthy nutrients intact. In fact, carrots retain more beta-carotene (a precursor to the antioxidant vitamin A) when they’re frozen than when they sit in the fridge for a couple of days. Bell peppers, spinach, and broccoli are some other good veggies to buy frozen. Just make sure you buy them plain—no added salt or butter.
- Fruits. If you’re a fan of smoothies, chances are you’ve already made the switch from fresh to frozen fruit. When you throw frozen fruit in the blender, it eliminates the need to add any ice to your smoothie. What’s more, frozen fruit also usually holds onto nutrients better than fruit in jars or cans. And, of course, it lasts longer than fresh. Grab a bag of mixed berries or cherries for a boost of disease-fighting plant compounds in your morning smoothie. Many frozen fruits can also be baked directly into pies, cakes, and other sweets, and taste just as good as the fresh stuff (for much cheaper)
- Appetizers. If you’re less concerned with nutrition and more concerned with throwing together a dinner party, head to the freezer aisle for some easy-to-make starters. From Buffalo wings to pizza rolls, you’ll find everything you need for cocktail hour in the freezers. Keep in mind, however, that many frozen apps are high in sodium, calories, and sometimes added sugar or fat. So keep a close eye on the nutrition label and ingredient list if you have guests coming who carefully monitor what they eat.
What Foods Do You Buy Frozen? [The Kitchn]
8 Foods That are Worth Buying Frozen [The Daily Meal]
Say Freeze! Frozen Favorites to Have on Hand [PopSugar]
Image: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frozen_blackberry.jpg
Attribution: CC BY-SA 2.0/ Flickr/Matthew Venn