Frozen food will be the new kid in the block: Chef Ritesh Negi

To educate people who are struggling to fit into the new world, from buying the basic essentials for daily use, Chef Ritesh Negi, Corporate Executive Chef, Radisson MBD Group, debunk the myths around the consumption of frozen food…
With exponentially rising number of cases of COVID-19 all over the globe, strict codes of conduct have been implemented to cope with the new normal.
To educate people who are struggling to fit into the new world, from buying the basic essentials for daily use, Chef Ritesh Negi, Corporate Executive Chef, Radisson MBD Group, debunk the myths around the consumption of frozen food during an interview with IANSlife.
Frozen food has different categories like frozen meats, frozen vegetables, and frozen ready-to-eat food. It has always been a part of our life, and we have been consuming it for a very long time. For instance, frozen green peas have been a regular part of our homely diets for generations. Trickling down from our grandmothers to our mothers, everyone has had a taste of peas in their daily diet, and we have never questioned its nutritional values. Similarly, frozen berries and Italian canned tomatoes have also been a regular in kitchens.
The point to be conveyed is that the act of freezing doesn’t make food any less healthy. The health aspect of food depends entirely on its nutritional content and how it’s preserved while being frozen. It is also imperative to weigh the composition, for instance, a cooked curry or pizza might not be able to withhold the nutritive quotient of food while frozen peas and meat will.
With tough times ahead of us, the entire game plan of the food industry is bound to witness a paradigm shift. There will be more preserved vegetables, meat, and other products in the market, which will take the lead and be utilised for daily consumption. And as a matter of fact, some of the nutritionists have observed how vegetables are destined to be “frozen” as they are harvested at a time when their freshness and nutritional value are at the peak of their ripeness.
Does frozen food provide the same nutrition?
The freezing technique guarantees the freshness of the food for a longer period, meanwhile maintaining its nutritional values. Thus, making it very safe for us to consume frozen meat which has been processed, packed and delivered under appropriate guidelines and temperature. Vendors have been advised to pack the frozen meat and vegetables with airtight heavy-duty packaging such as foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper.
Freezing is known to increase the shelf life of the food without compromising with the nutritious components of it and freezing does not affect the calorie count, fibre content or minerals value of the food as well. However, it is recommended that while purchasing frozen products, one should look for content value with less sodium and sugar in it.
The nutrition in the frozen chicken is similar to that of the fresh-cut one where the former has to pass the quality tests to be retailed in the supermarkets. The taste of the frozen meat is subjective to its cooking style, method of preparation and infusion of other ingredients while cooking the same. Nonetheless, one is still advised to take precautions and be conscious to check the nutritional content printed on its packaging.
How do you see the market value of frozen food faring, in a post COVID-19 scenario?
COVID-19 has created a state of chaos and has left people with fewer choices of picking essential items on a daily basis and to stock up their shelves to avoid going out of their homes. The frozen category has seen a massive surge in the same with poultry playing a vital role as an essential commodity with longer shelf life and higher nutritional value.
Moving forward, I personally think frozen food will be the new kid in the block.People will be inclined towards safe, branded frozen meat products which can be used for cooking.

Source : thehindu