Frozen foods are often perceived as a lazy alternative to meal prepping and an unhealthy food option as compared to regular fresh produce. But do you know that many of these popular beliefs are actually myths? In this article, we debunk some of the most common frozen food myths that many Malaysians still believe are true.
MYTH 1: “It is unsafe to refreeze thawed foods”
FACT: We can refreeze foods that have been thawed in the refrigerator
While refreezing thawed foods are safe, the texture of the foods might be compromised due to moisture loss during the thawing process. On the other hand, you should never refreeze foods that have been thawed at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as bacteria would have begun to multiply!
MYTH 2: “All food can be frozen so that they stay fresh”
FACT: Cream-based products or foods that have high water content don’t freeze well
- Cream-based products: cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt, gravies, custards
- Food with high water content: melon, celery, cucumber, lettuce, radishes
Cream-based products tend to separate when they’re frozen, while food with high water content usually turn soggy when they’re thawed. However, be creative with how these foods are cooked after freezing, and they’ll be as good as fresh! For instance, you can use frozen celery for soups so it won’t appear soggy.
MYTH 3: “Frozen foods can be thawed by running hot water over them”
FACT: Thawing foods with hot water can lead to uneven cooking
If you run hot water over frozen food, some inner parts of the food might remain frozen, while the outer parts might start to cook. This leads to uneven cooking and ineffective thawing. Hence, it is best to thaw frozen foods in the fridge or in cold water, and be sure to change the water every 30 minutes! This is to avoid thawing the food at room temperature, which might speed up bacteria growth.
MYTH 4: “Frozen foods are highly processed, so they contain high levels of sodium and preservatives”
FACT: Sodium or added preservatives are not needed to increase the shelf life of frozen foods
Freezing is already an effective food preservation method. Hence, it is unnecessary to add preservatives or sodium to frozen foods so that they stay fresh. Besides, with the increasing number of health-conscious consumers, many manufacturers have started to produce healthy frozen foods that suit consumers’ nutrition needs. Of course, a rule of thumb is to always check the ingredients list before purchasing!
MYTH 5: “It is safe to store frozen food in their original packaging”
FACT: Some packages are permeable to air, which can cause food contamination
Many of us are guilty of placing frozen food straight into the freezer after grocery shopping! Unless the packaging is air-tight and freezer-safe, it is better to store frozen food in air-tight and freezer-safe containers or ziplock bags. This is because ordinary packaging is permeable to air, which allows bacteria to invade and breed.
MYTH 6: “Fresh foods are more nutritious than frozen foods”
FACT: Fresh produce loses nutrients overtime, while frozen foods tend to retain their nutrients
Most foods experience nutritional loss when they’re stored at room temperature or in the fridge. Freezing, on the other hand, helps retain the minerals and vitamins in foods. Therefore, frozen foods and fresh produce can share similar nutritional value.
If you’re still in doubt, let us assure you that there are frozen foods specially curated to provide consumers with a variety of nutrients!
Yes, we’re talking about none other than the plant-based, frozen delights from First Pride Green Series!
The frozen delights from First Pride Green Series are made of soy and wheat proteins and have meaty textures. Besides being a rich source of protein, they also make healthier and guilt-free alternatives for processed meat!
Priced at only RM19.90 per packet, these guilt-free snacks come in a whopping 400g to 440g packs, which is super affordable! Did we mention that Tyson Foods has just launched three First Pride snacks that are infused in unique Malaysian flavours?! Here are just some of our favourite snacks from the series:
- Regular flavours:
- First Pride Spicy Nuggets
- First Pride Strips
- First Pride Bites
- Malaysian flavours:
- First Pride Hainanese Cutlet
- First Pride Satay Strips
- First Pride Spicy Masala Bites
Already salivating? Keep on reading to find out why you should give these guilt-free snacks a try!
- Add nutrients to your everyday meals
Made of soy and wheat proteins, the products of First Pride Green Series are packed with plant-based proteins that are high in fibre and essential nutrients. As compared to animal proteins, plant-based proteins are also lower in calorie and trans-fat free!
Not only that, this range of frozen delights do not contain MSG and GMOs, so you don’t have to worry about unhealthy flavourings and additives!
- Enjoy convenient and easy meal prep
Unlike frozen meat, you can straight away pop First Pride Spicy Nuggets into your cooking pot without thawing them! Isn’t it super convenient?! You get to reduce your cooking time without the long wait for the food to thaw.
- Get creative with these snacks!
Be it deep fried, air fried, pan fried, or baked, the guilt-free snacks from First Pride Green Series are all super delicious on their own. But do you know that you can also get creative with these snacks?
Simply toss them into a bowl of gurgling hot curry, or skewer them onto wooden sticks to serve with satay sauce, and there you have some creative and plant-based versions of Malaysian staple dishes!
Can’t wait to try these guilt-free, plant-based snacks? You can find them in the nearest supermarkets, or online via PandaMart, Shopee and LAZADA!
For more information regarding First Pride Green Series, visit Tyson Foods website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Are there any other frozen foods myths that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!
