Cooking: Fresh or Frozen Ingredients?

When it comes to cooking, so much goes into your grocery list. Depending on who you ask, there’s always a growing debate between people that say you have to use fresh foods and should never use frozen when preparing meals. Then there are the people who say you can cut a few corners by going with frozen ingredients as long as they’re prepared correctly. If you really want to know, the truth is somewhere in between.

Fresh:

When it comes to making meals, it all comes down to what you’re making. Fresh fruits, fresh meats, and fresh ingredients in general will always sound like the way to go. Pros: Fresh meats will always look more appetizing pre-cook. Take a good cut of steak. It will always have a fresh and vibrant red color to it, it really sizzles when put in a pan, and when cooked properly will really wow a guest.

Cons: Sure you can go to the local grocery store and visit the meat counter and they’ll have good cuts lined up, but chances are they’ll be a bit more expensive than picking them up out of the packaged section. However, if you’re going for an over-the-top meal, you’re going to stop at your local butcher. It might cost a few bucks extra but it’ll be cleaned, prepped, and ready to go the way you like it.

More Cooking: Good Steak Isnt Served The Way You’re Used To

Frozen:

There’s nothing wrong with frozen foods but there are some drawbacks. Some can be overcome while others cannot. Pros: Frozen foods don’t have to be cooked right away. They will also stay fresh longer. You can easily store them in the freezer and pull them out the day before, especially on those days you’re short on time and can’t get to the grocery store. Fresh vegetables might be cheaper but their shelf life isn’t as expected.

Cons: Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. The taste might be the same between fresh and frozen but the appearance and textures might be a bit off. Take tuna steaks for instance. A normal cut of tuna has a bright pinkish-red color to it that looks more appealing when prepared. A frozen tuna steak will lean toward a darker brownish-red. The flavor will still be there, but most tuna will be seasoned and stripped and the pop of color gives the extra appeal.

Then, of course, we have to talk about texture. Fruits and vegetables are the more common frozen foods. If you’re preparing for someone who has texture issues, then frozen fruits and veggies will definitely be a roadblock. Frozen foods when reheated can quickly dry out or create inconsistency in textures. Fruits that are thawed can turn to mush at times. That’s not to say they won’t be usable still, but you have to pick your battles. If youre prepping a soup, it won’t be so bad. Overnight oats that sit in the fridge won’t be too far off from the original flavor and is meant to be a softer texture.

In the end, it all comes down to your end game with the meal. Are you really trying to impress a date, or are you just cooking a meal for the family? The nutritious value between the two is no different unless your frozen items are loaded with preservatives. A quick glance at the package and you’ll see most of the time you’re good to go.