Frozen Foods

Frozen food refers to food items that are expressed or treated to freezing temperature, so as to preserves them from decadence. Frozen food contain crystalline ice within freeze concentrated solids, the amount of ice is dependent on temperature and the ability of the solutes to depress the melting temperature of ice.

Examples of Frozen Foods

1. Ice cream

2. Pizza

3. Fish

4. Chicken

5. Turkey

6. Prawns

7. Beef

8. Meat(pork)

9. Sausages

10  Peas

Frozen foods can be richer in saturated fat, sodium, sugar and calories, frozen foods in supermarkets are considerably more nutrititious, while providing a good supply of proteins, manufacturer have sought to control the content of fat as well as calories. Despite efforts to add nutrients to these meals, people with high blood pressure should be careful because sodium levels tend to be high in proportion to calories.

Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning residual moisture into ice inhibiting and freezing process itself does not nutritionally damage produce, meat, fish and poultry but losses may occur during the steps taken in preparation for freezing, even so there may be less loss with frozen foods than that which have been in the produce department for too long. While the price may be higher for convenience, these alternatives still offer the same nutritional value as fresh foods. 

However, the production of safe frozen foods requires the same attention to good manufacturing practices and HACCP principles as the chilled or fresh counter part. Frozen business is very lucrative especially in Nigeria because of the growth in population.

Importance of Frozen Foods

1. Frozen foods retain their vitamins and minerals and there is no change to the carbohydrate, protein or fat content.

2. Frozen foods have more vitamins and minerals compared to fresh foods because fresh foods lose vitamins and minerals overtime while freezing preserves nutrient

3. Frozen foods improved texture, colour and taste over equivalent canned food 

4. Frozen food products have significant market share. The growth of the frozen food industry is influenced by socioeconomic charges and technological development

5. Frozen foods generally have an excellent overall safety record.

Thanks for reading!

Article by 

Adisa Aanuoluwapo

Food, Nutrients & Health

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References.

www.menhealth.com>nutrition>food

www.ag.ndsu.edu>food-nutrition>food