The Major Red Flag To Look Out For When Buying Frozen Veggies

Frozen vegetables are a useful ingredient to have in your kitchen for when you don't have any fresh ones, but there's one thing you'll want to look for when you're shopping for them at the supermarket. If you're eyeing a bag, just pull it out of the freezer and give it a gentle squeeze — if there are no giant clumps of frozen veggies in it, you should be good to go. But if you notice any unusual frozen lumps in the package (in something like peas, for example), I recommend you reach for a different bag until you find one that's lump-free.

That's because the clumping could indicate that the frozen vegetables once got to a temperature where they thawed slightly, and then when they froze back up, they clung together into one big chunk. The large mass isn't necessarily a big concern, but frozen veggies which have that feature , which makes the resulting cooked version tough and leathery (kind of like an unappealing veggie jerky), which isn't so fun to eat. I'd liken this quick check to the examination you should give a carton of eggs to ensure none are cracked, because a moment or two of due diligence can prevent you from disappointment later.



Don't let frozen veggies sit in the freezer for too long Even though it's easy to think of frozen vegetables as an ingredient you can keep in the freezer forever, you're going to want to use them up within a reasonable amount of time. I can't tell you how many times I've reached into the back to discover a bag that was completely freezer burned and useless. (I know, I know.

) While, no, you don't have to rush to use them immediately like you would fresh vegetables, it's a good idea to just use them sooner than later. The recommended window of opportunity for frozen produce is 8 to 12 months, but they easily run the risk of dreaded freezer burn before then. Hoarding them won't do you any favors, so if you're desperate for a quick side or soup, go ahead and use them up.

A good bonus is that , so they're still a healthy product to consume. There's no time to use them like the present, anyway. You can even save time by .

But you certainly want to hedge your bets, so make sure you get a bag that's in decent shape to begin with. That means no lumps, chunks, or blocks. This is an easy way to sift out any potentially lousy bags from the good ones.

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