In this busy world, there is hardly any time and patience to cut fresh veggies every day and use them for cooking. Recently, people have begun opting for frozen vegetables which are a smart cook’s closest friend. It saves a lot of time and hassle in the kitchen and helps with quick food preparation.
The best part of frozen veggies is that they come in handy at the last-minute preparation or while catering to a large number of guests. Although they are useful and serve the needs of the cook, it is quite important to note the way they are cooked. Often people might not get the desired result. Sometimes the veggies get either boiled more or remain hard. The dish may also turn out to be bland, owing to the improper cooking of the frozen veggies. However, no need to worry. This article will provide five mistakes that people usually make while cooking frozen veggies and tips to avoid them. Take a look:
- Not Thawing
One of the common mistakes that people make is to prepare frozen veggies without thawing them first. This is the primary mistake that must be avoided. Thawing is a simple process which means warming up the frozen veggies a bit in the microwave or letting them sit at room temperature for a while. The process helps in cooking the veggies evenly and prevents excess moisture so that the frozen items remain nice and tasty.
- Cooking Without Seasoning
Something frozen vegetables taste bland. This is due to the lack of natural sweetness and crunchiness that the fresh veggies contain. Adding extra flavour and seasoning may help to enhance the overall taste of the dish. Next time, sprinkle some salt, pepper, dry herbs, or even a dash of lemon juice to make them tasty.
- Overcooking
People often have a common misconception that frozen veggies need a longer time to cook. However, it is wrong. Frozen vegetables cook way faster than fresh ones. Leaving frozen vegetables on cooking can cause them mushy and lose their flavour. Thus, it is important to have a time management to perfectly cook the frozen veggies.
- All Frozen Veggies Need Cooking
It is to be noted that all frozen veggies do not need cooking. Just like frozen fruits, frozen veggies like carrots, sweet corn, and others don’t need to be cooked. It can be brought to room temperature and consumed thereafter. This would ensure that they remain crunchy. Next time when using it, defrost them a bit and toss them into the salad.
- Not Drying
The most common mistake while cooking frozen veggies is not drying after thawing. After thawing the desired veggies, place them on a paper towel to remove extra water and moisture. Using the veggies directly after thawing would make them soggy and lose their taste. Patting them dry before tossing them in the pan would ensure that the result is crunchy.