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March is Nationwide Frozen Meals Month. Clarence Frank Birdseye II is named the inventor of frozen meals. He was additionally a pioneer in meals preservation, in line with Teresa Henson, Extension specialist-program outreach coordinator for the College of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences.
“Birdseye’s work stemmed from working within the Arctic, the place he was amazed at how the Arctic natives processed their fish by conserving it chilly utilizing a freezing methodology,” Henson mentioned in a information launch. “Because the method was a giant hit, he found out methods to freeze different meals corresponding to fruit and veggies.”
His experiment led him to create the “fast freeze machine” in 1930. The creation has since flooded the meals frozen market with billions of {dollars} vested within the business by customers and companies, Henson mentioned.
The style and high quality of frozen meals have vastly improved since 1930. Throughout March, many shops supply gross sales on frozen meals, together with greens and fruit. Frozen fruit and greens are often picked, processed and frozen inside 24 hours, she mentioned. In winter, due to the fast turnaround time for processing frozen greens and fruit, these meals might have extra vitamins than their recent counterparts and generally is a more healthy choice.
“To be on the trail to good well being, it is best to eat totally different colours of fruit and veggies. It’s best to ‘eat the rainbow,'” Henson mentioned. “Attempt to make not less than half your plate fruits and/or greens.”
Frozen produce is a handy method to eat extra fruit and veggies, she mentioned. They will simply be added to many recipes. Some kinds of frozen produce could be merely thawed and added to salads. Choices for this embody corn, peas and inexperienced beans.
Frozen greens are additionally nice additions to stews, soups, stir-fry and different cooked dishes. Frozen greens and fruits are a wholesome choice — they’ve loads of nutritional vitamins, fiber and vitamins.
“Look on bundle labels for frozen produce that doesn’t have added fats, salt or sugar,” Henson mentioned. “As a substitute of shopping for greens in sauces or fruits in syrups, search for choices which might be simply the frozen fruit or vegetable. They would be the most versatile as a result of you may add them to totally different dishes in parts you select and season them any means you need.”
The idea of freezing meals has made it handy for everybody to arrange easy, scrumptious and wholesome meals, she mentioned. Nevertheless, there are meals security pointers you’ll want to comply with when storing meals within the fridge and freezer. Take a look at the Chilly Meals Storage Chart at https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts. The chart highlights meals in line with the proper temperature to freeze, and refrigeration.
For a straightforward, wholesome dinner alternative that makes use of frozen greens, attempt the potpie recipe under, Henson mentioned. The recipe serves six.
Straightforward Rooster Pot Pie
Elements
1 2/3 cups frozen combined greens (thawed)
1 cup cooked rooster (cutup)
1 can cream of rooster soup, low-fat (10 3/4 oz, condensed)
1 cup baking combine, decreased fats (corresponding to Jiffy Combine or Bisquick)
1/2 cup milk (nonfat)
1 egg
Instructions
Wash fingers and any cooking surfaces. Preheat oven to 400 levels. Combine greens, rooster and soup in an ungreased, 9-inch pie plate. Stir remaining elements in a mixing bowl with fork till blended. Pour over greens and rooster in pie plate. Bake half-hour or till golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve.
Supply: Texas Cooperative Extension, the Texas A&M College System
