Tips in Choosing Frozen Food

Frozen food is a favorite choice for mothers because it can be used anytime when needed. However, there are some things that mothers should pay attention to in choosing frozen food products. Because if you choose carelessly, frozen food even risks being contaminated and ultimately endangers health.

Marketing Manager of PT So Good Food Any Astuti said there were several things that must be considered in choosing frozen food. First, mothers must pay attention to the name of the producer or brand of the frozen food product. Usually, well-known manufacturers or brands have obtained various certifications that guarantee the quality and health of their products — for example, ISO and also Halal labels. Moreover, getting a certification or Halal label is not easy.

"That is because there are many criteria that must be met and must pass through the stages of strict supervision and inspection," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Any added the second thing that must be considered is the product. When buying frozen food, of course, it must be frozen. That is because if frozen food undergoes a thawing process to room temperature, it will potentially experience contamination. Third, the thing to note is that frozen food must be of good quality. For example, just frozen chicken meat must remain springy and have a fresh color or not change color.

According to Any, it is very important to maintain the freezing temperature of these frozen food products in order to prevent the thawing process. There is a way to find out the condition of frozen packaging products that have been contaminated or cannot be seen from the form of the packaging. When it is contaminated, usually, the product packaging is bulging, and the product inside the packaging is destroyed and is no longer in perfect shape. So only buy frozen meat from reputable frozen meat suppliers to ensure the quality of the products.

In addition, continued Any, frozen food may not undergo a thawing process many times. So frozen food is only thawed if you want to use it. Even for fast-frozen meals such as NuGet and meatballs, you should not experience a long cooling process because it can be processed directly after being removed from the cooler. "If frozen food is only partially used, it is better than the rest of the frozen food is kept tightly in a container. To prevent contamination, " she explained.

However, Any added that it was different from being treated to frozen raw foods — for example, frozen chicken meat. If you want to use it should be thawed not in an open room. But it is placed at the bottom of the refrigerator, not in the freezer, or usually called a chiller. This is to keep the freshness of the chicken meat awake.

"For example, the frozen chicken meat you want to use in the morning. So, the night before the frozen chicken meat was removed from the freezer and put in a chiller," she concluded.