Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator!
Experts say that improperly defrosted food can cause microorganisms to reproduce quickly, and it is important to maintain the cold chain throughout the defrosting process. Stating that the most effective and best way is refrigerator (+4 °C) conditions, Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay said that "To ensure the rapid defrosting of food, techniques such as the use of microwave ovens and rapid defrosting (contact with a metal container with high heat conduction or fluid cold water that does not come into contact with food) are also effective methods."
Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) Food Technology Program Head Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay made an assessment about frozen foods.
Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay stated that it is almost very difficult to give a definitive answer to the question 'Are frozen foods safe?' and continued as follows:
"The most important reason for this is that we, as consumers, can no longer produce the products we will consume due to the life model we have chosen. For this reason, it is extremely important today that the foods we consume are healthy, hygienic and reliable. There are many aspects to healthy and reliable food production, and one of them is refrigeration methods."
The cryogenic freezing method is an important development
Noting that cooling systems are one of the oldest methods and even in the first place in the production of healthy foods in the delivery of healthy, hygienic and reliable foods produced all over the world to the end consumer, Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay said:
"The cryogenic freezing method, which was developed by obtaining liquid nitrogen (its temperature is approximately -180 °C), is an important development in the storage and preservation of foods especially with technological developments in the recent past. We can also call this process the shock freezing method. Thanks to this method, foods containing a lot of water do not deteriorate while freezing, that is, texture properties such as taste, smell and appearance do not change."
Foods frozen in the refrigerator cannot preserve their old flavors when defrosted
Stating that foods frozen in a normal refrigerator cannot preserve their old taste and flavor when defrosted, Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay made the following remarks:
"The most important reason for this is that while freezing slowly, the water molecules in the food crystallize and cause an increase in volume, and therefore the cells in the food break down with the increase in volume and lose their original taste, smell and flavor.
Cryogenic frozen foods maintain their properties such as taste and smell
With the cryogenic method, water molecules are frozen without crystallization and without increasing volume. Even after a very long time, they preserve their original taste and smell when frozen foods are defrosted with this method.
In recent years, this method has been widely used. With this method, we can say that frozen foods are generally safe and long-lasting foods. However, they may pose health risks even if these processed foods are not grown, collected, stored and/or processed correctly and are frozen by shocking method."
Explaining that foods should be kept away from micro-organisms and chemical contamination at every stage of food production, Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay continued his remarks as follows:
"It is essential that foods, which are kept away from physical, chemical and microbial contamination at all stages such as planting, cultivation, collection, storage and processing, are frozen by shock freezing method, and that the content information is labeled and presented to the consumer."
What should be considered in frozen foods?
Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay listed the things to be considered in frozen foods as follows:
Freezing Process: Freezing quickly, preventing the multiplying of microorganisms
Storage Conditions: -18°C or lower temperature and hygienic conditions.
Manufacturer's Assurance: Necessary tests and inspections have been carried out on the safety of the products
Expiry Date and Storage Instructions: Not consuming expired foods
Transportation and Processing: Paying attention to the temperature of the foods in frozen form, consuming them immediately if defrosted and not re-freezing
Condition of Frozen Food: The packaging must be undamaged and if the food is not frozen, care should be taken before consuming.
Refreezing frozen foods after defrosting, foods with damaged labels (swollen, punctured, torn, etc.) and expired foods may contain high amounts of toxins and microorganisms. Therefore, it can pose a serious risk to health in case of consumption.”
The cold chain must be maintained throughout the defrosting process!
Asst. Prof. Salih Tuncay also noted that it is important to defrost frozen food safely and shared his views as follows: "Improperly defrosted foods can cause the rapid growth of microorganisms and endanger food safety. It is important to maintain the cold chain throughout the defrosting process. Therefore, we can say that the most effective and best way is refrigerator (+4 °C) conditions. Moreover, techniques such as the use of microwave ovens and rapid defrosting (contact with a metal container with high heat conduction or fluid cold water that does not come into contact with food) are also effective methods to ensure the rapid defrosting of foods.
Furthermore, fast consumption after defrosting and contact of food with clean surfaces are very important to prevent microbial contamination in defrosting processes.
In general, it is seen that the belief that frozen foods are of poor quality and unhealthy in terms of taste, smell and flavor is widespread in the society. On the contrary, frozen foods produced with the right techniques are generally safe. However, it is also very important to store and consume it correctly, considering the above factors. As a result, if frozen foods are carefully stored and produced while preserving their freshness and nutritional value, the health risks in terms of nutrition can be minimized, and thus we will protect our food for a very long time."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)