Woman prepares 15 days of homemade pre-made meals at one time, sparking heated discussion What are pre-made meals? Can you make them yourself?

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Woman prepares 15 days of homemade pre-cooked meals at one time

Aroused heated discussion among netizens

"If you can't beat them, join them"

Everyone started to question the pre-prepared meals

Understanding Pre-Prepared Meals

The Ultimate Homemade Meal

In the fast-paced urban life

More and more people are seeking

Time-saving and simple cooking process

Homemade pre-prepared meals become the new favorite of office workers

It does not bring health concerns like takeout.

The cooking process will not be too complicated

However

Is this seemingly perfect solution really feasible?

What considerations will it bring?

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What are pre-prepared meals?

Pre-prepared meals, also known as ready-to-eat meal packages, are prepared by processing ingredients in advance to make complete or partially finished products. During the production process, some auxiliary materials may be added, and sometimes food additives are also used. After these steps, pre-prepared meals usually have a long shelf life and are very convenient to use.

Pre-prepared meals save the trouble of buying, cleaning and cutting ingredients, which can minimize the input of manpower, space and cost . From the perspective of food safety, pre-prepared meals are often safer than the food provided by the restaurants we visit on a daily basis. Therefore, many of the takeaways we often order are made from pre-prepared meals.

What’s wrong with pre-prepared meals?

Although pre-prepared meals are convenient, they also have some potential problems. First, the taste of pre-prepared meals is usually standardized , which may not meet the needs of different consumers for food diversity and personalization, and it is difficult to reproduce the unique flavor of home cooking.

Secondly, the taste of pre-prepared dishes may not be as good as freshly cooked dishes. Since the ingredients of pre-prepared dishes have been heated once, consumers need to reheat them before eating, which may affect the taste and freshness of the food .

In addition, many pre-prepared meals are preserved by freezing, and the ice crystals formed during the freezing process may change the texture of the food, resulting in a reduced taste when eaten, and may even have a "powdery" feeling.

The nutritional content of prepared meals may also be relatively simple, as they are often meat-based, with limited vegetable choices, usually those that are shelf-stable and not easy to discolor, such as carrots, peas and bamboo shoots. This may lead to insufficient vitamins and minerals in prepared meals. At the same time, these meat-based prepared meals may contain high fat and salt content, which may be unhealthy if consumed for a long time.

Is it possible to make your own prepared meals?

So, is it possible to make your own pre-prepared meals in order to achieve both convenience and health?

The main storage method for homemade pre-prepared meals is "freezing" . This is indeed an effective way to preserve food. It inhibits biochemical reactions in food by lowering the temperature, thereby slowing down the spoilage process and the growth of microorganisms, ensuring food safety. However, freezing has different effects on different ingredients, especially vegetables with high water content**, such as green leafy vegetables and tomatoes, which are not suitable for long-term frozen storage . The following are some of the effects of freezing on ingredients:

(1) Nutrition loss

During the freezing process, especially for vegetables that have been blanched, water-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin C and B vitamins) are easily lost during the thawing process, resulting in a decrease in nutritional value.

(2) Changes in taste and texture

The freezing and thawing process may change the taste and texture of food, especially for vegetables with high water content, which may cause them to become soft and lose their original crispy taste.

(3) Dietary diversity

Long-term reliance on frozen foods may lead to a lack of fresh ingredients in the diet, thus affecting the diversity and nutritional balance of the diet. For example, the recommended daily intake of vegetables for adults is 300-500 grams, fruits is 200-350 grams, and dairy products is 300-500 grams.

If you rely primarily on frozen foods, you may ignore these recommended intakes and end up with an unbalanced diet.

When preparing food, which ones are suitable for freezing?

(1) Whole grains

Whole grains are suitable for freezing because they contain relatively little water. Freezing can extend their shelf life and preserve their freshness and nutrients.

(2) Root vegetables

Root vegetables are large and difficult to eat all at once, so they are suitable for cutting and freezing. Freezing after blanching can reduce cooking time and maintain taste and nutrition.

(3) Large pieces of meat

For large pieces of meat such as beef, pork, and lamb, freezing them after packaging can reduce the number of repeated thawing, avoid bacterial growth and deterioration of taste. Frozen meat can maintain its freshness and flavor.

When eating homemade pre-prepared meals, you can pair them with some raw vegetables such as cucumbers, cherry tomatoes or tomatoes to supplement your nutrition , truly combining convenience and nutrition!

Homemade prepared meals

It is a convenient choice for fast-paced life

Homemade prepared meals require

Reasonable planning and balanced matching

While enjoying the convenience

Develop a healthy lifestyle too!