Mishry Rating
SUPERB!
Summary
Safal’s frozen vegetables are fresh and look vibrant. We liked the sweet tasting carrots and peas. These did not lose out on their texture after cooking as well. Convenient to use, they can help save time and effort in the kitchen.
In the battle of fresh vs frozen, fresh always wins. Well, almost. But before you shut down the idea of using frozen veggies, like most of us, here’s what you need to know. Some studies suggest that frozen vegetables retain their nutrients as much as fresh ones. And of course, they are extremely convenient.
We tested a bag of frozen vegetables by Safal in our review lab using two widely-cooked Indian recipes – mixed vegetables and vegetable biryani. The results indicated freshness and crunch. What else did we find out? Read the entire Safal Frozen Mixed Vegetables review.
Table of Contents
Safal Frozen Mixed Vegetables – Quick Glance
| Safal Frozen Vegetables | Product Information |
| Price | Rs 70/- |
| Net weight | 500 gm |
| Vegetables used | Carrots, Cauliflower, Beans, Peas |
| Shelf life | 12 months |
| Add to cart | On Amazon |
| Mishry rating | 4 |
Our Review Factors
Our review parameters to test the Safal Frozen Mixed Vegetables are as follows –
1. Taste
Individually, how fresh do the vegetables taste? Is their flavor retained? Sweet peas and carrots or do these taste stale?
2. Texture
A lot of people have experienced and complained that frozen vegetables become watery and limp after cooking. This is because frozen vegetables have a higher water content than fresh produce as they are frozen right after harvesting.
Moreover, the method of cooking you choose also determines the texture of the vegetables. For example – these vegetables are blanched before freezing, so boiling them for long will change the texture entirely. And freezing them after thawing would do the same. So depending on the recipe, frozen vegetables can be thawed before adding to a recipe or dipped in tepid water for a few minutes before adding to the pan.
Wilted, soft, mushy, limp or crunchy and fresh? Do the vegetables retain a certain bite after cooking?
3. Appearance
How colorful and vibrant do the vegetables look? Do they look fresh and pleasing? Any wilted, brown-black chunks? Are they cut evenly or is there a huge difference in the size of the vegetables?
4. Freshness & Quality
The taste, texture and appearance together are indicators of freshness and quality.
As per the pack, Safal’s vegetables are frozen by using IQ technique (Individual Quick Freezing) where each and every piece is frozen individually. In this process, the cells do not rupture or damage, thus preserving the natural nutrition and flavor of the vegetables.
5. Others
Ingredients
We checked for the combination of vegetables used along with any added preservatives, sugar or salt.
Price
A 500 gm bag is priced at Rs 70/-. Is this value for money?
Packaging
How well are these packed? Does that help retain freshness for longer?
Shelf life
These have a shelf life of 12 months. Is that a duration recommended for consuming frozen vegetables?
Safal Frozen Mixed Vegetables – Detailed Review
Ingredients – No preservatives, salt or sugar here. Just four vegetables in mixed quantities including peas, carrots, green beans and cauliflower.
Appearance – The vegetables have vibrant colors and look fresh. They are not wilted. Orange colored carrots, green peas and beans along with off-white cauliflower florets. The beans and carrots are cut uniformly. The size of the cauliflower florets seem larger in comparison, which may impact the overall cooking time. But more on that ahead.
Our experience – These are pre-chopped vegetables, so definitely convenient. It saves us time and effort that goes into basic meal prep, i.e washing, peeling and chopping. We made a classic onion-tomato based mixed vegetable and a homestyle biryani using the ITC Master Chef Vegetable Biryani Paste. During both our cooking experiences, we noticed that the vegetables cook fast and need not be pre-cooked/boiled before they are added to the gravy. The vegetables cook in the gravy itself. So these are time-saving through and through.
Keeping in mind the fresh flavor of the vegetables, these can be used to make simple continental dishes like baked vegetables or cutlets.
Taste and texture – Fresh! The carrots and peas are sweet, the beans are juicy and the cauliflower tastes mild. During our testing we did not miss the taste of fresh vegetables, as these taste just like that. The carrots and beans are not stringy, and have a crunchy bite. The cauliflower, even though larger in comparison, cooks well and has that soft, firm bite. Although peas tend to get mushy too quickly, that wasn’t the case here. The sweet-tasting peas retained their natural bite.
Pros
- Fresh tasting vegetables. The carrots and peas are sweet tasting.
- We liked how all the vegetables retain their texture. Crunchy carrots and beans.
- Convenient to use. Time and effort saving.
- Vibrant looking vegetables which are cut evenly, adding to the overall look and feel.
- No preservatives, salt or sugar added to enhance the taste.
Best Suited For
Need vegetables that taste fresh and cut down on time and effort during meal prep? Safal’s frozen veggies are the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are frozen food items good for health?
Frozen RTE meals that have a lot of preservatives and additives should be avoided and not be compared to fresh produce which has been frozen. Freezing fresh fruits and vegetables can retain nutrition, flavor and their color. There are several studies to support this.
2. Do these frozen vegetables contain preservatives?
No. There are no preservatives in these frozen vegetables.
3. Do these frozen vegetables retain nutrients like in the fresh ones?
Yes. As per some studies, frozen vegetables retain their nutrients when processed and stored correctly.
4. How to maintain these vegetables after unpacking?
It is best to store them in a zip lock bag or seal the pack they arrived in properly. Keep them in the freezer at -18 degree Celsius.
5. What are the steps taken to keep these frozen vegetables fresh and nutritious?
First and foremost, veggies are frozen soon after they are harvested which help maintain nutrients and texture. These vegetables are also blanched before they are frozen to retain maximum nutrition, flavor and color.
Final Verdict
Have you used frozen vegetables to make everyday meals? If yes, how was your experience?
