Of course, there is not always enough time to cook at home. But the risk of harm from convenience foods can be reduced by choosing the right foods.
Instructions
Step 1
First on the list of ingredients is the dominant product. You should choose semi-finished products, where beef, pork, chicken are indicated as the first product.
Step 2
The minced meat should have a distinct meaty consistency, not a viscous consistency. This eliminates the presence of artificial thickeners.
Step 3
Examine the packaging. If it is deformed, and the contents stick together, refuse to purchase - most likely, the product has been re-frozen.
Step 4
The shelf life of a product directly depends on the storage temperature in the store. If the temperature in the refrigerator display is maintained at - 18 °, semi-finished products are stored for up to six months. At -12 °, the shelf life is reduced to 1.5 months. At a temperature of -5 °, the product is already defrosting.
Step 5
Don't trust low prices. A high-quality semi-finished meat product cannot cost several times cheaper than a kilogram of natural meat.
Step 6
Cooking rules
It is important not only to choose a relatively harmless product, but also to prepare it in such a way as to minimize possible negative consequences. Most convenience foods do not need to be thawed, but they do take longer to cook than regular foods. So, semi-finished dumplings are cooked for 5-7 minutes, and homemade dumplings - 2-3 minutes. If you took out a semi-finished product from the freezer, eat the entire serving. Once thawed, the product must not be re-frozen.
Step 7
Do not get carried away with frying, exacerbating the already risky situation of eating semi-finished foods. Prefer steamed dishes.
