As the old cliché goes, you are what you eat. Fresh food not only looks and tastes better — it’s also packed with the vitamins and nutrients our bodies require. When it comes to cooking, the quality of your ingredients can make or break a dish. Freshness is crucial to providing bright flavors, perfect texture, and maximum nutritional value. However, finding the freshest ingredients can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Here are three techniques to ensure you pick the freshest ingredients when visiting the grocery shop.
Use your senses
Visually checking fresh produce is the first way to pick the greatest goods. Bright, vibrant colours often signal when something is at perfect freshness.
Pick up each item and scrutinize it all around. Soft or discolored areas often signal that something is past its peak. With corn on the cob, peel back a portion of the husk to make sure that the variety you choose is in the optimum shape. For products in plastic packages, inspect the food from every angle, looking for signs of damage or decay.
Finally, give it a whiff. Fruits like pineapple and mango tend to give off a delicious smell when ripe.
Shop local
Some supermarkets feature signs pointing out the farms where the vegetables and other items they sell are farmed. Purchasing produce that is grown nearby gives you the assurance that it was gathered as quickly as possible and arrived on store shelves at its freshest.
Seasonal produce grown nearby is frequently less expensive than imports. Additionally, supporting local farmers and reducing your food’s carbon imprint are two benefits of shopping locally.
Be selective in where you shop
There’s nothing more annoying than pulling recently bought vegetables out of the refrigerator to use for a meal only to discover it’s rotten. Find out the return policy of the store that you prefer. For instance, Loblaw supermarkets provide a “Fresh Promise” guarantee that states that if you’re not happy with any produce you buy in-store, they’ll replace it and give you a total refund within seven days.
Choosing ingredients can be made smarter if you consider appearance, texture, and scent. Not only do fresh ingredients improve the flavor of your food, but they also improve nutrition and overall wellness. Have fun in the kitchen!
Learn more at: https://newscanada.com/en/3-ways-to-know-you-re-selecting-the-freshest-ingredients-139569
Reference: https://newscanada.com/
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