Let's save vitamins: how to properly prepare vegetables for the winter

Canned, salted or pickled products do not always retain all the beneficial properties of the original product. Often, vitamins and minerals are destroyed during processing, which significantly reduces the value of such products.

According to nutritionists, the best way to preserve the nutritional value of vegetables is to freeze them. Unlike pickling or marinating, freezing practically does not cause a loss of nutrients. Experts note that canning with salt and vinegar, on the contrary, has an adverse effect on health, since the content of these components in ready-made products can be excessive.

The only exception, according to experts, is pickling cabbage and barrel salting of cucumbers. In these cases, during the fermentation process, bifido- and lactobacilli, which are beneficial for digestion, appear in the product. Nevertheless, experts recommend not to get carried away with the abundant use of salt, as this can negatively affect life expectancy, contributing to the development of hypertension.

In order to preserve the maximum nutritional properties of vegetables when freezing them, you should follow several important rules. First, it is necessary to carry out preliminary heat treatment - blanching. This procedure helps to preserve vitamins and minerals, preventing their destruction at low temperatures. The second important point is the freezing speed. The faster the vegetables are frozen, the less time for the breakdown of nutrients. For this, it is recommended to use special shock freezers.

In addition, when preparing vegetables for the winter, you should minimize the use of salt, vinegar and other preservatives. Although these ingredients extend the shelf life, they can also destroy vitamins. It is also important to choose the right container for freezing - glass jars or food-grade plastic best preserve products from the effects of oxygen and moisture.

Thus, a competent approach to preparing vegetables for the winter allows you not only to extend their shelf life, but also to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients. By choosing freezing over pickling and marinating, you can delight yourself and your loved ones with fresh, natural products from your own garden all year round.