Frozen food vs. cooked food?

[moonstone523]

I was introducing two friends to eating raw and they posed this questions: Why is frozen food okay but cooked food isn't?


:confused:

[mongomango]

I was introducing two friends to eating raw and they posed this questions: Why is frozen food okay but cooked food isn't?


:confused:

Frozen food is still alive, cooked food is dead. If they have any doubt, let them consider reproductive material that is sometimes kept in a frozen state for years but will still, if desired, produce a baby.

[raw-siobhan]

Isnt it true that a great many veggies that are frozen were blanched prior to the freezing process?

[Ariannah]

Veggies yes, corn yes, and some stone/flesh fruits (peaches) are indeed blanched, but berries generally are frozen as-is.

[raw-siobhan]

I have found I really love the frozen peas...obviously blanched...I guess I am looking for someone to tell me it is alright...any takers??? I guess I have gotten used to getting the frozen stuff because it is so convenient, lasts longer, etcetera, etcetera...any opinions anyone???

[luckitri]

To me frozen is the equivalent of cooked. I still freeze those 'nanas that are on their way to rotten for a smoothie but I just would rather not.

[Ariannah]

I have found I really love the frozen peas...obviously blanched...I guess I am looking for someone to tell me it is alright...any takers??? I guess I have gotten used to getting the frozen stuff because it is so convenient, lasts longer, etcetera, etcetera...any opinions anyone???


You know they are blanched (which is a form of cooking). Why do you need someone else to tell you it is alright? You either want to eat them or you don't. Do you want to be 100% raw? If you do, the answer is clearly "No, don't eat the peas". If you don't, then naturally, do as you please.

The thing is, do what makes YOU happy.
:)

[moonstone523]

Okay, I don't eat frozen food that has been blanched. If it is frozen it is frozen by me after I buy it raw. Mainly bananas for smoothies.

My OP derives from a raw pie we had that was made, then frozen.

Why is it okay to freeze food?

[Nimmanu]

Okay, I don't eat frozen food that has been blanched. If it is frozen it is frozen by me after I buy it raw. Mainly bananas for smoothies.

My OP derives from a raw pie we had that was made, then frozen.

Why is it okay to freeze food?
One of the primary reasons why we eat raw foods is enzymes.

Cooking destroys enzymes, as well as probiotics. Freezing on a short term does not.

When you freeze something, a process begins, where the cells, over time, crystalize. If you eat the food within a reasonable period of time, the crystals inside the cells haven't had time to destroy the cells and the enzymes.

If you want something to last for an extremely long time, you flash freeze it. Something flash frozen at an extremely low temperature (liquid nitrogen, for example), will have no time to form crystals. This is what they do with sperm, etc.

Plants die at a much slower rate than humans or animals do. A branch removed from a tree, for example, will still be living for several days- sometimes weeks. If grafted onto another tree, it will grow again, as if it had never been removed (in many cases- assuming the grafting "takes").

This "slow" method of dying means that "life" is still contained in cells that have not been destroyed by crystalization. Meat is dead as soon as the animal stops supplying it with oxygen, nutrients, etc. Plants are not like this. Freezing stops the process of dying for the plant, yet will accellerate it after thawing. If you have ever eaten thawed strawberries, for example, you will notice that they are quick to go bad. This is because of the crystalization in the cells.

So you want to eat something that you thaw pretty quickly, usually, unless it has not been frozen very long.

[moonstone523]

One of the primary reasons why we eat raw foods is enzymes.

Cooking destroys enzymes, as well as probiotics. Freezing on a short term does not.

When you freeze something, a process begins, where the cells, over time, crystalize. If you eat the food within a reasonable period of time, the crystals inside the cells haven't had time to destroy the cells and the enzymes.

If you want something to last for an extremely long time, you flash freeze it. Something flash frozen at an extremely low temperature (liquid nitrogen, for example), will have no time to form crystals. This is what they do with sperm, etc.

Plants die at a much slower rate than humans or animals do. A branch removed from a tree, for example, will still be living for several days- sometimes weeks. If grafted onto another tree, it will grow again, as if it had never been removed (in many cases- assuming the grafting "takes").

This "slow" method of dying means that "life" is still contained in cells that have not been destroyed by crystalization. Meat is dead as soon as the animal stops supplying it with oxygen, nutrients, etc. Plants are not like this. Freezing stops the process of dying for the plant, yet will accellerate it after thawing. If you have ever eaten thawed strawberries, for example, you will notice that they are quick to go bad. This is because of the crystalization in the cells.

So you want to eat something that you thaw pretty quickly, usually, unless it has not been frozen very long.

Thanks. This was very helpful. :D

[DavidZaneMason]

Opinion:

-The ability to practically digest itself due to active enzymes is one of the main purposes of fresh, raw plant food (in my opinion). Freezing destroys many of these enzymes.....rendering it a less-than-optimal food (in my opinion). As pointed out above: foods that are frozen will often NOT regrow once thawed....but decay very quickly. What are they doing in YOUR system? Ha! ha! But if it helps you to transition - I say go for it! You have my 100% support!

-David Z. Mason

[mangosteen]

trader joe's has some delicious frozen corn, which they say is frozen immediately after harvest with no preservatives...soooo is it alright?

[emily]

No idea about Trader Joe's method, but I have heard that freezing food breaks down some of they enzymes and lessens the value of its vitamins and minerals. I don't know if this is true, and i was surprised to hear it. And... it won't kill you to eat the peas - this may be a silly way to put it, but when you get old, will you regret giving up frozen peas so you could keep a 100% raw standard, or will you regret eating the peas and not being 100% raw? Since we will die anyhow and it's not like you are eating ice cream and pizza, I would go for eating the peas if you like them that much.

[raw-siobhan]

I have to say those silly peas are so dang yummy...I wonder how long it would take to manually pull them from their pods. I am sure people do it...buy, oy, sounds time consuming. :)

[michelle allene]

You have to do whats good for YOU. While everyones opinions are good ones, YOU have to make the decision for you, not them. Blanched peas are okay, if thats what you want to do. Cooked peas are okay, if thats what you want. While 100% raw is the best for any one for that matter, a diet of 85% raw and 15% cooked IS OKAY. Go on the web site www.hacres.com and read all the thousands of testimonies of healing after healing for ALL diseases by Juicing, eating 85% raw and 15% cooked. My father in law changed to that and cured his stage 4 prostate cancer in 3 mos. He has also had severe artheritis, cronic sinus problems , and polyps in the colon go away also. Eat those blanched peas girl!! You will be fine. As long as thats all you do. Dont eat more than 15% cooked though.That said, blanched isnt even fully cooked. The only dangerous things you need tonot do is , eat meat, processed foods, and anything altered by man, and yada yada, you know what I mean. as raw as you can, preferably all, if you can. Success to you! :D

[mangosteen]

so i def email trader joes and they responded within about a week. at least i know that their frozen corn is not blanched!!! i am so excited. while fresh is always the best, i am moving to san francisco next fall and will not be able to secure some at all times. it is nice to know that the local trader joes carries a variety of raw frozen fruits and vegetables. :D

[NicoleDaboin]

Veggies yes, corn yes, and some stone/flesh fruits (peaches) are indeed blanched, but berries generally are frozen as-is.

So if berries are normally frozen as-is, when I go 100% raw, can I still eat my frozen blackberries, stawberries, and blueberries packed from Wal-mart?

I am so excited to go 100% raw and I am going to do so even if it does cost me a little bit more, but I LOVE berries and fresh are really expensive right now during the winter.

[Ariannah]

So if berries are normally frozen as-is, when I go 100% raw, can I still eat my frozen blackberries, stawberries, and blueberries packed from Wal-mart?

I am so excited to go 100% raw and I am going to do so even if it does cost me a little bit more, but I LOVE berries and fresh are really expensive right now during the winter.

I'm not an authority on the subject, but in my opinion frozen berries are an acceptable substitute. I occasionally eat frozen berries, blended in a smoothie. It goes without saying that fresh is substantially "better", but frozen does not destroy nearly the amount of enzymes and phytonutrients that cooked does.