Fresh, Dried, Canned or Frozen

07 March 2012 Chef Sharwin Tee No comments

Everyone knows that with food, fresh is almost always better. That’s in an ideal world, though, where every woman has Nigella’s or Giada’s time and Ina’s resources, or every guy has Emeril’s boundless energy and Bobby’s unseen assistants. In the real world, where everyone (well, almost everyone) works for a living and/or takes care of other people, some shortcuts may be taken. Which ones won’t compromise your food too much?

Green Peas: “Frozen is Fine”

No one should be a martyr and open up fresh peas one at a time. Frozen peas are actually a very good substitute and barely anyone will notice the difference. Canned peas may not be as good an alternative though. The frozen ones can still take on some heat, especially when you drop them in frozen. The canned ones may discolor when heat is added to them.

Corn Kernels: “Canned is the Lesser Evil”

English Steakhouse Style Creamed Corn

Let’s get this straight. Nothing can replace fresh corn. Nothing. (Just to be clear, I’m saying nothing here.) Since corn cooks pretty fast and easy, it would make sense to use fresh corn all the time. However, in case of an emergency, canned corn is the next best thing (by a mile, however). Most canned corn is still pretty crunchy with good color, and they can still take on some heat from cooking. Giving them a quick rinse once out of the can will help ensure they are not salty. Frozen corn may not work as well: they’re usually less plump and juicy.

Beans: “Canned is Key”

Kudos to you if you want to cook dried beans for hours to get a more authentic taste. There are plenty of websites with great tips to get your dried beans done perfectly. For those in a hurry to fix up some baked beans or chilli, though, canned beans will do fine. They come pretty soft so you must watch the cooking times carefully. Don’t throw away the liquid in the can as well. Adding that to the dish helps make the broth richer and thicker.

Spinach: “Even Popeye Would Approve of Frozen”

Creamed spinach and bacon

Frozen spinach is an acceptable alternative if fresh is not available. Besides, fresh spinach is quite the workout to clean, especially if you’re on a tight schedule. They usually still have a lovely dark green color but cooking time must be monitored. It’s also best to defrost the spinach and squeeze out all the water in them before adding them to the recipe. Canned spinach is very rare and not exactly a great thing either.