Asiago Food 
The introduction of freezing techniques in the food industry has been a breakthrough in food preservation. Thanks to these processes, even perishable products can be safely and durably preserved.
The quality and hygienic safety of a frozen product are linked to the rapid decrease in temperature to -18°C and the strict maintenance of the cold chain. However, properly thawing a food before its actual use is equally important to preserve its safety and organoleptic and nutritional properties.
It is therefore essential to know the correct thawing methods, and to help us with this, the manufacturing companies provide instructions on product labels to prepare them in the best way possible.
Thawing methods
Depending on the characteristics of the food and the available time, there are different methods to thaw a product: allowing it to thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature, under cold running water, using the defrost function of the microwave oven, or cooking the product while it is still frozen.
THAWING IN THE REFRIGERATOR
Thanks to a low and constant temperature, the refrigerator is the safest place to thaw frozen food that is particularly susceptible to bacterial contamination. This is the case for fish and meat such as steaks, ground meat, and poultry, which should be placed inside a container to collect any liquids. This method is also optimal for fruits and vegetables that do not require cooking.
THAWING UNDER RUNNING WATER
Thawing frozen items under cold running water can serve as an effective method to quickly defrost meat and fish (properly wrapped in plastic) while inhibiting the proliferation of bacteria. On the other hand, using hot or lukewarm running water is not recommended, as is soaking.
MICROWAVE DEFROSTING
The microwave defrost function is an effective and fast defrosting method for many products. However, it is necessary to set the temperature correctly on your appliance to prevent it from starting the cooking process. If you are dealing with easily perishable foods such as meat, you should cook it immediately after defrosting.
COOKING WITHOUT THAWING
In most cases, the frozen product should not be thawed, but rather cooked directly into a pot, pan, or oven. This method is ideal for preparing most frozen vegetables, legumes, mushrooms, ready-made dishes in general (pizzas, snacks, pasta dishes, soups, side dishes), and various types of small-sized fish and meat (fillets, burgers).
How to properly defrost Asiago Food products
Asiago Food products, depending on the instructions provided on the packaging, have a proper thawing and preparation method.
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Frozen mushrooms and vegetables
Frozen mushrooms and vegetables such as asparagus and artichokes do not need to be thawed. It will be sufficient to quickly rinse them, if necessary, and cook them directly in a pan or in the oven according to your recipe, just like fresh produce. This way, they will retain their vitamins, flavors, and original colors, while maintaining a good texture as they will not release too much water. If you want to cook large mushrooms like whole porcini mushrooms, simply leave them at room temperature for a few moments to easily slice them before cooking.
Asiago Food frozen porcini mushroom
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Grilled vegetables
Grilled peppers, eggplant and zucchini can be prepared as desired in your own recipes, or by simply cooking them for a few minutes in a frying pan, conventional oven, or microwave.
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Frozen fruits
Strawberries, cherries, smoothies, mangoes, and avocados are perfect to use while still frozen for making smoothies, ice creams, jams, and various recipes. If you wish to consume them as they are, in yogurt or in a fruit salad, you can let them thaw inside the refrigerator or at room temperature in a covered container. Alternatively, you can use the microwave to heat the product for a few minutes (at 150-200W or on defrost mode).
The treatment is different for frozen berries such as blueberries, blackberries, wild strawberries, currants, and raspberries, which are recommended to be consumed after a brief boiling or used in preparations that undergo cooking, such as baked goods, jams, and coulis.
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Piatti pronti surgelati
The convenience and speed of preparation are a major strength of ready-made products: soups, lasagnas, veggie burgers and fries, legumes, appetizers, and side dishes can be cooked in just a few minutes directly from frozen, following the methods and timings indicated on the packaging.
Asiago Food frozen veggie burgers
It is crucial to always remember that once thawed, frozen products should not be frozen again and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
