Can You Roast Frozen Vegetables?
Growing up, you may have heard a parental figure spout out the following phrase, "Eat your vegetables!" Well, it turns out there's more to consuming veggies than just the basic vitamin stuff. A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics explains that higher consumption of vegetables results in higher subjective happiness scores, at least, regarding the source's randomized controlled trial. And it doesn't have to be a whole lot of veggies either, as the participants were only eating 2.5 cups worth per day, according to Mindbodygreen.
Vegetables may also help to reduce the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and heart disease, per EatingWell. Such a rainbow of goodies is quite versatile to work with as well, as many love to be steamed, pan-fried, grilled, or roasted. While fresh veggies are usually the way to go, frozen options are generally cheaper and last longer in comparison, per AARP, so there's no shame in filling your freezer up with them. But when it comes time to get the roasting process going, one may wonder how frozen veggies will hold up in the oven. So let's settle this debate, shall we?
No need to thaw
Yes! Frozen vegetables are absolutely fine to roast, and Well + Good offers some basic tips on how to do so. Just take your frozen veggies (no thawing required), put them on a baking sheet, and season with some salt, avocado oil, garlic, and/or herbs. Healthy Delicious suggests roasting a 16 oz. bag of frozen veggies at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes, flipping or stirring them at the halfway mark.
Granted, the types of vegetables you choose matter as well. For example, if you're dealing with firm root ones like beets, carrots, or parsnips, you may need to keep them in the oven for a bit longer. On the other hand, options like tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini need less cooking time because they tend to be softer, according to HealWithFood.
After your veggies are perfectly crispy and roasted, feel free to add some lemon juice, parmesan cheese, or extra herbs on top to elevate the presentation and taste, per Kitchn. All that's left to do now is sit back, enjoy, and marvel at how easy it is to roast almost any bag of frozen veggies.