How RTE and Frozen Foods are made

Ready-To-Eat Food: -

The abbreviation of Ready-to-Eat Food is (RTE). The RTE food refer to the food products that are prepared and packaged in such a way that we can consume it directly just by assign some water so that the food becomes hot and can be processed in a proper manner. Basically, RTE food can be refer to as half processed food. This food can be half processed can be packaged in such a manner that it cannot get spoiled easily. There are some of the RTE food are there that can be consumed directly, it does not require any further processing and preparation. 

These types of food are designed for the convince and are often used in settings where time, equipment or culinary skills are limited. These types of food are specially designed for those people who are busy in their work life, and they don't have time to make foods for those people this type of food are designed so that when they come home, they get their RTE food and can process them quickly to make them eatable. 

Characteristics of Ready-to-Eat Food: -

1. No Further Cooking Required: -

• RTE foods are designed in such a way that these food items cannot be processed further as these items are packaged in their processed form. 

2. Convenience: -

• These food items are to be designed for quick and easy consumption that save our time and effort of cooking the food. These food items are beneficial for those people those are busy in their working life, and they don't have much time to cook food. 

3. Pre-Packaged and Hygienic: - 

• All the RTE food items are to be sold in a sealed package. Those sealed packages ensure the consumer that those food items are purely safe and hygienic. These sealed food items are ensuring the safety of the food item and can preserve freshness.

4. Shelf Life: - 

• There are some of the food items in the RTE foods that are perishable. The term perishable means that those food items require refrigeration while others can be stored at room temperature. 

5. Portability: -

• The RTE food items are often easy to carry with us if we are going on a trip. The RTE food items contain packages snacks and lunch items. So, we can take these items on trip and these food items are easy to carry and ideal for on-the-go eating.

6. Preservation Techniques: -

• Preservation of RTE food items is very important and there are numerous methods that are used to preserve the RTE food item. Methods like vacuum sealing, freezing, canning or by adding Preservatives that are used to extend the shelf life of the RTE foods that prevent them from spoilage.

7. Safety Standards: -

• It is necessary for all the companies who are producing RTE products that they have to meet the necessary guidelines of the food security. These food items must be produced under strict food safety guidelines to prevent the foo from contamination, because these food items cannot be cooked before eating. 

What is Frozen Food?

Frozen Foods: -

Frozen food is also referred to as freezing food. As it already clears from their name that frozen food is the food that are frozen. It is the food item that have been preserve in the refrigerators under the temperature which is below -18°C to preserve the food item. Frozen food is basically half processed food that is processed in their half state and then freeze it to prevent them from spoilage.  Basically, frozen food is any food that has been subjected to rapid freezing and is stored at low temperatures to prevent microbial growth and chemical changes that cause food deterioration.

Storing frozen food at lower temperature is necessary to prevent the microbial growth on the food item, to prevent them from spoilage and to maintain the taste of the food. Frozen food is the food that has been refrigerated to extend the shelf life of the food and to maintain its quality until it is ready to be cooked or eaten.

Characteristics of Frozen Food: -

1. Long Shelf Life: -

• Frozen food can be last long for months and for years also. Frozen food can be stored for weeks and months. Frozen food is half processed and can be stored it in lower temperature in the refrigerators which slower the bacteria growth and can reduce the chances of spoilage by extending its shelf life. 

2. Maintain Nutritional Value: -

• We all known that frozen food contains various vitamins, minerals and proteins that are essential for our body health so by keeping the frozen food in refrigerator or at lower temperature all its essential nutrients and proteins get frozen with the food which means frozen food maintain all its nutrition value with the food. It can only be done if the food is Frozen properly if there is proper freezing of the food then the food and its nutritional value both get spoiled but if freezing can be done properly then the nutrients and proteins of the food get retain especially when it is flash-frozen soon just after the harvesting or preparation.

3. Preserve Taste and Texture: -

• Freezing the frozen food at lower temperature cannot spoil its taste and texture. As frozen food maintain its nutritional value on freezing similarly, it can also maintain its taste and texture while on freezing at lower temperature. Modern freezing technique like flash-freezing help to maintain the original flavor, color and texture of the food, although there are some of the items like fruits may become softer after thawing.

4. Convenience: -

• Frozen foods are more convenient because it is pre-washed, pre-cut and pre-half and fully cooked which makes them very convenient for quick meal preparation. It is very convenient food for those people who are busy in their work life. Thus, type of food helps them to give the proper homemade food taste and nutrition.

5. Require Cold Storage: -

• It is necessary to keep the frozen food in the refrigerator at lower temperature where the temperature range of frozen food is -18°C or below to slower its microbial growth and to prevent it from spoilage. It is necessary to keep the frozen food in the cold temperatures to maintain its color, taste, texture and nutritional value.

6. Variety and Availability: -

• There are lot of varieties available in frozen food that owned by different companies not only in food items, but a single food item also owned by numerous companies that have different flavor, taste and texture. In other words, we can say that a wide range of food are available in frozen form including vegetables, fruits, seafood, meats, snacks and ready meal that are accessible all year round regardless of seasons.