Fresh, frozen herbs: true or false?
I recently accepted a free shipment of herbs from Daregal Gourmet. During the holidays, every marketer is reaching out to try and touch you and I: the consumer. Most cooks are personally familiar with fresh and dried herbs. Fresh, frozen herbs, however, are a curious proposition. For one, herbs are highly perishable. If greens aren’t frozen properly (usually blanched first), enzymatic and chemical activity can damage pigment, cell walls, and also essential vitamins (specifically vitamin C). This means they turn limp and colorless when you take them out, and may lose some of their nutritional value. Many times this information is unavailable on a company site, and it takes weeks to wrangle it out of those who respond to customer email.
I thought I would give it a shot, provided (and agreed) I was allowed to say as I pleased and obtain any information needed from my Daregal corespondent. Until companies are more forthcoming and honest with their product information, investigative work seems the only practical solution to new foods. Besides, I am not one to be enticed by free food alone, but I do love experimenting with ‘em.
I also wanted to hear from all of you how you feel about solicited reviews. Are they ever useful? Bloggers, do you accept these requests or turn them down on principle?
My Daregal Gourmet frozen herbs just arrived, looking all sinister in their styrofoam box that should have held a heart, surrounded by dry ice with the warning:
WARNING
DRY ICE!
EXTREMELY COLD (-109F). DO NOT HANDLE WITH BARE HANDS, MAY CAUSE BURNS, DO NOT ENTER CONFINED AREAS WHERE USED OR STORED UNTIL ADEQUATELY VENTILATED. SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE LIBERATES HEAVY CO2 VAPOR WHICH MAY CAUSE SUFFOCATION.
Oh boy. Better take this downstairs and leave it for my Super. At first glance, Daregal Gourmet looks like a tower of synthetic and barely legal products.
Seeing them, the purist in me immediately responded with EEEK. But Marion Nestle has said many times that frozen fruits and vegetables are highly underrated. Herbs too? I want to test it out. I will momentarily reserve my judgment on the packaging and delivery of these herbs.
On Daregal’s site it says these babies are picked off their stems, washed, and frozen within 3 hours of being harvested. Blanched? Dunno. But I will find out. Their instructions for use (to sprinkle the frozen herbs on food) is quite disconcerting, but I don’t follow anyone’s instructions anyway.
I stuffed them in my freezer while I ponder the right meal to use the parsley, basil, dill, oregano or Italian blend. More to come.
I’ve been debating the solicited reviews thing. I’ve been rejecting them on principle because the idea of it just doesn’t seem to fit with the vibe of my blog, which is about what I cook and where I eat, but mainly as a vehicle for the wanderings of my own life. Where does a product review fit into there? So far it just seems like it doesn’t, but I was sad turning down wheels of brie and pans of brownies recently.
December 13th, 2008 at 2:01 amHmmm…I’ve accepted one, but only because it was a product that I felt okay about promoting. I wavered (POM had a history of animal testing), but finally determined that they had renounced that enough fro me to embrace the endorsement. Plus, there was a challenge aspect to it…
December 16th, 2008 at 5:44 pmI’ve turned others down, though, because they seemed out of touch with my general cooking style.
I am always up to try new things and think that it is completely ok to accept shipments of new food items. Who better to review than a foodie. My friends would rather me try them first and let them know. Anyway, I would love frozen herbs.
December 21st, 2008 at 9:57 pmSoopling: Yea, this was my initial reaction. Then I thought about those shopping at the grocery store day in and out and wondering how a particular product is, and whether it is ever worthy of a try. I thought, while I may not use this product, it would be helpful to provide an honest and thorough opinion. Then the shipment arrived during the holidays. Heh. Haven’t used it yet.
Micha: Yea, I agree. I guess I am really intrigued by the investigative reporting aspect. For instance, can a frozen herb be fresh, flavorful, and actually healthy?
Gin: Thanks for the comment Gin. My sentiments exactly. I think it is helpful to get an honest opinion from someone who cares and can be thorough enough to research the product.
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