Buy vegetables and fruit that have been cut, is it still good?

When you go to the supermarket, nowadays you find lots of vegetables and fruit that have been cut into pieces. Vegetables have been grouped to make it easier for you to cook vegetables, such as soup, tamarind, lodeh, and others. The fruit has also been cut into small pieces, so you only have to eat it. Of course, this makes it very easy for you in the middle of your very many activities. However, are the vegetables and fruits that have been cut at the supermarket still good to buy?

Are chopped vegetables and fruit still good to buy?

Many supermarkets offer chopped vegetables and fruit for your convenience. On the one hand, this does make your job easier, but on the other hand, vegetables and fruit that have been cut have a different quality from those that have not been cut. Here are some reasons why pre-cut vegetables and fruit are not as good as uncut vegetables and fruit.

1. It's not fresh

The freshness of vegetables and fruits that have been cut and not cut is certainly different. Cutting vegetables and fruits can cause damage to cells in vegetables and fruit. Thus, this can lead to changes in the color, taste, texture, and moisture of vegetables and fruits. The water content in vegetables and fruit that has been cut can certainly evaporate, thereby reducing moisture. It can also reduce the shelf life of vegetables and fruits.

Carrots that have been cut into small pieces certainly cannot be stored for a long time compared to carrots that have been cut. Potatoes that have been cut can also turn brown in color. And, other changes that can occur.

2. Nutritional content has been slightly lost

Cutting vegetables and fruit can also strip a little of their nutritional value. Losing water after cutting can upset the acid or alkaline balance in some vegetables and fruits, thereby depriving them of their nutritional content. Some vitamins and minerals that are not heat-resistant can also evaporate after cutting vegetables and fruits, such as vitamin C.

3. Risk of contamination

Vegetables and fruit that have been cut certainly store microorganisms in higher numbers than whole vegetables and fruits. Cutting vegetables and fruit and the temperature during storage can cause the number of mesophilic aerobic microorganisms to increase. Although the vegetables and fruit that have been cut are placed in an airtight container, the process during cutting can increase the number of microorganisms contained in them.

Cutting with a knife, placing vegetables and fruit in a container, contacting vegetables and fruit with the hand handle, and other processes certainly increase the risk of vegetables and fruit being exposed to microorganisms. The microorganisms in vegetables and fruit can change the color, taste, and texture of vegetables and fruit.

Suggestion

Buying vegetables and fruit that have been cut can make it easier for you to process or eat them. However, cutting can reduce the quality of vegetables and fruit. For that, it's best to buy whole vegetables and fruits and then you can peel or chop them at home. Buying whole vegetables and fruits can also give you freedom when you want to use them because of their longer shelf life.