How to Roast Frozen Vegetables

Here at Tommy’s Superfoods, we are big fans of frozen vegetables. While fresh, locally grown vegetables can’t be beat for making amazing meals when they’re in season, there’s a great deal to be said for the convenience of having frozen vegetables on hand. They’re great for reducing food waste, and can certainly save the day when you’re super busy or provide your favorite flavors of summer when cold winter weather arrives.

Organic, or Non GMO Project Verified frozen veggies are highly nutritious, often less expensive, and taste just as good as their fresh counterparts (and during the winter season, even better!). Buying your favorite vegetables frozen allows you to enjoy their fresh-picked flavor out of season, without having to buy produce that’s been shipped from thousands of miles away and taste less than amazing.

Love the convenience of frozen veggies, but not the flavor? This one trick will change your mind!

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Studies have shown that frozen vegetables are now just as nutritious as fresh, due to advancements in technology allowing for flash freezing immediately after harvesting. The key to not losing vitamins and minerals when cooking with frozen vegetables is to heat them for the shortest time possible. Have you ever accidentally overcooked frozen veggies in the microwave? If so, you know the end result – YUCK! Mushy, limp and flavorless. If you enjoy the taste of roasted veggies, you’ll find that you can do the same for frozen vegetables quickly and easily, and the end result will be simply delicious and full of good nutrition. Once you try these easy, vegetable roasting techniques, you’ll never wonder about how to roast frozen vegetables again!

How to Roast Frozen Vegetables: The Tommy’s Way

When you roast frozen vegetables in the oven, they cook just as nice and crispy as fresh vegetables do. Here is a simple, three-step method for roasted vegetable perfection every single time.

Preheat the roasting pan with olive or coconut oil.

Before you put your frozen vegetables into the oven, you want to make sure that the roasting pan is HOT. This makes the vegetables defrost almost immediately and start cooking. Before you put the pan into the oven, drizzle a little bit of olive oil or coconut oil on it first. This way, the pan will have a thin coating of hot oil ready to start roasting your veggies.

Make sure the oven is HOT!

Frozen vegetables need just as much heat as fresh ones in order to caramelize and become roasted. Be sure your oven is set between 400 and 450°F to roast frozen vegetables, and that you don’t place the veggies into the oven until that temperature is achieved. We recommend avoiding “crowding” your vegetables — they should all fit in the roasting pan comfortably, in a single layer. If you’re having to pile the vegetables atop one another, you need a bigger pan! Roasting in a single layer at high heat helps to quickly evaporate any frozen water that might be on the vegetables so they don’t cook in the steam (which results in a less crisp vegetable).

Toss the veggies in olive oil or coconut oil, then start roasting.

Quickly toss your frozen vegetables with a little bit of olive or coconut oil before evenly spreading them onto the roasting pan. Coating in a little bit of healthy oil ensures that they’ll cook crisply and evenly, and add a little bit of extra flavor. Once the roasted vegetables are done, season with your favorite herbs, spices, sea salt and/or pepper.  Unless, of course, you are preparing Tommy’s frozen veggies that are already seasoned perfectly while remaining low in sodium!

You’ll know your roasted frozen vegetables are done cooking if you can easily pierce a piece with a fork. If the vegetables aren’t quite done, continue to cook but be sure to test for their readiness every 2 – 3 minutes. Just remember, cooking time will vary, depending on which variety of vegetables you are roasting. For example, frozen sweet potatoes will need a little more time than green beans or asparagus.

Feeling Inspired?

Frozen vegetables, whether they were bought at the grocery store or come from your own garden, offer a delicious and convenient way to eat healthy, while also reducing food waste. All of Tommy’s flash-frozen vegetable medleys are ideal for oven roasting and contain easy to follow cooking instructions right on the pouch. Whether you’re oven roasting our Seasoned Brussels Sprouts, Root Fusion, Vegetable Medley, or Organic Sweet Potatoes, you won’t have to wait long before each delicious dish can be placed on the dinner table.