Medical Opinion Asia

13/04/2020

Let's maintain a healthy lifestyle during this MCO period.

08/04/2020

✅ How to store foods with long shelf-life ✅

👉 Grains can be stored in air-tight jars in a refrigerator for up to a year, if space in the refrigerator is a concern, chances of pest infestation in grains can be reduced by adding 10 bay leaves to 5 kg of grains. Grains can also be stored in vacuum sealed bags in cool, pest infestation is reduced in the lack of moisture, sunlight and oxygen.

👉 Sugar can be stored in airtight solid containers, generally the only pests that sugar attracts are ants.
Pulses and legumes can be stored the same way as grains.
Oil keeps well for long period of time if kept sealed and out of direct sunlight.

👉 Spices can be stored whole in any airtight container. Whole chillies however need to be stored in a refrigerator. Powdered spices, being prone to infestation should be stored in air-tight containers away from direct sunlight, preferably in refrigerator. Adding bay leaf also prevents infestation by weevils.

👉 Milk, although has a short shelf life, in the form of powder can stay in a cool, dark place away from sunlight for up to 24 months. UHT milk can stay for up to 9 months in a cool dark place away from sunlight. Milk in these forms does not need to be stored in the refrigerator, however, once opened UHT milk should be placed in the refrigerator and used within 2 days.

03/04/2020

A friendly reminder from Medical Opinion Asia.

02/04/2020

FREEZING [PART II] ❄️❄️❄️

How to freeze herbs (cilantro, basil, tarragon, rosemary, oregano)?

✅ Wash, dry, and chop all the herbs that you want to freeze.

✅ Add single use quantity of herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano) to the sections of ice cube tray, add oil (olive/ sesame/ canola/ coconut) and freeze.

✅ Add single use quantities of herbs (cilantro, mint, dill, basil, chives, Chines parsley) to ice cube tray, add enough water to cover the herbs and freeze.

✅ Once frozen pop the cubes and store in zip lock bags for use as and when required.

✅ All herbs can be frozen as is after washing, drying and chopping as desired, however, they tend to lose some of their aroma storing this way.

🍅 Tomatoes can be frozen whole inside zip lock bags. To use, leave them in the refrigerator for an hour, the skin peels off easily and they turn into a mushy, almost puree like consistency upon chopping.

🍞 Bread can be frozen as is, for complete instructions on how to best freeze and thaw bread follow the link: https://bit.ly/2UHoGj1. Bread baking at home is another option, visit this link for easy bread baking recipe https://bit.ly/2QPczPZ, Chinese steamed buns are an alternate option, visit the link for recipe https://bit.ly/2UFJQhK.

🧀 Cheese used as an ingredient for cooking or baking such as mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan can be stored in the freezer. It is best to portion out the cheese into single-use quantities prior to freezing. Soft cheese such as feta, cottage, and ricotta may not hold the same texture as fresh cheese upon freezing. Mozzarella, and cottage cheese (milk solids) can be stored in the refrigerator by submerging in fresh clean water, changing water every 5 days. Feta cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks by submerging in olive oil or salt water in an airtight container. Other cheese such as Ricotta, Camembert, and processed cheese (sandwich slices, cheddar blocks) can be stored in an air-tight box for up to 2 weeks, towards the back of the refrigerator shelves to minimise exposure to temperature changes near the door.

🍽 Cooked food can be prepared in bulk and stored in single use portions in the freezer by those on a busy work-from-home schedule, instead of ordering for take away food frequently. Prepared food can be defrosted in the microwave in a glass container or may be left overnight in the refrigerator. It is important to boil the food thoroughly prior to consumption.

(to be continued...)

30/03/2020

During this MCO period, it is good to reduce the number of visits to grocery stores in order to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Here are some tips on how you can keep your food fresh longer.

FREEZING [PART I]

According to USDA, foods stored continuously at 0° Fahrenheit (frozen without de-frosting and re-freezing) can stay safe forever. Frozen foods may retain more nutrients as compared to the ones stored for long period of time in a refrigerator, canned or dried.

⚠️ Some foods may be unsafe to consume upon freezing:
❌ Freezing food inside cans, as they may expand and break exposing contents to bacteria.
❌ Eggs with shells may also expand and crack thereby exposing the contents to bacteria.

⚠️ Some foods with high moisture content may change texture upon freezing and defrosting, thus making the food unpalatable, yet edible:
❗️ Salad leaves and most of the green leafy vegetables (they may be added to soups where crisp texture may not be necessary)
❗️ Frozen fruit can be enjoyed in the frozen form, once thawed they tend to lose their crunchy texture.

How to freeze meats?
✅ Cut or divide meat into one-time use portions, there is no need to wash meats as they can increase the risk of cross-contamination.
✅ Wrap the meat tightly in a freezer bag, letting as much air out of the bag as possible.
✅ Wrap the freezer bag in a layer of aluminium foil.
✅ Store in the lower shelf of the freezer, keeping meats for later use at the back of the freezer to avoid exposure to temperature changes close to the door.

The safest way to thaw meats is by moving them in leak-proof bags into the refrigerator overnight.

to be continued...

26/03/2020

Prone to snacking during this MCO period? Try your best to avoid junk food.

25/03/2020

Running of our ideas of what to cook at home during this MCO period? Here's a list of 8 Easy One-Pot/Pan recipes for you to try out!

Stay at home can never be more productive than cooking up your own meals. Here are some easy-to-cook one pot/pan recipes that even newbies could handle!

19/03/2020

Is it okay to follow intermittent fasting during Covid-19 pandemic?

18/03/2020

Ordering food online during this Restriction of Movement Order period? Opt for Contactless Delivery to minimise the risk of transmission of germs. Upon arrival, your food will be placed at a designated drop off spot at your home or office, and you will be notified that your food has arrived.

17/03/2020

Ministry of Health's Guidelines on Social Distancing at Home

Social Distancing at Home.

✅ Frequent hand washing with soap and water
✅ Increase ventilation by opening windows
✅ The door to ill person’s room kept close
✅ Consider extra protection for household members over 65 years or underlying illness