Compared with raw jelly and cooked jelly, cooked jelly is better.

Bitter melon contains a lot of water and enzymes. If frozen directly, it will cause cell tissue damage and lose taste and nutritional value. Blanching can destroy the enzymes and organic acids in bitter melon, which is beneficial to maintaining the taste and nutrition after freezing, and can also extend its shelf life. Therefore, it is best to choose cooked frozen when freezing bitter melon.

If the time is too long and overcooked, the taste of the bitter melon will be affected. If the time is too short, the enzymes and organic acids in the bitter melon will not be completely destroyed, which will affect the subsequent freezing effect. It is usually recommended that the blanching time is about 1-3 minutes, which can be adjusted appropriately according to your own needs and habits.

How to select bitter melon

1. Look at the surface texture

There are many textures on the surface of bitter melon. You can tell whether bitter melon is bitter or not bitter through these textures. Generally speaking, bitter melons with wide lines and few or no small bumps on the surface have thicker flesh, smaller inner flesh, and lighter bitter taste. On the contrary, if there are many small bumps on the surface of the bitter melon, the lines are dense and thin, and it contains more bitter melon, the bitter melon will taste particularly hard and bitter.

2. Depend on the size

The short and fat bitter melon is generally less bitter, its bitterness is not that strong, and it tastes relatively refreshing. It can be stir-fried or stir-fried. Serve directly. Don’t choose slender and small bitter melons, as they are more bitter.

3. Look at the color depth

Fresh bitter melon is emerald green in color. The lighter the color of the bitter melon, the lighter the bitterness and the easier it is to accept. On the contrary, the darker the color of the bitter melon, the stronger its bitter taste. If the color of the bitter melon has turned yellow or red, it means that the bitter melon is old or has been stored for a long time and does not have a crisp texture. It is best not to buy it.

Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Bitter Melon