Original link: https://www.napoleon.com/en/ca/barbecues/blog/science-bbq-how-rotisserie-cooking-works
Eating following the seasonality of ingredients used to be a way of life, however, the global culinary environment and the need for ingredient availability have created a market for foods that are grown and available year-round. In this Science of BBQ article, we’re exploring the tasting and use of seasonal ingredients.
What are Seasonal Ingredients?
Seasonal foods are foods that are grown and harvested in a specific timeframe. These foods are picked and eaten at the peak of their freshness. This makes the most of foods and respects the natural lifecycle of the foods grown natively in your area. This concentrates micro and phytonutrients in the fruits and vegetables in a practice that is as old as agriculture itself. This can also apply to migrating animals that are not farmed, for example, fish, birds, and ungulates like deer and bison.
Why is this Important?
Produce changes dramatically depending on the season in which it has been grown and harvested. Foods that are in season are healthier and more flavourful. They are picked at the height of freshness and allowed to naturally ripen for juicer and tastier results whether eaten raw or cooked. Foods that are grown and picked in season are also more nutritionally dense. This also allows for hunted creatures to replenish numbers and migrate, which will change the foods available to consume depending on the season. This last point is a little more hunter-gatherer ages than the agricultural ages of the more recent centuries, however, these principals are evident in fish, and the foods consumed traditionally on holidays.
Foods that are grown out of season, think hot-house strawberries and tomatoes for example, are harvested before they’re ready so they can ripen while shipped to a store. Sometimes these foods are treated with a gas to help with ripening.
When it comes to buying any out-of-season produce, but especially when it comes to items like fish, it’s important to consider the length of time it has been out of the ocean or since it has been picked. The longer this time has been, the less fresh and the poorer texture it will have. This is a good reason to buy local and shop in-season ingredients.
Why Does Seasonal Food Taste Better
Produce that is given ample time to thrive at their peak growing conditions and in their native environment tend to have better taste, texture, and even nutritional qualities. For example, in the winter and cooler months, root vegetables will convert starches into sugar. This means that those carrots will taste so much better in their peak season.
How do you Know What’s Seasonal?
A great way to know what sort of produce is seasonal is to visit a local farmer’s market. They will have the freshest and most seasonal ingredients available. A few additional bonuses being that you are supporting local farmers and that the produce you are purchasing is more likely to be less expensive.
If you’re unable to attend a market, a quick internet search that includes your state/province will yield plenty of information about the local produce available for that season in your area. Keeping in mind that the climate where you live can vary greatly from location to location and even season to season.
What are the Benefits to Eating Seasonal Foods?
- Produce and even animal products that are bought seasonally are better for the economy. They support local businesses, support the farmers, farmlands, and even your community.
- You have more visibility to how your food gets from being grown to your plate. The growers themselves can offer insights into their practices allowing you to make more informed decisions about what you are eating.
- It’s more sustainable. Eating seasonally can be more sustainable. You are saving on everything from transportation costs, growing practices, the use of electricity and chemicals in the process of getting food from the farmer to the table.
- It’s more cost effective. Again, there is lower transportation cost for these foods. The prices will also be lower because there is a surplus of that particular item.
- It’s more nutritious to eat in-season produce. These foods have been harvested at the peak of their ripeness and it shows. They are denser in nutrients, their flavour, and their texture are better in comparison.
How Can Seasonal Ingredients Influence Your Recipes?
You can use the available seasonal ingredients to your advantage when planning and cooking recipes thanks to the availability. This also means those recipes can taste better and fresher than when cooked at other times of the year. Consider your winter meals compared to summer ones. Meals cooked in the winter will focus on root vegetables and hearty greens that are more abundant at that time. Summertime meals will more likely feature a bounty of fruits, berries, melons, and tomatoes as they are grown at that time and will be more flavourful and nutritious.
While it is understandable, being able to pick up fruits and vegetables with all convenience, no matter the season, you have to admit that planning meals with a focus on tasting and using seasonal ingredients is certainly a great practice. Do you eat seasonally? What are your favourite meals to BBQ using seasonal ingredients? Share your stories, recipes, and photos with us on social like our Facebook and Tiktok pages using the hashtags #NapoleonEats and #NapoleonGrills.
