Why Social Media Influencer Eitan Bernath’s Trick for Freezing Greens Went Viral

Final summer time as temperatures peaked and produce did too, a number of content material creators went viral for his or her easy, refreshing deal with: grated frozen fruit. Beginning with Frankie Gaw who topped a bowl of frozen strawberry shaving with condensed milk, and Carolina Gelen who used the trick to make a frozen spin on peaches and cream, the pattern was each best for the season and required no recipe. However this yr, it’s evolving even additional.

Social media influencer and culinary contributor for The Drew Barrymore Present Eitan Bernath lately went viral for giving savory produce the frozen therapy. A video of him grating frozen tomatoes over burrata has racked up 33.6 million views to this point, and a subsequent reel that includes shaved cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions is at 20.2 million views thus far. Certainly one of his most up-to-date posts goes a step additional, grating frozen avocados, garlic, and jalapeño to create an icy “guacamole.”

Feedback responding to the movies have been combined, starting from calling Bernath’s concept “genius” to likening frozen tomatoes on burrata to placing water on cheese. But when we eat frozen fruit in smoothies on a regular basis, is there actually any distinction? Different meals accounts on social media have been posting icy soups — actually — this summer time, indicating that individuals may be on board with giving frozen produce a savory spin.

Bernath, Gaw, and Gelen all use a Microplane to shave their frozen fruit and veggies. This kitchen accent’s design was really initially primarily based on the rasp, a protracted and slender woodworking instrument that’s used to form and carve supplies. A Microplane has small holes and blades, making it best for grating elements very finely — usually cheese or citrus zest, however because the web has now taught us, additionally frozen produce. 

To take pleasure in this Instagram and Tiktok trick you have to to verify the elements are delicately shaved into small items; utilizing a typical field grater may yield chunks of icy tomato or cucumber which are too thick to be simply chewed. As an alternative, a Microplane will create such minuscule items of the frozen fruit that they instantly soften in your tongue, akin to shaved ice or the pile of parmesan {that a} waiter cranks on prime of your pasta at Olive Backyard.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, strawberries, and peaches all have a excessive water content material, which makes them best for this pattern. As a result of the elements are frozen entire and raw, you may’t apply this method to any produce you wouldn’t eat uncooked — so please don’t freeze and shave a potato. It will additionally possible be much less profitable with one thing notably fibrous or tough to grip whereas grating on a microplane, like celery or greens. 

There are some greens that may technically work, however merely wouldn’t be excellent when given this therapy, like cauliflower and and the rest cruciferous. If it looks as if it’d be refreshing, then it in all probability will likely be, and if it sounds disagreeable, then belief your intestine.

I’m not a content material creator, but when I had been recreating this trick at residence I’d be tempted to shave some frozen cucumber onto cottage cheese, end it with a squeeze of lime, and serve with toast. As an added bonus, freezing contemporary cucumbers and tomatoes can be a simple strategy to shortly save any overflowing bounty out of your summer time backyard.