Fresh v frozen vegetables?

[Spencer0220]

I know vegetables are much, much cheaper frozen. Or tinned. Than fresh.

But what about the quality? I've always thought fresh is best?

Trying to make the best choices and balance money with health.

Xx

Most frozen veggies are frozen the day they are harvested. They can contain more vitamins and minerals than those sitting in the grocery for a week or two.

Frozen veg retain all their nutrients. They're often better (in that sense) than fresh, as they're flash-frozen on the day of harvest, while your fresh ones might've been in transit and storage for days or even weeks.

It's a bit more complicated with tinned. They're processed straight from harvest as well, but canning affects different products differently - one example I remember is that bright yellow & orange fruits retain Vitamin C after canning, but others don't!

If you're as boringly interested in all this as I am, there are plenty of detailed analyses online. Make sure you're reading one for your country, as processes differ around the world.

I use way more frozen fruit & veg than fresh, for both budget reasons (no wastage) and to save effort. You lose a bit in texture, but flavour & nutrition are good.

Thank you both!

@Garlickit , how do I find these detailed analyses??

Also, how about variety?

I'd imagine we should still have some fresh vegetables so we get things like aubergine and mushrooms?

I couldn't believe I saw frozen spinach the other day. Won't that wilt?

Frozen spinach is finely chopped and frozen in balls, so it's really easy to add to things! You can get frozen leaf spinach and, yes, it is wilty. You're supposed to cook it, when of course it would wilt anyway.

Loads of variety in frozen veg.

Google for nutrition info on frozen/tinned produce 🙂

Ahh balls would work so much better. DH has an issue with his hands. Anything I can do to make his life easier.

We love cooking.

Sounds like DH would really benefit from frozen! I have chopped peppers, onions & garlic on repeat order. Also in my freezer right now are sweet potato cubes, swede cubes, butternut squash cubes, sliced carrots, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, spinach balls, peas, green beans, edamame beans and my trusty spinach balls.

You can get frozen sliced mushrooms - I think they're great, but work out expensive. Pretty sure I've seen aubergines, courgettes & avocadoes as well.

We'd weigh up prices each week and buy whichever was cheapest.

Thank you so much.

Game changer

There is a lot of evidence that the nutrition in frozen can be better as it's frozen at time of harvesting and not sitting around (including in your fridge). The main issue with frozen veg are that the texture and taste can be impacted, so ti does depend on what you want it for.

eg frozen spinach - genius invention and I always have a bag in my freezer. But, it's not great as a standalone - eg I wouldn't use frozen spinach if I wanted a nice bright, lightly wilted bed of spinach for a lovingly cooked piece of fish. But for soup, pies, to mix into other things... absolutely.

I don't think I've ever bought fresh peas in my life. Similarly edamame beans. Green beans can be good frozen too.

Frozen corn - delicious and easier than cooking fresh corn unless you want to serve corn on the cob.

I'm South African. Frozen carrots were great growing up but I've yet to find a brand here where the carrots don't cook out rubbery. I thought it was just my memory but had some back home last time I was there and they were great. Just not so much here. Maybe it's just me.

Frozen onions, ginger, garlic etc - super handy.

Frozen stir fry ingredients - great although I don't use these often due to space issues. It's easier for me just to slice up a bunch of peppers.

Cauliflower and broccoli - can be okay. Particularly useful if you have small kids for whom these are two of only 3 vegetables they eat.

Frozen fruit for smoothies are good and much cheaper than fresh.

I don't buy much of this but I think tinned fruit can be a good option. I usually have a tin of cherries in the cupboard for emergency desserts - and they work well in a crumble. My dad always has tinned peaches around.