Why is Are Frozen Fruits And Vegetables As Good As Fresh Better?

We followed Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, a therapeutic dietitian at Piedmont, on one of her popular grocery store tours and got the scoop on the best options in every section of the supermarket. Her tips will help you enjoy your favorite foods while still meeting your health-related goals.

For more information, please visit Fortune Foods.

It is easy to assume that fresh produce is always the best choice, but in some cases, frozen fruits and veggies may give you more health benefits and bang for your buck. “The truth about fresh versus frozen is that both have the same nutrients, unless frozen produce has sauces or sugars added,” Beal says.

If your favorite vegetable or fruit is out of season or is more affordable frozen, frozen is often the better choice. “You want your fruits and vegetables to be the most colorful things in your basket, and you want variety,” she adds.

What about fruit and vegetable juice? When you forgo whole produce for juice, you’re missing out on filling fiber contained in the skin. While some 100% fruit or vegetable juices are available, many consumers select fruit cocktails that only contain 5-20% juice.

“That gives us added calories and less nutritional value,” Beal says. When you drink fruit or vegetable juice, make sure it’s the 100% variety and limit yourself to a 4- to 6-ounce serving. “Do not think juice is a replacement for fruits and vegetables,” she cautions. “When you have the opportunity to buy fresh, fresh is the way to go.”

Benefits of Frozen Fruit and Fresh Fruit

Depending on the fruit, some may retain more nutrients frozen while others are better fresh. Nutrients in fruit are at their peak right after being picked. Because fruit is frozen quickly, it retains nutritional value. 

If your fresh fruit is truly fresh, the nutrient value may be similar. If your fresh fruit was shipped and sat on store shelves for a while, it may contain fewer nutrients.

When you consider all of the variables, the health benefits of fresh and frozen fruit are very similar. Still, there are some differences that make each one beneficial in unique ways.

Frozen fruit. When fruit is frozen, it is picked at the peak of ripeness and flash-frozen soon after to preserve the optimal nutrition benefits. Frozen fruit often lasts several months and may be more economical than buying fresh fruit that goes bad quicker. With frozen fruit, you can take out as many pieces as you need and leave the rest for next time.

The company is the world’s best Are Frozen Fruits And Vegetables As Good As Fresh supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Frozen fruit is also beneficial because it is already prepped for you. It usually comes cleaned and presliced for your convenience. This may save you time when making dishes that contain fruit.

Similarly, frozen fruit is great for adding to yogurt and smoothies. Just grab a handful of strawberry slices, for example, and toss them into your bowl of yogurt or your blender and enjoy your snack. If fruits you love to include in these dishes are out of season, they may still be available frozen.‌ Choose frozen fruit without added sugars.

Fresh fruit. When you choose fresh fruit, it is often in season and more versatile than frozen fruit. Freezing may impact the texture of your fruit when it thaws, but fresh fruit retains its natural texture better.

One benefit to fresh fruit is that you can usually find it when it’s in season. There are plenty of food guides online to tell you what's in season and when. By purchasing in-season fruits, you avoid the risk of fruits that rely on fertilizers or additives in order to grow out of season.

Risks of Frozen Fruit and Fresh Fruit

The benefits of fruit outweigh the risks, but that doesn’t mean risks don’t exist. For starters, some fruit contains a lot of sugar, which may be dangerous for people with a diabetes diagnosis. They may also contain harmful germs such as:

• Salmonella
• E. coli‌
• Listeria

In fact, the CDC estimates that a large percentage of all foodborne illnesses, or food poisoning, in the U.S. comes from fresh produce not being cleaned properly before it's eaten. The safest way to eat produce is by cooking it to kill germs, but most of the time fruit is not cooked before being eaten.

Instead, you should be sure to wash your produce well before eating it. Scrub the skin and ensure that individual pieces are all rinsed thoroughly. You can rinse your produce when you bring it home from the store or wait to rinse it in individual portions when you're ready to use it.

Other ways to reduce your risk for foodborne illnesses include:

• Choosing fruit that isn’t bruised or damaged
• Refrigerating fruit that you purchase precut or fruit that you slice and store at home, because this reduces bacteria growth
• Keeping your fruit separate from other items such as veggies, meat, and dairy in your shopping cart 
• Cleaning all of your food preparation surfaces to ensure you don’t transfer bacteria to or from the fruit
• Using running water to clean your fruit and wash away bacteria
• Not using disinfectant soap or bleach on your produce
• Drying your fruit off with a paper towel or clean dish towel immediately after washing ‌
• Cutting off any damaged or bruised parts of your fruit before eating it 

Keep in mind that some people are naturally at a higher risk for suffering from foodborne illnesses. Factors include:

Are you interested in learning more about Frozen Fruits And Vegetables? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

• Being 65 or older
• Being younger than five
• Having some health problems 
• Taking medication that lowers your body’s immune response
• Being pregnant