Frozen foods get a bad rap, and unfairly so. In news that will comfort the time-short around the world, frozen foods aren’t the enemy. While fresh is always best where possible, there are some foods that are just as nutritious frozen as they are fresh – including the following five.
There are plenty of people who would vouch that frozen corn packs more flavourful than its fresh equivalent. It’s also believed that the blanching that corn experiences just prior to packing helps to boost its pre-existing levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoids that help to prevent vision loss.
Not only are frozen berries noticeably cheaper than their fresh alternatives, but have a bounty of more health benefits. Studies show that berries that are snap frozen are better able to preserve the nutritional offering of the fruits including more vitamin C, more potent antioxidant anthocyanins, and the cartenoid lutein.
In general, frozen and fresh peas differ only slightly when it comes to taste and nutritional value. The reason that frozen peas are one of the most popular frozen food purchases comes down to convenience. Whether a chef or a home cook, the labour involved in fresh peas is often not worth your while. Avoid pea peeling with the conveniently frozen variety, which provide the same (or near enough) amount of antioxidants, omega-3, vitamin C and E as the fresh.
Cherry season in Australia lasts just 100 days. So if you want to nibble on the antioxidant powerhouse outside of this window, it’s best to turn to the frozen variety of the fruit. Snap frozen to maintain nutritional value, cherries are an overflowing source of nutrition, containing vitamins A and C, and offering the only natural source of melatonin.
Leafy vegetables are the most susceptible to loss when it comes to nutrition. The longer you leave your spinach before eating (even if refrigerated), the more beneficial nutrients you are also likely to use. Frozen spinach is snap frozen, locking in the vegetable’s levels of carotenoids and folate once picked.
