Frozen Or Fresh Fruits And Vegetables?

Which is better? Often, the question whether it is better to eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead of frozen is asked. The answer is that nutritionally, it is not so important what you eat. In some cases it is even more nutrients in the frozen than fresh.

Often, vitamin C, vitamin A, protein and fiber equivalent in the comparison between fresh and frozen vegetables. Since it depends of course on how you cook your food. Most fruits and vegetables are sensitive to both heat, light and long cooking.

The closer to harvest and eating fruit or vegetables – the more nutrients are left in the product. Fresh vegetables must often be transported from the field to the wholesaler and then to store shelves, a process that normally takes around three days in cold storage and / or room temperature. During this time, the raw material to lose some of their nutrition. Many fruits and vegetables are harvested before it leaves are fully mature, which could also affect the nutritional values negatively.

Frozen vegetables benefits

Frozen vegetables are harvested when the raw material is ripe and then frozen within 2-3 hours. Thus preserved the levels of essential nutrients. The moment a vegetable is harvested starting change, including vitamins and flavors are most affected. Another of frozen vegetables advantages are that they are easy to produce when needed. Fresh vegetables and fruits are good and refreshing to have at home, but you have to use them before they turn bad.

One study showed that after three days on store shelves and three days in the refrigerator – a typical situation after purchase – kept the fresh green bean merely 36% of its vitamin C content. Frozen green beans retained the other hand, 77% of vitamin C – more than twice as much. It is mainly the water soluble vitamins that reduce the long-term storage and for cooking at high heat.

Eat both fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables so you can consume up to a pound of fruits and vegetables per day.