Difference Between Frozen and Fresh Fruit

Both fresh and frozen fruits are great additions to your diet. But some fruits may benefit more from being fresh than frozen, and vice versa. Learn more about how to choose between fresh and frozen fruit.

Health Benefits of Fruit
If you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, you can enjoy benefits such as:

Lowering your blood pressure
Reducing your risk of heart disease or stroke
Preventing various cancers
Reducing your risk of eye and digestive problems
Improving your blood sugar levels
Helping with weight management or weight loss
Benefits of Frozen and Fresh Fruit
Depending on the fruit, some may retain more nutrients frozen while others are better fresh. The nutrients in the fruit are at their peak right after they are picked. Since the fruit is frozen quickly, it retains its nutritional value.

If your fresh fruit is truly fresh, its nutritional value may be similar. If your fresh fruit has been shipped and has been sitting on the store shelf for a while, it may contain fewer nutrients.

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

Frozen fruit. When fruit is frozen, it is picked at its peak ripeness and frozen immediately afterward to preserve optimal nutritional benefits. Frozen fruit often lasts for several months and may be more economical than buying fresh fruit, which spoils more quickly. With frozen fruit, you can take out as much as you need and save the rest for next time.

Frozen fruit is also beneficial because it is already prepared for you. It usually comes pre-cut and pre-chopped for your convenience. This can save you time when preparing fruit-based dishes.

Similarly, frozen fruit is great for adding to yogurt and smoothies. For example, just grab a handful of strawberry slices and throw them in your yogurt bowl or blender and enjoy your snack. If the fruits you like to include in these dishes are out of season, they may still be available frozen.

Fresh fruit. When you choose fresh fruit, it is often in season and has a wider variety than frozen fruit. Freezing may affect the texture of your fruit, but fresh fruit retains its natural texture better.

One of the benefits of fresh fruit is that you can usually find it in season. There are many food guides online to tell you when and where it is in season. By buying seasonal fruit, you avoid the risk of fruits that rely on fertilizers or additives to grow out of season.

The dangers of frozen fruit vs. fresh fruit

The benefits of fruit outweigh the risks, but that doesn’t mean there are no risks. For starters, some fruits contain a lot of sugar, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes.

Other ways to reduce your risk of foodborne illness include:

Choosing fruit that is not bruised or damaged

Buying fruit that is pre-cut or storing fruit that you cut and store at home in the refrigerator, as this reduces the growth of bacteria.

Place your fruit in your shopping cart separately from other items, such as vegetables, meat, and dairy

Cleaning all food preparation surfaces to ensure you don’t transfer bacteria to or from the fruit

Using running water to clean fruit and wash away bacteria

Don’t use disinfectant soap or bleach on your produce

Dry your fruit immediately after washing with a clean paper towel or dish towel

Cut off any damaged or bruised parts of your fruit before eating

Keep in mind that some people are naturally at higher risk for foodborne illness. Factors include:

Being 65 years of age or older

Being under five years of age

Having certain health problems

Taking medications that reduce your immune response

Being pregnant

Important tips for choosing and storing fruits

To stay healthy and prevent foodborne illnesses, it is important to pay attention to the following tips when choosing and storing fruits:

– **Choose fruits that are not bruised or damaged.**

– **Keep fruits that you buy sliced ​​or fruits that you cut and store at home in the refrigerator; This reduces the growth of bacteria.**
– **Separating fruits from other items such as vegetables, meats and dairy in the shopping cart.**
– **Cleaning all food preparation surfaces to ensure that bacteria are not transferred to the fruits.**
– **Using running water to wash fruits to kill bacteria.**
– **Do not use disinfectant soap or bleach on food products.**
– **Drying fruits with a clean paper towel or dish towel immediately after washing.**
– **Cut off any damaged or bruised parts of the fruit before eating.**

Remember that some people are naturally at higher risk for foodborne illness. Factors that may affect you include:
– **Age 65 or older**
– **Under five years of age**
– **Having certain health problems**

These tips will help you include more fruit in your diet and protect the health of you and your family.