When it comes to healthy eating, fruit is always a smart choice. But many consumers (including me!), wonder whether fresh fruit or frozen fruit is the better option. While fresh fruit remains the top choice in grocery stores, frozen fruit has become increasingly popular because of convenience, affordability, and longer shelf life. Both options can be nutritious additions to a healthy diet.
While fruit comes in many forms, this blog focuses on the two options most shoppers regularly keep on hand: fresh and frozen fruit. Personally, I’ve been buying more frozen fruit lately because I wasn’t eating the fresh fruit fast enough and ended up wasting it, and my money (but I will always buy fresh fruit, especially when my favorites are in season!).
Do you prefer fresh over frozen, or do you buy both? Let me know in the comment section, I would love to hear from you!
🍎Fresh Fruit
Fresh fruit continues to dominate produce purchases in the United States. Many consumers prefer fresh fruit because of its texture, flavor, and convenience for snacking. Apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, and berries are among the most commonly purchased fresh fruits. According to industry insights from Circana, fresh fruit sales are projected to grow slightly, although consumers are still being mindful of prices and spending.
As mentioned in a health.com article, fresh fruit is a better, more convenient option in certain situations. Fresh fruit can be eaten as a quick snack, tossed into lunch bags, and taken on-the-go. Many people prefer the taste and texture of fresh strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or mangoes compared to frozen versions.
🍓Frozen Fruit
Frozen fruit, however, is gaining momentum. According to health.com, although frozen varieties are often thought of as less nutritious than fresh options, they can be just as much, if not more, nutritious. Frozen fruit is often picked at peak ripeness and flash-frozen shortly after harvest, which helps preserve its vitamins and antioxidants.
Frozen fruit stands out when it comes to convenience and reducing waste. Because it lasts for months in the freezer, consumers can use only what they need without worrying about spoilage. This can also be more economical, especially when buying out-of-season berries or tropical fruits.
🤔The Choice is Yours
Inflation and rising grocery costs have influenced shopping habits. Consumers are increasingly looking for ways to stretch their grocery budgets while still making healthy choices. Frozen fruit offers an affordable option that stays fresh longer and is available year-round. But, in the end, the best choice is the one you make for yourself, and may simply be the one that helps you eat more fruit consistently. Fresh fruit offers unbeatable flavor and texture, while frozen fruit provides convenience and less waste. For many households, keeping both on hand is the perfect balance!
🛒For NCP Panel Members
Buying frozen fruit? Be sure to scan the UPC barcode on the package(s). Buying fresh fruit? Refer to the Non-Barcoded Items list in the NCPMobile app, or the Barcode Reference Booklet if you use NCP’s handheld scanner. Select the Fruits category, then select the fruit you purchased. On the Item Details screen, enter the total amount you paid for the fruit and if you received any type of promotion. (If you use NCP’s handheld scanner, refer to the instructions in the Barcode Reference Booklet.)
➡️Join NCP!
Not an NCP panel member and interested in joining? Visit the Join NCP section of the blog for more information and the link to sign up! You too can make your consumer voice heard!
Regards,
Taylor
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I rather have fresh fruits.
Either is good to me but my preference would always be fresh.
I buy both, depending on the fruit and how it will be used, and of course, the cost factor. My favorite fruits are nectarines, pineapple, blackberries, strawberries, and mango. Nectarines and pineapple, I have never seen frozen, in a store. I have frozen nectarines myself, when I bought a lot of them, and didn’t want to waste them, or the money. They are a great addition into yogurt parfaits. Pineapple I can get year round, at my grocer, but I only buy when it’s on sale. The berries, we have local growers, and can even pick ourselves, if we choose. I will buy from them during harvest season, and flash freeze for myself, so they aren’t wasted. They are a great snack, during the summer. Strawberries work great in smoothies, homemade ice cream, or sorbet. Mango, the flavor and texture I can’t eat it frozen, but I will use frozen for smoothies, yogurt parfaits, and homemade sorbet. I don’t like blueberries, but my dog does, so I buy frozen, thaw a few and mix them in her bowl for the added health benefits. I tried buying the lower cost option, at Walmart, they were horrible!! Very bitter, she wouldn’t come near them. That goes back to the old saying, you get what you pay for, and I got cheap blueberries lol. Frozen peaches and blackberries are great for making cobbler, when they aren’t on season. And I do LOVE blackberry cobbler!! One of my favorite desserts and super easy to make. I could go on and on with my fresh vs frozen options, ideas, and selections, but it’s like the article said, we all have our favorites and our reason for our choices of fresh vs frozen. The most important factor…eating more fruits and vegetables, for our health benefit.
I buy fresh fruit every week, and will usually choose by what’s on sale or the best price per serving. Sadly we waste a lot, because after 50 years of buying groceries I can still never predict what and how much we will actually eat. I seldom buy frozen fruit, somehow I just never developed the habit of using frozen vs fresh. However right now there’s a huge Costco bag of mango chunks in the freezer, because I love mango and I find it difficult to cut up, plus at the time it was a fraction of the price of fresh – but honestly once it’s in the freezer it may as well be in the garbage because I simply forget it’s there. You didn’t mention canned fruit, but I buy it when it’s on sale and always keep it on hand for times when there’s nothing affordable – and little cups of diced mango are always in my pantry. By the way, my purchase decisions are guided by my health. Chronic pain keeps me from cooking which I’ve always loved doing, and gastroparesis means sometimes I can’t eat fresh fruits (or veggies) and canned is what I can handle. Mango cups and fresh bananas are my staples.
I love both fresh and frozen fruits. Grew up on a farm so fresh tastes better but I enjoy my frozen fruits to use for my smoothies. Currently trying to grow some strawberries and muscadine.
I buy both fresh and frozen. It mainly depends on how it will be used. Due to grocery prices of fruit, it is nearly impossible for us to budget in fresh fruit. If something special is going on we bite the bullet and pay the extra for fresh fruit. Frozen Fruit is a bit expensive too but works well when I am making something that requires lots of fruit. (Fruit pancakes/waffles, smoothies, malts, shortcakes, or on really hot days nothing better than munching on partially thawed fruit. Cools you off quickly and restores lost vitamins, Hydrates you well. If some fruit is in season I go to farmers’ markets buy fresh and then I prepare it and freeze (apples, berries, cherries, and strawberries). Sometimes I combine them, other times I freeze separately for pies. One thing we never buy is store bought canned fruits.
When my favorite fruit is not in season, I will buy frozen. Blueberries are one of the fruits I will buy frozen, but I prefer fresh all the way!
I definitely purchase more fresh fruit than frozen fruits due to them being fresh, ripe, & the texture is better than frozen, in my opinion. I will however purchase frozen fruits for smoothies upon my teenage daughter’s requests or for parties &/or Holidays. I purchase a variety of fresh fruits with every shopping trip I make or order I place for delivery. My family’s & I’s favorites include, bananas, watermelon, strawberries, grapes (red & green), mandarin oranges (cuties), apples, pineapples, [blueberries, & blackberries (but only when in season)]. One thing we do do is put our fresh grapes in the freezer after washing because they hold their nutritional value but they are absolutely delicious as a frozen treat & also great to add to refreshing beverages especially for family gatherings/parties!!
I like fresh fruit better. I have never been a big fan of frozen. I guess it just never stood out to me.
Fresh and I’ll freeze it if it’s something I want to stock up on.