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Fresh veg vs frozen


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Old 26-04-2010, 18:15
JamieRoss1988
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I do fortnightly food shops and find that I am throwing away too much fresh veg. I tend to buy carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, obviously too much and it goes off before I eat all of it. I am thinking of switching to frozen versions of these as it would cut down on waste, but are they as good for you in terms of vitamins etc as fresh veg?
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Old 26-04-2010, 18:32
mariets
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Sorry I don't eat frozen veg apart from peas , as I think they taste awful...
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Old 26-04-2010, 19:17
jojo01
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I buy frozen peas, broad beans, soya beans and sweetcorn and think they're all lovely. Even frozen sprouts are perfectly acceptable when it's not sprout season.

Never had frozen carrots nor brocolli or cauliflower, but have heard that the latter two tend to go a bit mushy.
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Old 26-04-2010, 19:22
whoever,hey
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If i read frozen asparagus i run for the hills!!!
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Old 26-04-2010, 19:23
degsyhufc
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I think frozen peas and sweetcorn are fine. Apparently they are really good for you as they are frozen soon after being picked.


There are other things that are ok. Green beans and brocolli for instance. They can be a little watery and it's hard to get them cooked properly (between to al dente to mushy). But ok for a regular home meal.
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Old 26-04-2010, 20:37
bazpa
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I had the exact same problem with too much waste so started buying the packs of frozen mixed veg and can use the exact amount I need. But worried I was not getting the same nutritional value from the frozen stuff I asked my Diabetic nurse. She said that frozen veg is just as good for me as fresh is. That's good enough for me.
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Old 26-04-2010, 21:06
diablo
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I cook meals for my incapacitated mother and I sometimes get fresh veg but always have a supply of frozen broccoli, cauliflower and baby carrots, as well as peas.

Although she can be a harsh critic is she doesn't like something she has never once complained about the frozen veg.

I'm pretty sure that frozen stuff has more vitamins than fresh - which is usually a few days old if you don't pick it yourself. The frozen stuff works out much cheaper if you aren't cooking for several people and don't have a market nearby.

That reminds me that there is half a cauliflower in her fridge which I ought to cook tomorrow - some of the goodness will be gone by now I suppose.
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Old 26-04-2010, 22:35
Ellie666
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well as the reality is.. a lot of frozen veg is actually fresher than the "fresh" veg - unless you really do buy locally.

btw always get frozern broccoli and as long as you are careful it doesn't og mushy
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Old 27-04-2010, 00:23
home_alone
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Vitamin retention in frozen veg is arguably as good as in fresh, sometimes better, as the veg tends to be processed very quickly after harvesting. Peas really are frozen within a couple of hours of being picked.

The usual 'problem' with frozen veg is texture & flavour compared to fresh - an earlier poster mentioned asparagus, which imo should only be used 'fresh' - however that usually means it is only available in the UK during May & June, each year.

Buying 'fresh' veg out of season often means it has been transported long distances, which can mean vitamin levels reduce during the delivery process, but texture & flavour may still be, subjectively, superior to frozen veg, even if nutrient levels are not.

- the veg grown in our own garden & cooked straight after picking is always the best
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Old 27-04-2010, 07:22
rosemary
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I usually buy enough fresh to last a few days and then frozon to use until I go shopping again. I use up the fresh stuff first and switch to frozen once its all gone, so nothing gets wasted
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Old 27-04-2010, 09:21
All Woman Me
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I always have a freezer drawer full of frozen veg, corn, corn on cobs, cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts, broccoli.

Much as I like using fresh veg and like some, end up throwing out half of it due to it being past its best, frozen veg has been quick frozen and retains more nutrients than the products that have been sitting 'fresh' having been transported then placed on supermarket shelves for days.
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Old 27-04-2010, 10:26
mirabelle
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I buy all frozen veg. I used to look down on it but we jus don't eat enough fresh and the price is considerably more.

Always bought peas and sweetcorn but I now also buy the mix of carrots, beans and whatever it is for the curries I make. It's what they use in Indian restaurants, its the exact same. I have got frozen broccoli but this really is only good for roasting or putting in cauliflower cheese as it does go mushy within mins of cooking. Cauliflower frozen tastes exactly the same.

I buy all Asda smart price or their own brand where I can. The quality is no different.

I also buy from Asda which not found in Tesco. Frozen peppers. Its all different coloured peppers already sliced so your not paying for the buts you don't eat. It's a quarter of the price of fresh and the texture is no different once cooked.
Only thing is if you are wanting to roast large chunks or stuff peppers then you need fresh. But hey ho for every lunch etc its ideal
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Old 27-04-2010, 11:43
Quickblood
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I pretty much only eat frozen veg. Done in the microwave it's almost as good as fresh imo.
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Old 27-04-2010, 13:18
Ignazio
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After a heart attack a family friend went to Healthy Living lectures - he was told that tinned and frozen veg is just as nutritious - and can be more so as it's frozen or processed so quickly after harvesting whereas fresh veg not eaten immediately soon loses it's nutritional value.

If I haven't eaten fresh veg within a couple of days I turn it into soup.
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Old 27-04-2010, 13:33
nessyfencer
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Sorry I don't eat frozen veg apart from peas , as I think they taste awful...
It's weird - frozen peas are great, but things like frozen sweetcorn is just awful! lol
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Old 27-04-2010, 16:14
diablo
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I'm surprised that some mention frozen brussels sprouts as being okay. Maybe they've improved the technology since I last triem 'em - which could be twenty years ago.

Asparagus is something else I think of which doesn't freeze well.

I always buy those two fresh, though mainly when in season. Asparagus is in the shops now but is £2.99 for a a few shoots. Be cheaper from next month I think.
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Old 27-04-2010, 16:18
ikkleosu
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It's weird - frozen peas are great, but things like frozen sweetcorn is just awful! lol
Yeah, sweetcorn is the only veg I don't like frozen. I always have broccoli, oriental veg and peas in the freezer. If I had the room, i'd have onion, peppers, casserole mix, mushrooms etc etc.

I don't buy frozen carrots simly cos I love to munch on raw ones.
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Old 27-04-2010, 16:51
Gogfumble
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We buy frozen peas, broad beans and mini corn on the cob. I think that is about it.

We prefer the frozen mini corn on the cobs to fresh ones as the frozen ones are always really nice and sweet and tender. On more than one occasion have we had fresh ones that have still been hard even after cooking them for more than long enough.
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Old 27-04-2010, 16:58
bubbsy
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Neither. Prefer tinned veg.
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Old 29-04-2010, 16:42
Multimedia81
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I prefer fresh veg and usually steam it from the water where I'm cooking potatoes at the same time.
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Old 30-04-2010, 15:16
stripedcat
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Well peas are the best. A bit obvious I know. I also think baby broad beans are pretty good, plus green beans are not bad. Sweetcorn is okay you have to do in the microwave in butter. It is not bad done in water and a saucepan, but it doesn't have the sweetness of the tinned variety. Broccoli, Cauliflower, sprouts are all to mushy in my opinion.
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Old 30-04-2010, 16:13
BcUhTrTyEeRdCUP
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Fresh veg
but do love frozen peas
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