For the longest time, I believed that only fresh ingredients were truly nutritious, and that once food was frozen, most of its nutrients would disappear. Because of this, I rarely stored anything in my freezer—at most, I used it for ice cubes and the occasional tub of ice cream.

But yesterday, when a friend came over and opened my near-empty freezer, she was completely shocked. She asked, “It’s 2024 and you still don’t store food in your freezer?”
I explained that I disliked frozen food because it “lost all the nutrients.” She laughed and said, “You really need to do some research! There are actually many foods that are more nutritious when frozen.”

Out of curiosity—and honestly, a bit of skepticism—I looked it up. And to my surprise, she was right. Several nutrition studies and food-safety experts confirm that freezing food can lock in nutrients, reduce spoilage, and even preserve food at its peak freshness.

Freezing prevents bacteria from growing, slows enzyme activity, and keeps food safe for longer without preservatives. Nutrition levels remain high as long as the ingredients are high-quality and are frozen correctly. In some cases, frozen produce is even more nutritious because it’s frozen immediately after harvesting—often fresher than “fresh” vegetables that sit for days in transit or on shelves.

Below is a summary of the information I found, as well as a list of 7 frozen foods that may actually be better than their fresh counterparts.

---

1. Frozen Broccoli

Broccoli—also known as green cauliflower—is famous for its powerful health benefits, especially its ability to help prevent certain types of cancer. This benefit comes from its high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals capable of neutralizing free radicals.

Fresh broccoli begins losing nutrients shortly after being harvested. By the time it reaches the market, its vitamin C levels may have already dropped significantly. However, frozen broccoli is typically blanched and flash-frozen within hours of harvesting, which preserves:

• vitamin C

• folate

• fiber

• antioxidants such as sulforaphane

In fact, some studies show that frozen broccoli can retain more nutrients than store-bought fresh broccoli that has spent days in transport.

Why frozen broccoli can be better

• It maintains a stable nutrient profile.

• It is harvested at peak freshness.

• It lasts longer and reduces food waste.

• It is pre-washed and partially prepped, saving cooking time.

Frozen broccoli can be used in stir-fries, soups, oven dishes, or smoothies without compromising nutritional value.