OS Vegetables, whats best fresh or frozen?

fionajbanana

I don't buy frozen veg as it takes up too much space in my freezer.

I only go for peas, sweetcorn, broad beans.

Things like cauliflower, sprouts and broccoli look awful and taste too watery.

teddysmum

I don't like frozen carrots, as the texture seems different. However, frozen vegetables are much cheaper when you are single or a couple, as you just use what you want, rather than buying the size (eg cabbage) on offer. This also caters for family members with different preferences.

We have recently enjoyed Tesco's fresh sliced green beans, but noticing that they have gone up to £1.30, for a small bag , bought frozen; several times the volume just for 75p. They tasted as good, too, as I mixed some leftover fresh with the frozen.

Liham

Due to my situation (single, cooking for one) I'm a massive fan of frozen veg. Fresh vegetables often go off before I can finish them all, unless I'm on the ball and have blanched some to freeze or put them in a soup!

I find that steaming - rather than boiling - the frozen veg makes it taste much better and less watery

redfox

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

pelirocco

I only like fresh , but will freeze my own and thats ok . I think it maybe a texture thing as i dont parboil before freezing

SailorSam

Being by myself frozen veg is much more convenient 'cos i can have a wide choice without fear of it going off. I buy a lot of carrots fresh 'cos i eat them raw and fresh onions 'cos they seem to be the base for lots that i cook.

Steve059

Fresh, if possible. If not, then frozen veg' is almost as good and infinitely better than no veg'.

maman

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

I used to always buy fresh and was a bit disparaging of frozen, but lately I have completely changed my views for some veg. The veg I now always get frozen are:
Peas
Mixed vegetables
Sweetcorn
cauliflower
brocolli
green beans (whole)
leeks
stir fry mixed veg
spinach
broad beans
Chopped celery carrot and onion from Sainsburys (when I can get it because they often don't have it in)


The ones I still buy fresh are
Potatoes (don't like oven chips!)
onions
peppers
mushrooms
butternut squash
cabbage
carrots (although I do like Aunt Bessies carrot and swede mash!)
parsnips (again I do like AB roasting parsnips!)
Courgettes
sweet potatoes (although I did buy the new frozen Tescos sweet potato chips and they were lovely)

I think that it is true that, unless you grow your own, then frozen probably have the most nutrients but I just don't like the texture of frozen cabbage or butternut squash for example.

I'd say my list of fresh/frozen is similar to yours. Differences:

• I've got frozen red cabbage ready cooked up. Currently HM but AB's is fine too.
• courgette glut in summer means I have loads of my own in there too
• I've just bought frozen mushrooms at £1 per kg in Farmfoods, vastly cheaper than fresh and plan to use for casseroles
• frozen peppers are fine for all but salads or cooking whole, usually buy when cheap and freeze myself
• I'm more likely to use tinned carrots as a standby than frozen
• recently discovered you can freeze beansprouts so I buy them when I go to Asda (best value I think) and freeze for adding handsful to stir-fry etc
• I've never fancied frozen cauli or broccoli

Does anyone remember when Asda used to do frozen aubergine slices? I miss those, perfect for making moussaka. I don't think they sell them anywhere else.

joedenise

My list is also similar but like Maman I also keep frozen mushrooms & peppers which I've frozen myself for stews. I only use fresh carrots - don't like frozen at all even when I've frozen them myself!

I do buy frozen cauli and broccoli but only use occasionally.

Denise

meritaten

I mainly buy fresh 'in season' veg, if I cant use it all I will freeze the remainder. I have nothing against frozen veg - its just that it takes up space in the freezer! I am quite happy to use frozen veg if the veg I want is 'out of season' so the price has risen!