OS Vegetables, whats best fresh or frozen?

quintwins

butler_helen wrote: »

it's actually only just occured to me I could cut up my own veg when it's cheap and then freeze myself! thank you

i peel and chop my own carrots, parsnips,mushrooms,cellery and throw them straight in the pan/slowcooker i would prob work with leeks and onions but we always use these quick enough to keep them in the fridge

Ladyhawk

McKneff wrote: »

Fresh food is far better for you, looks nicer and tastes nicer.

Um - what are you basing this assertion on? I agree on the taste and texture on some frozen veg - but better for you? No it's not.

rachbc

i like frozen peas, sweetcorn, broad beans and spinach (leaf not chopped) but find brocolli, cauli, mushrooms, pepper or beans too soggy. Onions are pricier frozen iirc

salski

This is something Im glad I read up on as frozen veg is on my next weeks shopping list. I always have the steam bags as DH wont eat veg so its only me so I will be buying more bits ike onions etc x

ALIBOBSY

I have yet to find a veg (or fruit)you can't freeze, but sometimes its what form you freeze it in and what you can use it for after.

EG potatos not good raw or cooked plain, but roast,chipped (both part cooked) or mash do freeze, frozen berries chopped bananas mangos etc can make great smoothies slushies is used frozen. Many fruits are better cooked so make compotes and freeze or cook into pies/crumbles.
Most "firm" veg like brussel sprouts, carrots,swede,brocolli and many more just need chopping/peeling as normal, blanch in boiling water and cool then "open freeze" on trays so they freeze quickly. These vag can be used to cook from frozen and don't taste any different to the fresh.

Most "alliums" also freeze well, I use the open freeze on a tray techniche and then cook from frozen. Onions and leeks are fab. I don't freeze garlic very often, but if some is looking a bit sad or we have a lot I would chop it in with some onion,carrot and celery so a ready made base for soup/stews etc.

I do like fresh fruit and veg, but the freezer can save extra fruit and veg so it doesn't go off, and is great if you get whoopsied items or a cheap bumper pack.

Given that a huge amount of the food wasted in this country is fresh fruit and veg it makes sense to freeze your own stuff as well as use frozen veg. I always use frozen peas until my fresh garden ones come in mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

ali x

ALIBOBSY

Another idea is tinned veg. I avoid most of it, but sweetcorn is little different from the fresh in taste or texture, mushrooms for sauces and soups are ok, plus tinned tomatos are brilliant (I reckon the best "supermarket brand" by a looooonnnggg way is Aldis plum toms-tescos are yuck).
If you like beans (not just baked lol) and pulses both dried and tinned work perfectly, good in soups, stews etc and are brilliant for padding out sauces etc-big fans of lentils here prefer them to pad mince rather than oats, but its a personal choice.

ali x

valk_scot

I've got an allotment so I'm definately on the side of "Fresh veg is tastier and better for you" camp. But my home grown fresh veg is really fresh, of course. The rest of the time I resort to the supermarket and either eat what looks nicest in the fresh section at a reasonable price, or use frozen or tinned.

Got to say though, OP...if your OH is coming back in a week and usually budgets for buying fresh because that's what he prefers to cook with and eat...he's not going to be that thrilled to find the freezer bulging with bulk quantities of the cheapest possible version of everything. Some veg freezes fine, like peas and sweetcorn, but frozen cauliflower and broccoli is usually watery and tasteless. Cheapest possible frozen chicken? Usually tastes of fish meal with the texture of a decaying mushroom. And a lot of the really basic mince has a high proportion of fat and gristle.

In other words frozen can be fine but you've got to be selective as to what you buy, same as for any sort of foodstuff. He's probably spent years working out the best buys to fit your budget and suit your tastes. If I were you I'd just work on this weeks shopping and then when he comes back, ask him to educate you into his way of shopping. you'll probably find there's more to it than just the price when it comes to making purchasing decisions. I know it is with me!

Pitlanepiglet

salski wrote: »

This is something Im glad I read up on as frozen veg is on my next weeks shopping list. I always have the steam bags as DH wont eat veg so its only me so I will be buying more bits ike onions etc x

:eek: I always wondered who actually bought steam bags of veg....they look lovely but last time I priced them they were hideously expensive compared to keeping a couple of bigger bags of frozen veg in the freezer and chucking a handful in a saucepan.

PasturesNew

If my OH were off in Vegas gambling for a week, I'm d4mned if I'd be spending time in Tesco trying to save 20p.... I'd be ordering takeaways and putting my feet up in front of the telly.

valk_scot

PasturesNew wrote: »

If my OH were off in Vegas gambling for a week, I'm d4mned if I'd be spending time in Tesco trying to save 20p.... I'd be ordering takeaways and putting my feet up in front of the telly.

Too bloomin' right!