Updated

Updated · Onlymyhealth · Jun 15

2017 Study Finds Frozen Berries Match Fresh Nutrition as 5-Day Refrigeration Cuts Vitamins

Updated

Updated · Onlymyhealth · Jun 15

2017 Study Finds Frozen Berries Match Fresh Nutrition as 5-Day Refrigeration Cuts Vitamins

Q: What is the one mistake that destroys the key nutrients in your frozen berries?

The key mistake is thawing frozen berries and then refreezing them. Dietitian Chitra BK of KIMS Hospitals says repeated freeze-thaw cycles can lead to nutrient loss, especially in delicate vitamins such as vitamin C, while also damaging texture and quality. Boiling frozen berries can also reduce nutrients, but the clearest avoidable mistake is letting them thaw and then putting them back in the freezer. The broader evidence shows freezing itself is not the problem. Berries are usually frozen soon after harvest, which helps preserve fibre, antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins. A 2017 study in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis found frozen blueberries and strawberries had vitamin levels comparable to fresh berries. In some cases, frozen berries performed better than “fresh” berries that had been kept in the refrigerator for several days, because refrigerated storage caused notable nutrient decline. To protect the nutritional value of frozen berries, keep them consistently frozen until use, thaw only the amount you need, and avoid repeated refreezing. Choosing unsweetened frozen berries is also advised to avoid added sugar. If berries show large ice clumps, that can be a sign they thawed and refroze, which may mean lower quality.

3 articles · Updated · Onlymyhealth · Jun 15

Frozen berries retain nearly all key nutrients and can be as healthy as fresh fruit, according to dieticians and a 2017 study comparing blueberries and strawberries.
Berries are typically frozen immediately after harvest, which helps preserve vitamin C, folate, provitamin A, fibre, antioxidants and polyphenols with only minimal nutrient loss.
Five days of refrigeration can reduce nutrients in fresh berries, while frozen versions often maintained the same vitamin levels and sometimes outperformed fridge-stored fruit.
Unsweetened frozen berries also offer longer shelf life and less food waste; experts advise thawing them properly and avoiding repeated refreezing or boiling.