Which Is Better : Fresh Produce Or Frozen Produce?

There's a long-standing myth that freezer-section produce is "worse for you" than fresh produce from a farm. The truth, however, is often the opposite.

Because of upgrades in packaging and delivery methods, frozen produce is often more fresh than "fresh produce", and contains higher nutrient levels, too.

The key is to know how to shop for it.

The main advantage that frozen produce carries over fresh produce is that frozen produce is picked in its most ripe -- and most nutrient-rich --  state. Then, when the produce is flash-frozen, its nutrients become locked-in and sealed.

Fresh produce, by contrast, tends to be picked before it's ripe, and is left to ripen in transit.

Because food nutrients degrade with exposure to heat and/or light, the longer it takes produce to get from the farm to the supermarket, the fewer nutrients the produce will have. 

Did you know? Fresh fruit and vegetables might sit for up 2 weeks before they're sold by your local supermarket. And not to mention how long it may take you to consume them.

Another advantage of frozen produce is that it's often less expensive than fresh fruit. For example, looking at the cost of strawberries bought in bulk:

• Frozen strawberries : $1.71 per pound
• Fresh strawberries : $1.90 per pound

This isn't to say that frozen produce is "better" than fresh produce. It just depends on your circumstance. If you plan to consume the produce within a short period from purchase, and can account for its ripeness and freshness, fresh produce may be preferred. Or, if you eat organic produce, free from pesticides and chemicals -- certain produce may be better eaten fresh.

But know the facts. Frozen produce can be healthier and cheaper -- a good combination for your household.

Are You Throwing Out Food Before It Goes Bad?

Just because the expiration date has passed, that doesn't mean that the food is spoiled. It's a deep-seated misconception that results in the average American household wasting 14% of all food purchases.

The estimated cost of waste like that totals in the billions.

The data comes from a study commissioned by ShelfLifeAdvice.com, a website devoted to helping households cut food bills by providing better information of how to properly store food; of how food expiration dates work; and, by defining what "use by", "sell by" and other product dates actually mean.

Among survey participants, women fared better than men, older people fared better than younger people, and married people fared better than non-married people.  Overall, however, there's room for better understanding.

For example:

• Milk will remain safe for about a week after the "sell by" date. It's safe to drink beyond that, but the taste may change for the worse.
• Cottage Cheese will remain safe for about 2 weeks after the "sell by" date.
• Mayonnaise will last for up to 4 months after opening, when kept cold

And, perhaps the biggest surprise, is that eggs, if properly refrigerated, will remain fresh for up to 5 weeks after the "sell by" date on the carton.

Read the survey's complete results on the ShelfLifeAdvice.com website, including facts you may not have known about keeping your food beyond its expiration date.  What you learn will keep you from pitching food prematurely, and help you save money at the grocery store.