Canned vs. Frozen Produce: Which Time Saver is Better for You?

Canned and frozen produce is an easy, fairly cheap way to put healthier food groups on the dinner table. Plus, being able to pop those frozen peas in the microwave or open a can of baked beans into a pot on the stove is a huge time saver. But here is an interesting question to think about: Which is option is better for you and your family?

According to Fruits and Veggies More Matters, fruits and vegetables that are frozen or canned after harvesting actually have minimal nutrient loss in the packaging process. You see, fruits and veggies that are frozen or canned are immediately packaged after harvesting, so depending on the produce it is likely that freezing and canning can help preserve the nutrients instead of take them away.

There are a few differences between canned and frozen fruits and veggies, however. When it comes to canned produce, the packaging locks in nutrients after harvesting and can last longer on a shelf. Frozen produce locks in nutrients after harvesting as well, but is recommended to be consumed within eight months after purchasing, meaning the life-span of frozen fruits and vegetables is shorter.

If you don't care about locking your fruits and veggies away for months on end, you'd probably like a straight answer, frozen or canned, which one would be a better option? According to Popsugar, frozen fruits and veggies are the way to go. Many canned fruits and vegetables contain high contents of sugar, salt and other preservatives to help the produce last longer.

Overall, there isn't much of a difference between the two. If you prefer canned over frozen, or vice versa, either option will contain the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy diet! Because frozen and canned produce tend to be inexpensive, click here to find out more cheap and healthy foods to find at the grocery store.

>> Read more: 10 Foods You Should (Nearly) Always Buy Frozen, Not Fresh