Is frozen broccoli more expensive than fresh broccoli? (2023)

Is it cheaper to buy fresh or frozen broccoli?

Broccoli: You're usually better off with fresh broccoli if you want to retain the right flavor and texture. But frozen broccoli still provides a cheaper alternative, with the added bonus of being able to grab a bag of only florets if that's your thing.

Frozen produce lasts longer and is often more affordable than fresh fruits and veggies.

When it's in full outdoor season locally, fresh broccoli is dirt cheap - and will almost always be cheaper than frozen.

Thankfully, frozen broccoli is just as good for you as fresh broccoli. Frozen broccoli is typically picked and frozen at peak freshness, so it will maintain its nutritional value.

Purchasing Broccoli

Select broccoli with firm stems, crisp leaves and tightly closed dark green or purplish-green buds. Bunches with yellow or open buds and woody stems are no longer fresh.

Freezing vegetables seals in nutrients

Research suggests that freezing produce “locks in” nutrients, while fresh veggies slowly lose nutrients between the time they're picked and the time they hit your table. Once harvested, fresh produce often travels thousands of miles before it arrives at the store.

Q: I want to substitute frozen or canned vegetables for fresh in a recipe. How do I do that? A: Generally you can use fresh, frozen and canned vegetables interchangeably in a recipe. For 2 cups of fresh cut-up vegetables, substitute 2 cups of frozen, loose-pack vegetables that have been cooked and drained.

Frozen vegetables are not as nutritious as fresh vegetables because they lose a lot of their vitamins and minerals when they are frozen. They also have a higher water content than fresh vegetables, which means that the nutrients in them are diluted.

One solution: buying frozen, which is just as healthy and much cheaper than fresh. In fact, studies have found that the nutritional value of many frozen foods (especially the amounts of vitamin A and C and folic acid) of some frozen fruits and vegetables is greater than fresh-stored options.

What is a good price for broccoli?

Buy in season. Although most fresh fruit and vegetables are available year-round, some are less expensive when they are in season. Also keep in mind that all forms of fruits and vegetables are nutritious, so canned and frozen forms are OK too! Buy more.

According to the USDA, the cheapest frozen vegetables are mixed peas and carrots. These mixes generally cost around 40 cents per edible cup.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the healthiest foods you can eat. They're full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, all of which can improve health. Eating more fruits and vegetables may even help protect against heart disease ( 1 ).