The Best And Worst Frozen Vegetables

It's not hard to come across someone who hates at least one type of vegetable (if not many). Brussels sprouts are commonly despised, lima beans are pretty high on that list, and spinach isn't far behind. But more often than not, these vegetables were never given a fighting chance, being reheated from a frozen state and never tasted fresh.

When you opt for frozen veggies, you're gambling with flavor. We know that fresh produce is not always an option -- whether it's out of season or just too pricey -- and so at times frozen is the way to go. Some vegetables work great frozen and others are just destroyed from the arctic chill. Click through the slideshow below to see which make out okay and which are best to avoid.

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Comments

[Fromageball]

12:40 PM on 05/20/2012

I'm going to have to try fresh lima beans. I've only had the frozen ones that are like eating dry, mealy chalk. They used to come in those bags of "mixed vegetables" where everything is diced up. I've found that most of the things I didn't like as a kid have either become palatable or one of my favorite foods when I have them fresh or prepare a different way.

[marinfan]

02:46 PM on 05/18/2012

I love brussel sprouts. Pour olive oil, salt and pepper on them, pop them in the oven and I think they end up tasting like popcorn.

I have had great frozen asparagus, and this is coming from someone who grew up with fresh asparagus (Stockton, CA). I've also had great frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. In actuality, frozen vegetables are "fresher" because they are frozen soon after they are harvested.

[capitaldysfunction]

04:06 AM on 05/18/2012

Frozen limas ain't bad.

[oldgraymare]

08:29 AM on 05/17/2012

thank goodness my two kids (who are totally grown and having kids of their own now) always like veggies....I'd like to think it was because I fed them soft finger food veggies from the time they could first pick up a piece and gum it....but it was probably because my mother made THE world's best ratatouille.....I'd add little pieces of chicken to it, dump it over rice, and the kids would wolf it down. Thanks mom.....your talent will live on!

[jonathanzimmel]

01:49 PM on 05/16/2012

i buy frozen broccoli from a wholesaler (BJ's, sam's club, costco) and freeze it all the time. the way i heat it up it does not smell as the article claims.

maybe that was the author's armpits or their spouse farted but i doubt it was the broocoli if cooked correctly

[ReadyForMyCloseup]

12:24 PM on 05/16/2012

This article is about nothing more than personal bias. Brussels sprouts? I actually like them better from frozen than fresh (the freezing seems to mellow their sharpness). I like carrots just fine from the freezer, but NOTHING beats fresh corn--freezing toughens the kernel skins. Broccoli and cauliflower from the freezer, cooked just tender in a microwave or steamer, are great. And, since I can't seem to find fresh limas locally, frozen ones (either Fordhook or baby) are just fine. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will agree with me, and plenty who won't. It's all about personal tastes.

[Elizabeth Dickinson]

02:59 PM on 05/16/2012

I am one who agrees with you. It depends upon how the veggie is prepared and personal likes. This, I thought was a stupid article.

[mary896]

11:59 AM on 05/16/2012

I buy fresh whenever possible. Having year-round farmers markets helps, plus two each week for 8 months of the year. I like to steam or saute any veg with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, maybe some lemon juice or vinegar or wine for flare. I treat frozen veg as an emergency veg only. They never taste nearly as good as fresh. But, when needed, I keep some frozen fruit and veg on hand. I'm LUCKY that my co-op carries bulk frozen corn, peas, spinach, squash, blueberries, marrionberries and the like sourced from a farm located about a mile down the road. Year round local frozen veg that's very inexpensive..AND organic AND locally grown and processed. Very lucky indeed. And healthy!

[carterwhitson]

11:05 AM on 05/16/2012

You're nuts. Frozen brussel sprouts are excellent when roasted with a little olive oil and garlic.

[Benjo333]

10:56 AM on 05/16/2012

Corn and carrots are the only veggies I can think of better frozen...though, who doesnt love a tator tot? Is that still a potato tho?

[MJinCanada]

10:51 AM on 05/16/2012

Peppers don't freeze well either. But if you roast the garlic first, you can freeze the cloves and have them handy for any recipe.

What I really dislike are the frozen vegetable medleys that look so good on the package, but are a blend of veggies that don't freeze well in the first place and everything ends up tasting of the strongest vegetable, like peppers and onions.

[Progressneeded]

10:42 AM on 05/16/2012

The reason American hate so many vegetables is that they steam them or microwave them. Many vegetables are meant to be sauteed with olive oil, garlic, and onions, then topped with salt and a splash of lemon!

[Benjo333]

10:53 AM on 05/16/2012

Always fresh if possible and in season...

Steaming works as long as its steamed to the correct point...

Asparagus or broccoli, for example, are both wonderful when steamed correctly and served with butter, lemon and sea salt.

Something are better roasted like the mighty cauliflower or brussel sprout...in olive oil with a squeeze of lemon at the end and sea salt (ok I confess I sometimes add parmesan and crushed red pepper too).

[MJinCanada]

10:57 AM on 05/16/2012

So true. A Mediterranean region cookbook is one of the best things you can get to learn how to get creative with vegetables and learn to love them. An Indian cookbook is a good addition too. Aloo gobi -- yum!

[jemiltd]

10:41 AM on 05/16/2012

You have to know how to cook brussel sprouts, fresh or frozen. My brother won't eat them unless I've cooked them.

[renegade500]

10:40 AM on 05/16/2012

I'm so glad to know edamame has gotten the thumbs up. I love grabbing a small bag of it and giving it a quick boil - that's some good eating. I have also found frozen spinach really easy to cook with, so I'll keep buying it for sure. Even if there is some possibility of some nutritional loss, it's still better to eat it frozen than not at all. Frozen artichokes - that was a surprise, I'll have to give them a shot.

[prodigaldaughter]

10:36 AM on 05/16/2012

This article is so full of misinformation, it's mind boggling. I'm a great cook who knows when you can't get fresh, try frozen. They're great for cream soups, for example. Cauliflower, fresh or frozen, is good mashed with garlic as a mashed potato substitute or stretcher. Because they're usually softer than fresh veggies, they puree beautifully. I make cream of asparagus, cauliflower, and broccoli soups all the time. Frozen broccoli is absolutely as good as fresh, mostly because people tend to overcook the fresh, and added to chicken or pasta casseroles with or without a bechamel or marinara sauce, adds flavor, texture and color. I just tried frozen brussel sprouts in butter sauce, and they were better than fresh. The 12 year old who doesn't know how to boil water who wrote this article, needs to take a few cooking courses and learn how to adapt different foods to work in recipes...By the way, frozen fruits are best for smoothies, chiffon or mousse pies. Peaches are to-die-for. Frozen blueberries are usually terrible, though. Stick to fresh, bring them home and put them in a zip-lock bag, and freeze them that way...

[renegade500]

10:49 AM on 05/16/2012

I eat a lot of frozen broccoli and have never found it to be bad or smelly. As long as you don't overcook it, and put just a smidge of butter or salt, that's some good eating. I never think about mashing cauliflower, but I have some frozen in my freezer right now, and I think I'll mash it up soon.

[Benjo333]

10:54 AM on 05/16/2012

Cauliflower is a great low carb alternative to the potato and more nutrient power as well...

[Dominar]

10:32 AM on 05/16/2012

If your broccoli stinks when you cook it, you aren't doing it right.

[diabeticdeath]

02:35 PM on 05/16/2012

a wild animal did sumthin on it , washing wont help