Is Frozen Food Cheaper?

Is frozen food cheaper than fresh may be a question you have pondered while browsing the supermarket aisles. 

This simple swap can prove to be more convenient and save you money on your food shopping. 

Latest reports show frozen food is outperforming fresh in supermarkets, as shoppers try to beat the soaring cost of living. 

With food prices rising at their fastest rate for 45 years, it’s unsurprising people are seeking out extra ways to cut their spending. 

This article is going to explore the frozen foods that are cheaper than fresh, and what the advantages and disadvantages are of filling your freezer. 

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Is frozen food cheaper than fresh?

Yes, often frozen food is cheaper than fresh. The savings you can achieve by swapping to frozen food is really quite impressive, but it’s not cheaper when it comes to every item and you always need to double check the prices.

Let’s look at a few examples of fresh vs frozen costs. These prices are from Tesco, which reports seeing a significant rise in the number of shoppers buying frozen goods.

ITEM	FROZEN COST	FRESH COST
Chicken	£3.79 per kg*	£8 per kg
Beef mince 5% fat	£10.50 per kg	£6.58 per kg*
Spinach	£1.78 per kg*	£3.54 per kg
Broccoli	£1.12 per kg*	£1.92 per kg
Long grain rice	£2.88 per kg	£2.60 per kg*
Strawberries	£6.86 per kg*	£7.44 per kg

As you can see from these examples, the cost of frozen food is in some cases less than half the price of fresh. 

However frozen isn’t always cheaper, and I was surprised that the beef mince came out so much cheaper for fresh. 

The difference is especially stark in the cost of meat. The answer is to always check the price, but generally you will find fresh veg is more expensive than frozen veg.

Top Tip: Whenever you are grocery shopping always check the prices of equivalent products and check the price by weight. Often you will find supermarket own brands are cheaper, but not always. Do the same when there are offers, as an offer on a product may not be all it seems. For example the supermarket may discount a smaller packaged item, but the larger item may still work out cheaper by weight. 

Should you choose frozen over fresh?

Some people can be a little suspicious of frozen food, and it’s understandable why. 

The taste and texture can be a little different to fresh food and may require an adjustment on your part to get used to it. 

Also people are worried about what to actually do with it. For example they may be concerned about ensuring meat is defrosted thoroughly, especially poultry, to ensure it is safe to cook and eat.

Frozen food is a little different to work with in the kitchen. I’ve overcooked frozen cauliflower before, so you definitely need to adjust your cooking times with frozen veg!

However there are also a lot of advantages to buying frozen food, aside from the cost saving. 

People assume they need to defrost everything thoroughly before cooking, which is true with chicken, but with things like fish and vegetables you can cook those from frozen. 

This makes it very convenient for you as they last longer in the freezer than in a fridge, but you can pull them out of the freezer for a quick meal when you need them at the drop of a hat. 

So they may think they have to plan well ahead with what they’re having for dinner, when actually you can still be a bit spontaneous with cooking from your freezer. 

You tend to get larger amounts of frozen food – for example in bags of veg like spinach and cauliflower – so you can pick out the amounts you need for dinner and then seal up the bag and put it back. 

So it can save you trips to the supermarket, which in itself is a money saving because you may find yourself adding extras to your trolley as you shop (especially when you shop hungry). 

Also you can take advantage of money off deals that are running right now, and simply add the items into freezer for another week even if you won’t eat them immediately. 

It gives you a little more flexibility.

Disadvantages of frozen food 

• The freezing process can impact the flavour and texture of the food. 
• Some frozen foods – especially ready meals – can be higher in sodium which is not great for your health. 
• Meat needs to be fully defrosted. You’ll need to decide what you’re cooking ahead of time to give meat plenty of time to thaw safely. 
• Freezer burn. Meat and veg can get freezer burn if they are not wrapped properly. 
• You’ll need a decent sized freezer. 
• Food can get a bit lost in your freezer. It’s important to take regular stock takes. 

Advantages of frozen food 

• Cheaper.
• Super convenient. You won’t be watching use by dates like a hawk as you do with fresh meat in your fridge. 
• Vegetables and fruit freeze very well, retaining much of their vitamins and nutrients. In some cases frozen fruits and veg can retain more of the good stuff than fresh.  
• Saves you time. Frozen veg tends to cook faster than fresh. 
• Less risk of waste. If you’re someone who tends to change their mind about what they want to eat tonight, then at least with frozen food you know it will keep for longer. 
• Greater flexibility. Fresh food has a shorter shelf life once you get it home, whereas frozen foods tend to last for six months. So if you want to rearrange your meal plan, you can. 
• Helps you avoid the Christmas crowds. Buying a frozen turkey means you can get your bird a few weeks before the mania sets in right before Christmas. It’s also much cheaper. 
• Less wastage in the supply chain, which is better for farmers and the environment. 

Why are frozen vegetables cheaper than fresh?

Frozen vegetables are often cheaper than fresh because it is much simpler to transport them to the supermarket shelves. 

When farms transport fresh vegetables or fruit they have a very short window to get them sold. 

However freezing them means the window of usability is much longer. 

Can you eat frozen fruit without cooking?

Yes you can eat frozen fruit straight from the bag, although of course you may want to let them defrost a bit before you start to eat them. 

Frozen fruit that has thawed can last for a couple of days in the fridge, although it’s best eaten within 24 hours. Do be sure to wash before eating. 

In contrast, it is recommend that you always cook frozen vegetables before eating them.  

Frozen foods to avoid 

We all love the odd treat, but if you are trying to eat healthily as a family then these are the frozen foods to avoid due to their sodium and fat content: 

• Pizzas
• Pastries 
• Deep fried foods 
• Sausages 
• Ready meals 

Final thoughts

I hope this article has given you some ideas for how switching to frozen food could save you money.

You may also like my frugal living tips and these delicious cheap family meals costing as little as £1 a head.