The One Frozen Vegetable I At all times Select Over Recent—and Why It Tastes Sweeter

I sit up for pea season all yr lengthy: The season—just some weeks in April—is heartbreakingly brief, so when peas seem on the farmers market, I snap them proper up. Although I do not normally buy recent peas after they’re out of season, my yearning for the vegetable acquired the higher of me one January. I purchased a bundle of recent peas from the grocery retailer, hoping to make a easy salad. I shelled and blanched the greens, solely to seek out them laughably small and missing the signature sweetness of the spring peas I really like. Upset however nonetheless anticipating my salad, I made the recipe once more the subsequent night—besides this time, I reached for frozen peas, and was rewarded with scrumptious pops of sweetness. I used to be pleasantly shocked: Till that second, I had turned my nostril up at frozen peas. The ingredient has since turn out to be a staple, and I by no means depart the grocery retailer with out it.

It is a frequent false impression that recent greens are superior to frozen ones. Whereas that’s the case for sure produce—leafy lettuce and uncooked tomatoes are two apparent examples—many store-bought frozen greens are simply as (if not much more) flavorful and tender to arrange. They’re additionally extremely handy, and having frozen greens stocked can prevent from going with out veggies when your fridge is naked. All of it comes right down to selecting the best frozen vegetable for the job, which requires understanding how they’re frozen.

A Little bit of Frozen Vegetable Science

As soon as picked, many greens—together with peas, corn, and carrots—quickly convert their sugars to starches, leading to a lack of sweetness. There is a appreciable distinction in sweetness between a freshly picked pea and one which’s been sitting out for a day; the latter tends to be a bit harder, too.

Most frozen meals producers comply with a exact system: As soon as picked at peak ripeness, the greens are blanched and instantly flash-frozen, which locks within the sugars and prevents the greens from turning into starchy. Blanching helps scale back the variety of microorganisms on the floor of greens, whereas freezing halts their development. (When the greens thaw, nonetheless, any surviving micro organism can resume multiplying, which may quickly result in spoilage.) The greens are then packed and shipped to grocery shops.

It is not solely the freezing that issues—it is the standard of the freezer, too. Not like dwelling freezers, industrial freezers are highly effective sufficient to flash-freeze greens in minutes. The distinction within the high quality of quickly frozen and slowly frozen greens is appreciable, and comes right down to ice crystallization: Vegatables and fruits principally include water trapped inside particular person cells. As they freeze, the water varieties ice crystals. Pace issues: The slower the freeze, the bigger the ice crystals. Bigger ice crystals can rupture cell partitions, inflicting the produce to turn out to be mushy when thawed. Speedy freezing, alternatively, creates smaller ice crystals, minimizing cell wall harm and serving to forestall sogginess when the greens are cooked.

The Finest Greens to Purchase Frozen

Listed below are a couple of of my favourite greens to purchase frozen—all of them keep their taste and texture superbly, and save a ton of prep time.  

Peas

Recent peas are at their peak for just some weeks within the spring and do not maintain up lengthy as soon as harvested. Plus, they’re tedious to shell. 

Frozen peas, alternatively, are picked at peak ripeness and are available shelled, making them a scrumptious and handy choice. And when you do not use a complete bag, you’ll be able to stash it away for later, figuring out they’re there when you want them. I am going to fortunately attain for frozen peas when making ready salads, pasta, and fast stir-fries.

Corn

Nothing beats candy, juicy, recent corn on the cob, whether or not you are consuming on the cob or slicing the kernels from the cob to make a salad or one other dish, however within the low season, when recent corn falls brief, the frozen model nonetheless delivers. And typically, you may not wish to shuck six ears of corn or take care of all that silk. Whereas methods like the inverted bowl methodology make shucking simpler, there isn’t any disgrace in selecting comfort. Frozen corn is a dependable, candy, and handy choice, prepared everytime you want it. My favourite methods to make use of it are in soups and chowders, salads, and creamy corn casserole.

Spinach, Broccoli, and Inexperienced Beans

I do not at all times purchase these greens frozen, however they work effectively in a pinch—and save me from having browning, wilted greens lurking at the back of my fridge. Frozen spinach is nice in creamy dips, curries, and lasagna. Equally, I attain for frozen broccoli and inexperienced beans after I make stir-fries, soups, and even sheet-pan dinners.

How you can Prepare dinner With and Use Frozen Greens

Upon getting your frozen peas, corn, and carrots useful, how do you prepare dinner with them? You could be tempted to thaw your frozen greens, since that’s the same old transfer for frozen substances like meat and inventory. However resist the urge: When greens are frozen, ice crystals puncture their cell partitions. As soon as the greens are thawed, all that liquid will get launched directly and swimming pools across the greens, resulting in mushiness and diluted taste.

As a substitute, prepare dinner the greens straight from frozen. Whereas it will depend on the recipe, it is normally a good suggestion to prepare dinner the greens over excessive warmth: Including the greens to a scorching pan helps drive off extra floor ice and ensures that the greens have much less time to sit down in their very own water. Then, toss the greens into your favourite grain bowls, soups, fried rice, risotto, and even hummus—and serve them, figuring out that frozen greens can typically be simply pretty much as good as recent ones, if not higher.

September 2025