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Which is Best? Canned, Frozen or Fresh?
By
Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D. Food
Science and Human Nutrition Specialist Colorado
State University Extension, January 22, 1997 Which
is better for your health: fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables? The
answer is: Any and all. Canned fruits and vegetables
often are considered nutritionally inferior to their fresh and frozen counterparts.
While this may be true regarding sugar and salt content, it's not true when it
comes to other nutrients. In fact, in a recent study completed at the University
of Illinois, many of the canned fruits and vegetables evaluated contained as much
or more of certain nutrients than their fresh and frozen counterparts.
For example, most brands of canned apricots, spinach and pumpkin provided more
vitamin A per serving than their fresh- cooked counterparts. Also, canned asparagus,
potatoes and spinach tended to outrank or equal fresh-cooked varieties for vitamin
C. On the other hand, fresh-cooked tomatoes tended to be higher in vitamin C and
fresh-cooked carrots higher in vitamin A per serving than canned or frozen types.
One reason canned (and frozen) fruits and vegetables sometimes
rank nutritionally superior to fresh produce is they're usually processed immediately
after harvest, when nutrient content is at its peak. This is especially true when
it comes to the vitamin C found in green vegetables. The longer a green vegetable
sits on a truck or in the supermarket, the lower its vitamin C content. Because
they are more acidic, fresh (as well as frozen and canned) fruits are less susceptible
to loss of vitamin C during storage. This is not to
say there aren't downsides to eating canned versus fresh and frozen products.
Canned vegetables are notoriously high in sodium and canned fruits packed in syrup
are high in sugar. However, with the growing popularity of low sodium and low
sugar versions of products, most manufacturers now offer low-sodium and salt-free
versions of their canned vegetables. In addition, juice-packed fruits generally
are available at a cost similar to fruits packed in syrup.
The other downside is taste. Many fruit and vegetable lovers simply prefer the
taste, texture and look of fresh and fresh-cooked produce. Canned and fresh-cooked
green beans simply are not the same product. Nor are canned, frozen and fresh-
cooked corn. Still, the University of Illinois study
underscores a message nutritionists have long emphasized: canned and frozen produce
is a nutritionally sound alternative to fresh fruits and veggies. Frozen and canned
products are particularly good to have on hand for times when you can't get to
the store for fresh products or when fresh fruits and vegetables are out of season
or out of your price range. 
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