A berry lover who eats them every day has shared her simple trick for always getting sweet, juicy berries: skip the fresh aisle and head for the frozen section.
Nicola Roy, a Spare Time writer, says frozen berries are consistently sweeter and more succulent than fresh ones once defrosted. Blueberries, she notes, can be surprisingly bitter when bought fresh, but frozen versions avoid this problem.
Why frozen berries win
Roy explains that berries are flash-frozen at peak ripeness immediately after harvesting, sealing in their natural sweetness. This also helps retain nutrients: according to the Martha Stewart blog, berries begin a process called transpiration as soon as they are picked, losing water and gradually nutrients through their skin. The longer a berry sits after picking, the more its nutritional profile diminishes. Because berries destined for freezing are harvested at full ripeness and flash-frozen almost straight away, most nutrients are retained, with only minimal Vitamin C loss.
Roy, who includes berries in her breakfast every morning and snacks on them throughout the day, says she was frustrated by fresh punnets turning mouldy and slimy within 24 hours of being stored in the fridge. The frozen option, she says, keeps far longer and is cheaper.
How to use frozen berries
Roy recommends leaving a bag in the freezer at all times. Berries can be popped in a container and left in the fridge overnight to defrost fully by morning, or eaten virtually straight from frozen.
They work well spooned over yoghurt with seeds and honey, left to thaw slightly before eating. As temperatures drop, simmering berries in a pan with honey and chia seeds makes an ideal porridge topping. Roy also adds frozen berries and chocolate chips to porridge.
She notes the variety on offer is impressive and the price point appealing: a bag of frozen raspberries cost £1.99 at Aldi recently and lasts far longer than a fresh punnet. Other options included blueberries, strawberries, a forest fruits medley, and a 'breakfast topper' pack containing diced strawberry, peach, mango and pineapple, which she recommends picking up on the next visit.
