A self-confessed berry enthusiast has shared a simple supermarket hack for getting the juiciest, sweetest berries every time: buy them frozen. Nicola Roy, a Spare Time writer, says she has consistently found that frozen berries are far sweeter and juicier than fresh once defrosted, and that they last much longer than a punnet.
Why frozen beats fresh
Roy explains that frozen berries are flash frozen at peak ripeness after picking, which locks in the sweet taste. She notes that blueberries in particular can be deceivingly bitter when fresh, while a bag in the freezer guarantees a juicy and sweet addition to breakfast.
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 bound for freezing are harvested at 100% ripeness and flash-frozen almost immediately, the nutrients are preserved with only minimal Vitamin C loss.
How to eat frozen berries
Roy suggests putting frozen berries on top of yoghurt with seeds and honey and letting them melt a little before eating. She also recommends cooking them down in a pot with honey and chia seeds, perfect for spooning on top of porridge, especially as the weather gets colder. They can also be eaten straight from frozen or defrosted overnight in the fridge.
Roy notes that frozen berries are cheap and offer variety. She mentions that a bag of frozen raspberries cost her just £1.99 in Aldi, and that the store also had blueberries, strawberries, a forest fruits mix, and a 'breakfast topper' pack containing diced strawberry, peach, mango and pineapple.
