Dole Frozen Strawberries vs. Fresh Strawberries?

_lyndseybrooke_
_lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm switching things up with my daily protein shake next week and making a more summer-y smoothie (protein powder, almond milk, water, 1/2 frozen banana, frozen strawberries, baby spinach) instead of my usual chocolate peanut butter mix. I'm trying to figure out if I should by Dole's frozen strawberries or if I should buy fresh strawberries and freeze them myself.

I'm not all that concerned with the nutritional aspect since the Dole strawberries do not have sugar added or unnecessary ingredients, but I'm wondering about the taste and the price. I can compare the prices once I get to the grocery store this weekend, but is pre-frozen fruit generally more or less expensive than fresh, barring any sales? Also, is there any noticeable difference in taste if I'll be just blending it either way? I've honestly never used fruit from the freezer section before.

Replies

  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    frozen is cheaper in my experience, and if its in a smoothie you wont notice a difference. i find they are a bit more sweet if anything but it wont be noticeable mixed in with all the other ingredients
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I tremendously dislike frozen strawberries.

    With the single exception of smoothies. I find they are a great addition.
  • BernadetteChurch
    BernadetteChurch Posts: 2,210 Member
    Frozen should be cheaper, plus I've heard frozen foods retain more nutrients than "fresh" as they're not hanging around on supermarket shelves until their use by dates, but are frozen soon after harvesting. There's also less waste with frozen as it's not going to go off in your fridge/fruit bowl. So you win all round really.
  • Brige2269
    Brige2269 Posts: 354 Member
    Frozen should be fine for smoothies. In my experience, when you thaw prefrozen, it's mushy and not as tastey, but if you freeze your own fresh strawberries, they thaw nicely and almost look as fresh. Depends on what you use them for.
  • candyinmyheels
    candyinmyheels Posts: 34 Member
    If you live in/near a berry growing region, you might be able to get some good deals for fresh berries when they are in season. Generally I find that the rest of the year, the frozen berries are cheaper. (I try to freeze some fresh berries when they are local and in season, unless I eat them all when they are fresh). Typically i find the fresh local ones to be waaay sweeter than the frozen ones.
    Also sometimes stores just have random sales on fresh berries if their stock has been there a while and is superripe/not selling. It's always worth checking.
    I think most fruits that I freeze myself when they are ripe have a more intense flavor in smoothies.
  • rachelhaueter
    rachelhaueter Posts: 41 Member
    I like buying the Dole Frozen Strawberries and Bananas for my smoothies. I use one heaping cup per smoothie and find I can get about two out of the bag with a few pieces left over. I live in East Tennessee and here the prices is just over 3$ per bag at the Evil Empire (WalMart). If I go to the produce section, there are packs of the fresh strawberries for 1.49$ each as they are in season currently. I know if I buy one of those and add in the bananas I'll get way more smoothies out of them. I couldn't tell you one helpful thing as far as the taste is concerned as I've not tried with the fresh strawberries yet.

    You may try what I've done.....see if there is some sort of farm in your area or nearby where you can pick them. I was looking up any local places to take my Daisy Troop in the fall to pick some apples and we have one place here that is open year around and you can go pick the fruit(s) of the season for a very very reasonable price per bushel or basket. I want to go for some strawberries and freeze them for later uses. Just a thought. =)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • lose4life4me
    lose4life4me Posts: 2 Member
    It's nice to use frozen fruit...just throw it in & it adds the cold without adding a lot of ice cubes and watering it down.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I've noticed the frozen Strawberries are colder. Not sure what's going on there but they're OK other than that.
    winning
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    Thanks everyone! Frozen it is!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Thanks everyone! Frozen it is!

    Do you want to build a snowmannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn?

    hate that movie.

    but the overly censored video of that song is priceless.

    Do you want to **** a snow man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • kristydi
    kristydi Posts: 781 Member
    I prefer to save the fresh in season berries for eating as is. In a smoothie, you really can't tell the difference. Fresh is cheaper than frozen here for a few weeks during the height of the season, but frozen is cheaper the rest of the year. I won't usually buy fresh berries out of season. They're expensive and mostly tasteless.

Categories