Is frozen food cheaper than fresh?

Is frozen food cheaper than fresh is a question you might have asked yourself the last time you were wandering around the supermarket aisles. 

With Christmas getting closer, turkey prices going up and energy bills remaining at record highs, many families are concerned about how much it costs to cook a Christmas dinner and are looking for tips on how to save money on food. 

CEO and founder of grocery retail app Ubamarket, Will Broome told us: “Shoppers are increasingly turning to frozen alternatives because they are more cost-effective – this is because they last a lot longer than fresh food and are also cheaper on average. Soaring food and energy prices mean that many families will worry about struggling to afford everything that comes with Christmas festivities. Inevitably, many families will have to cut back on costs in order to enjoy the festive season, and this is one of the areas where we are seeing the big change in habits.” 

 Is frozen food cheaper than fresh? 

Frozen food can be considerably cheaper than fresh, but ultimately this will depend on exactly what you’re buying. 

Chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, Rupert Ashby, told us: “One of the main reasons frozen food is cheaper than the fresh alternative is because the produce is usually produced in-season not far from where it is processed, thus reducing transport costs. It is processed quickly and efficiently with minimal waste and due to its long shelf life, is therefore available all year round.”

In our research we found that certain meats, fish, vegetables and fruits were more likely to be cheaper when bought frozen rather than fresh. 

The table below shows a selection of items we found to be cheaper when bought frozen, using Tesco prices. 

Prices correct at the time of writing. We’ve compared like for like where possible.

As you can see, in some cases the savings were a matter of a few pence, but in other cases, the savings were significantly more - as much as £10 in the case of green beans. 

However, in other cases, the frozen produce actually worked out to be more expensive or much the same. Here are the items we found that were cheaper to buy fresh:

It therefore pays to compare options carefully and always check the price per kilogram if you’re not sure whether frozen or fresh is cheaper.

How long does frozen food last? 

Generally it’s best to eat frozen meat within three months and fish within six months. Frozen fruit and vegetables can last between six and 12 months. In theory, frozen food can last indefinitely as long as it is stored properly. A freezer acts as a pause button, so food shouldn’t deteriorate and most bacteria will not grow on it. However, the quality of the food can lessen after a few months, often due to something known as freezer burn. 

Jamie Griffin from food waste disposal manufacturer InSinkErator, explains: “Freezer burn is a term used which refers to the moisture lost from frozen products if food is left for too long in the freezer. 

“The food items can lose moisture and can begin to discolour and shrivel. If stored correctly most foods should last for around 3-6 months before succumbing to freezer burn.”

Is frozen food still healthy? 

Yes, frozen food is still healthy - in fact, frozen food can be just as, if not more, nutritious than fresh produce. 

Rupert Ashby from the British Frozen Food Federation says: “Not only is frozen food more affordable, saving families up to £1,500 per year, frozen produce will typically contain a higher level of nutrients than fresh, which may have been stored for several days before reaching the supermarket shelf. 

“When food is frozen, usually within hours of being picked or prepared, nutrients are locked in making it a premium and healthy option. For example, frozen broccoli is proven to retain more antioxidants and nutrients than ‘fresh’ and due to the extended shelf-life of frozen food, it doesn’t spoil if you forget about it at the back of the fridge.” 

Pros and cons of buying more frozen food 

Pros of buying frozen food

There are many benefits to buying more frozen food. As well as being a healthy option, frozen foods often come ready-prepared which can be a huge convenience for time-poor families, plus they can be better for portion control as you only use what you need. 

Richard Ashby of the British Frozen Food Federation adds: “Buying frozen food means that consumers do not have to incur the hidden costs of waste in the fresh supply chain. Food waste accounts for about 6% of greenhouse gas emissions, so by reducing waste, frozen food also helps to reduce emissions and means that consumers can save money on their weekly shop whilst also making a positive choice for the environment.”

Cons of buying frozen food

However, there are also downsides to consider. For a start, you’ll need to take care when defrosting foods such as meat. As food defrosts, bacteria can grow and make you ill. For this reason, food should be defrosted in a fridge, not at room temperature. Defrosted foods must be eaten within 24 hours of defrosting and not refrozen unless they have been cooked first. You can find further tips on this on the food.gov.uk website. 

There’s also the issue of storage - if your freezer isn’t big, you might struggle to cram it full of frozen food. Plus it can be easy to forget what’s in your freezer which means you might end up buying food you don’t need.

To get around this, food influencer Lucy Lord advises: “A simple and cheap labelling system helps you see what’s inside each wrapped bag or box and keeping a list inside the kitchen cupboard door of ‘what’s in the freezer’ will help to remind you of what’s in there before dialling for a take-out.”