Is frozen fruit considered raw?

[poleidopy]

Just wondering. I've been using frozen fruit all winter in my smoothies since there's not much fresh stuff to be found. But I don't know if it's really raw or if it's heated up first for some reason. So...?And freezing doesn't kill the enzymes, does it?:confused:

[sport]

I use frozen fruit (mostly in ice cream) but I freeze it myself so I know that it has not been treated with any preservative.
I do not know about commercially frozen fruit.

[bikediva]

As long as it's still whole, and not packed in syrup like some frozen berries are, it's raw. When fruit is cooked, it gets mushy, and frozen fruit still has a crisp texture.

I have noticed, however, that some frozen mixed fruit, like the stuff from Costco, has flavour and preservatives added. This is likely because the fruit was unripe when picked.

It's usually cheaper to buy fruit in season from a farmer's market, then prepare and freeze a huge batch yourself. And it tastes WAY better.

Now that you mention it, though, I wonder about frozen veggies...:confused:

[buffalogal]

I don't think frozen vegetables can be considered raw because you usually have to blanch them before freezing - that means putting them in boiling water and then immediately immersing them in ice cold water...something about it stops the enzyme action. I'm not an expert though. I do freeze lots of fruits in season, but usually don't do vegetables for this reason. I think some vegetables (like tomatoes) don't have to be blanched, but I think most veggies do have to be blanched before freezing. Hope this helps you out a bit.

[RawKnitster]

Freezing does kill enzymes and nutrients. I've read freezing destroys 30-60% of enzymes and nutrients. Buying all our fruit out of season from far away isn't the best option, either. I consider it necessary to use some frozen items. It is a tradeoff. Much better than having no fruit. :)

[stiggs]

Freezing does kill enzymes and nutrients. I've read freezing destroys 30-60% of enzymes and nutrients. Buying all our fruit out of season from far away isn't the best option, either. I consider it necessary to use some frozen items. It is a tradeoff. Much better than having no fruit. :)

I've read in a book (by Jason Vale) it only loses 5%, strange. I would love to know what the actual number is as I freeze lots of berries in the summer

[RawKnitster]

Agreed. Who really knows? Who did the tests? How long were the fruits in the freezer? I'm sure it is all variable.

My info was from 2 different sources, sorry I don't remember the sources, only those numbers. I say it is 30-60% because one source stated 30% minimum. The other source stated up to 60%.

btw: I freeze a lot of berries, too. Winter would be very dull without berries. No doubt freezing our own is the best we can do.

[DopeRawAbundance]

Agreed. Who really knows? Who did the tests? How long were the fruits in the freezer? I'm sure it is all variable.

My info was from 2 different sources, sorry I don't remember the sources, only those numbers. I say it is 30-60% because one source stated 30% minimum. The other source stated up to 60%.

btw: I freeze a lot of berries, too. Winter would be very dull without berries. No doubt freezing our own is the best we can do.

Dehydrating and storing, then rehydrating and eating could work too. I bought some dried apricots (I usually just use them in recipes or munch some of 'em dry) and rehydrated them and I was quite surprised how delicious they were.

[RawKnitster]

Good point. I am going to try dehydrating raspberries and blueberries next season.

[starck]

no if it's from a store it's not raw because the put it in hot water before they freeze it.

but if you freeze them yourself it is raw .

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

no if it's from a store it's not raw because the put it in hot water before they freeze it.

They don't blanch the fruit, only the veggies. Well not even all of the veggies.

[streetsurfer]

Good point. I am going to try dehydrating raspberries and blueberries next season.

I dehydrated some of my blackberries last summer and it sweetened them up nicely. Blueberries too but I only have one bush, so not so many.

:D I have sheed shtuck in my teef, can you shee it?

[Shona]

They don't blanch the fruit, only the veggies. Well not even all of the veggies.

Not necessarily. Peaches are often blanched before being frozen.

Soft fruits like berries are probably safe. With harder fruits, I think you would have to call the company and ask them to be sure.

[starck]

yes moslty they blanch frozen veggies and also the fruits
i've seen it on tv .

[DebB]

You can call the manufacturer and ask how they're processed, then you'll know if they've been blanched or not. *Ü*

[betty boop]

Dr Oz said today that frozen fruit only has 85-90% of the nutrients as fresh.

[starck]

i love dr oz !

[DopeRawAbundance]

Dr. Oz is quite the playa ya know? I do see some discrepancies in the knowledge he be spittin though... ever seen that one commercial where he recommends you give your kids peanut butter? Anyone else realize that 95% percent of peanut butters on the market have trans fat in them? Once again Dr. Oz is a cutiepie love 'im to death but lets remember much of what he preaches doesn't coincide with what we, or atleast I, came to believe. I guess I'm just dust in the wind a tumbleweed in the rough and I can never form a true opinion so kill self whatever I'm done here.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

Dr Oz said today that frozen fruit only has 85-90% of the nutrients as fresh.

On the other hand, it might even be more nutritious than store bought fruit. If the frozen fruit is harvested tree ripe and then frozen right away it's probably more nutritious than fruit that has been picked unripe and sitting in a box for a couple of weeks.

[kimmm]

I read on a blog one time that someone called Cascadia Farms and they confirmed that they don't heat their fruit over 110 degrees before freezing it so it is raw. I don't know about the veggies.

[Factoid]

Do you think it would be ok to prepare lots of veggie dishes eg pesto/ noodle sauces etc in advance and freeze them? Or the same with juice? I know it is best freshly done and consumed straight away but I am a bit busy and would like to do a whole lot on the weekend then freeze individual portions to eat later. Of course I wouldn't blanche anything. I heard that is only done to get rid of bitter taste of smthng?

[DebB]

Hi Factoid ~ I make pesto and freeze it and it's wonderful! I freeze a lot of different things, it's really economical for me to freeze.

Yes, I think we've all heard it would be ideal to eat 100% fresh, tree ripened, etc. - but I do the best I can with what I've got and that includes lots o' freezing. *Ü*

[Factoid]

DebB: I think I'm just going to do it too. If I don't do it I'll just end up grabbing something a lot less healthy instead. I definitely don't have time to be preparing raw food from scratch just for me every day.

[Bananna]

I did phone and Europe's Best brand does not blanche their fruit, but does blanche their veggies.

[honeyb1]

This may help you:

http://www.living-foods.com/articles/rawornot.html

[poleidopy]

Thanks for all the replies! I figure frozen fruit is better for me than SAD crap, so I'm one step ahead even if it isn't 100% raw and has less nutrients than fresh fruit. But from what I've read so far it seems most frozen fruit is not blanched, so it can still be considered raw. I still freeze my own fresh fruit as often as I can (Like when pineapples go on sale for $1...I stock up!)