How Frozen Food Can Save You Money

For many of us, the rising cost of living can put an alarming strain on our finances. During these tough times, we all need to be extra careful with what we buy so that we can make the most out of our resources.

But according to Canstar Blue, it seems that one of the easiest ways to save money is to switch to buying frozen meals instead of fresh food while grocery shopping.



Savvy shoppers have long looked to the frozen food aisle for an economical alternative to fresh produce. And this selection of cheaper, long-lasting groceries will likely become even more appealing for families, according to the comparison website Canstar Blue.

‘The frozen alternative is always cheaper than the fresh alternative.’ Canstar’s Retail Expert Gary Mortimer said.


shop.jpg
Are you compromising on quality and taste when you buy frozen instead of fresh? Credit: Gustavo Fring/Pexels

Based on their research, 62 per cent of shoppers said they keep a backup stash of vegetables in the freezer, but making a permanent switch from fresh to frozen could save them significant dollars in the long run.

And according to Christine Seib, Canstar Blue’s Editor-in-Chief, people don’t have to spend much to get a quality product.



To that end, the comparison website released this year’s top-rated frozen dinners and snacks in a bid to help Aussies find a way to beat the cost-of-living crisis.

The ratings came from a survey of 464 Australians and their feedback on frozen brands that they’ve purchased and consumed in the last 6 months.


canstar.jpg
Canstar Blue said that the brand On The Menu has caught the eye of consumers wanting to save on groceries. Credit: Canstar Blue

The survey also rated brands based on the following criteria:
  • Overall satisfaction: This measures consumer satisfaction with a frozen meal brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Taste: Did the frozen meal taste fresh/authentic and include all expected ingredients (i.e. a roast dinner included potatoes, meat, vegetables, and gravy as depicted in advertisements)?
  • Value for money: This means that the frozen meal was reasonably priced given the quality and quantity.
  • Packaging convenience: The frozen meal packaging was easy to open and made it convenient to cook (i.e. you didn’t need to transfer the meal to another dish, or use multiple bowls, etc.).
  • Variety and range: The frozen meal brand offered several meals in different sizes and catered to different dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, vegetarian, halal, etc.).
Taking the top spot is On The Menu, which is the only product that received five stars in all categories including taste, freshness, variety and range, and value for money.

Based on their website, On The Menu has ‘an extensive range of delicious Australian favourites, snap frozen and conveniently ready to eat in just a few minutes’.



For a brand to be included in the survey, it must have received at least 30 responses, and this means that not all brands available in the market were compared in the survey. These are the brands rated in the survey, listed below in order of ‘best overall satisfaction’:

1. On The Menu​
2. McCain​
3. ALDI​
4. Coles​
5. Woolworths​

Ms Seib explained: ‘Given that everyone's focus right now is on the cost of living, cutting costs, it seems On The Menu's meals, which start about $3, have caught shoppers' eyes.’

Another ‘winner’ in the eyes of the comparison website is Woolworths’ home brand. It won the frozen pizza category.

ALDI fries are another product that Canstar recommends amid news of a potato shortage hitting the country. ‘It’s not even a fluke. They won the same category last year,’ Ms Seib shared.



For desserts, Canstar’s top picks are the Sara Lee cheesecake and chocolate cake, and Nanna’s pie and crumble.


sara lee.jpg
Sara Lee cheesecake takes the top spot as the best dessert with great value for money. Credit: Sara Lee

‘Sara Lee provided the winning recipe for the THIRD year in a row, whipping up full marks across most research categories, including taste, variety and range, texture and consistency, packaging convenience, and overall satisfaction,’ the comparison website stated.

According to Canstar, they rate products or brands depending on the category, which includes overall satisfaction and value for money. The ‘winner’ in each product or service category is the brand that receives the highest overall satisfaction rating. This happens once the scores from their survey’s respondents have been combined and averaged.

You can check more of the top brands that won Canstar’s survey here.



But can food lose its nutritional value when it’s frozen?

For the health-conscious out there, you may be wondering if food loses its nutritional value when it’s frozen.

In general, evidence suggests that the nutritional content of fresh and frozen food is similar.

According to experts, freezing helps retain the nutrient content of produce. Fresh produce contains chemical compounds called enzymes, which cause the loss of colour, nutrients, and flavour changes. This causes the spoilage and deterioration of a product, but freezing produce can preserve a certain degree of its ‘ripeness’.

The bottom line is that frozen produce is nutritionally similar to fresh produce. When nutrient decreases are reported, they’re generally small.
Key Takeaways
  • Cost of living pressures are prompting families to explore cheaper options in the freezer section.
  • On The Menu and Woolworths’ home brand products both scored five stars for taste, freshness and value for money.
  • ALDI fries emerged as the favourite according to Canstar, while Sara Lee cheesecakes, and Nanna’s pies and crumbles topped the dessert rankings.
  • Making the switch from fresh to frozen could save you more money in the future, without compromising on nutritional value.
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above, members? Let us know your thoughts about them in the comments below!
 
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I too only buy frozen veg. You can rely on the quality and taste and there is no wastage. I usually have a couple of frozen dinners in the freezer for when I can't be bothered to cook or it's late or whatever. Mostly they're ok but I wouldn't have them regularly as I prefer the taste of my cooking. :)
 
We only buy frozen for the simple fact that when you buy fresh you don't necessarily have the luxury of being able to make them last for more then two or three days depending on your family situation. With a selection of frozen which can last a lot longer you can have something different each night and know that the next time you have beans they are still fresh and edible. Although some may feel fresh is better when you consider how much you pay and how much is actually wasted it is cheaper in my opinion to buy frozen. There are a few things we buy fresh, cabbage, onions, carrots and of course potatoes.
 
I buy frozen organic veg as they last much longer and are quite a bit cheaper- also frozen peas non-organic as there’s much less chemical treatment on frozen veg as it doesn’t have to still look good after storage and transport!
 
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Reactions: Vicki.E.
Frozen vegies are great and easy to use. I also buy frozen pies, pizza, fish etc. I find the quality and taste to be very good. I try to have a few frozen meals on hand for quick dinners when I work late or just don’t feel like cooking. Our grandson lives with us, he enjoys the On the Menu meals so good to know they rated well.
 
For many of us, the rising cost of living can put an alarming strain on our finances. During these tough times, we all need to be extra careful with what we buy so that we can make the most out of our resources.

But according to Canstar Blue, it seems that one of the easiest ways to save money is to switch to buying frozen meals instead of fresh food while grocery shopping.



Savvy shoppers have long looked to the frozen food aisle for an economical alternative to fresh produce. And this selection of cheaper, long-lasting groceries will likely become even more appealing for families, according to the comparison website Canstar Blue.

‘The frozen alternative is always cheaper than the fresh alternative.’ Canstar’s Retail Expert Gary Mortimer said.


View attachment 13179
Are you compromising on quality and taste when you buy frozen instead of fresh? Credit: Gustavo Fring/Pexels

Based on their research, 62 per cent of shoppers said they keep a backup stash of vegetables in the freezer, but making a permanent switch from fresh to frozen could save them significant dollars in the long run.

And according to Christine Seib, Canstar Blue’s Editor-in-Chief, people don’t have to spend much to get a quality product.



To that end, the comparison website released this year’s top-rated frozen dinners and snacks in a bid to help Aussies find a way to beat the cost-of-living crisis.

The ratings came from a survey of 464 Australians and their feedback on frozen brands that they’ve purchased and consumed in the last 6 months.


View attachment 13177
Canstar Blue said that the brand On The Menu has caught the eye of consumers wanting to save on groceries. Credit: Canstar Blue

The survey also rated brands based on the following criteria:
  • Overall satisfaction: This measures consumer satisfaction with a frozen meal brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Taste: Did the frozen meal taste fresh/authentic and include all expected ingredients (i.e. a roast dinner included potatoes, meat, vegetables, and gravy as depicted in advertisements)?
  • Value for money: This means that the frozen meal was reasonably priced given the quality and quantity.
  • Packaging convenience: The frozen meal packaging was easy to open and made it convenient to cook (i.e. you didn’t need to transfer the meal to another dish, or use multiple bowls, etc.).
  • Variety and range: The frozen meal brand offered several meals in different sizes and catered to different dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, vegetarian, halal, etc.).
Taking the top spot is On The Menu, which is the only product that received five stars in all categories including taste, freshness, variety and range, and value for money.

Based on their website, On The Menu has ‘an extensive range of delicious Australian favourites, snap frozen and conveniently ready to eat in just a few minutes’.



For a brand to be included in the survey, it must have received at least 30 responses, and this means that not all brands available in the market were compared in the survey. These are the brands rated in the survey, listed below in order of ‘best overall satisfaction’:

1. On The Menu​
2. McCain​
3. ALDI​
4. Coles​
5. Woolworths​

Ms Seib explained: ‘Given that everyone's focus right now is on the cost of living, cutting costs, it seems On The Menu's meals, which start about $3, have caught shoppers' eyes.’

Another ‘winner’ in the eyes of the comparison website is Woolworths’ home brand. It won the frozen pizza category.

ALDI fries are another product that Canstar recommends amid news of a potato shortage hitting the country. ‘It’s not even a fluke. They won the same category last year,’ Ms Seib shared.



For desserts, Canstar’s top picks are the Sara Lee cheesecake and chocolate cake, and Nanna’s pie and crumble.


View attachment 13178
Sara Lee cheesecake takes the top spot as the best dessert with great value for money. Credit: Sara Lee

‘Sara Lee provided the winning recipe for the THIRD year in a row, whipping up full marks across most research categories, including taste, variety and range, texture and consistency, packaging convenience, and overall satisfaction,’ the comparison website stated.

According to Canstar, they rate products or brands depending on the category, which includes overall satisfaction and value for money. The ‘winner’ in each product or service category is the brand that receives the highest overall satisfaction rating. This happens once the scores from their survey’s respondents have been combined and averaged.

You can check more of the top brands that won Canstar’s survey here.



But can food lose its nutritional value when it’s frozen?

For the health-conscious out there, you may be wondering if food loses its nutritional value when it’s frozen.

In general, evidence suggests that the nutritional content of fresh and frozen food is similar.

According to experts, freezing helps retain the nutrient content of produce. Fresh produce contains chemical compounds called enzymes, which cause the loss of colour, nutrients, and flavour changes. This causes the spoilage and deterioration of a product, but freezing produce can preserve a certain degree of its ‘ripeness’.

The bottom line is that frozen produce is nutritionally similar to fresh produce. When nutrient decreases are reported, they’re generally small.
Key Takeaways

  • Cost of living pressures are prompting families to explore cheaper options in the freezer section.
  • On The Menu and Woolworths’ home brand products both scored five stars for taste, freshness and value for money.
  • ALDI fries emerged as the favourite according to Canstar, while Sara Lee cheesecakes, and Nanna’s pies and crumbles topped the dessert rankings.
  • Making the switch from fresh to frozen could save you more money in the future, without compromising on nutritional value.
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above, members? Let us know your thoughts about them in the comments below!
Great news for those on a normal diet. Doesn’t help for those on special diets.
 
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Reactions: Liz and Ricci
Always buy frozen veg particularly the microwave single serves as I’m on my own. Usually have frozen fish in the freezer and a couple of meals for back up not so keen on the meals but will try the menu ones now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci
We only buy frozen for the simple fact that when you buy fresh you don't necessarily have the luxury of being able to make them last for more then two or three days depending on your family situation. With a selection of frozen which can last a lot longer you can have something different each night and know that the next time you have beans they are still fresh and edible. Although some may feel fresh is better when you consider how much you pay and how much is actually wasted it is cheaper in my opinion to buy frozen. There are a few things we buy fresh, cabbage, onions, carrots and of course potatoes.
I find frozen veg are soggy when thawed/ cooked
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci
Why would you be thawing them? They should all be cooked from frozen.
If I want them for a cold dish ie peas or corn carrot for salad I’m not cooking them. I still find them less than crisp when cooked
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci

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