For most of us, our freezer is home to some of our favorite sweet treats and guilty pleasures— ice cream, frozen pizza, Hot Pockets… you get the idea. However, it turns out our freezer is also a great place to store healthy meals and snacks. Yes, you read that right. Healthy meals and snacks. In your freezer.

That said, frozen food often gets a bad rap. Not only is there the association of it being loaded with preservatives and salt, there’s also the belief that it’s just downright bad. 

But we’re here to change that.

Below, we debunk 5 health myths surrounding frozen food.

Myth #1: Frozen food contains less nutrients than fresh food.

Let’s jump into perhaps the most popular myth out there: that frozen food contains less nutritional value than the fresh kind. While it’s true that a frozen pizza won’t pack as many nutrients as a homemade chicken soup or fresh salad, items like frozen fruits and vegetables will have the same—  if not more vitamins and minerals— than what we might find in the produce aisle. That’s because freezing preserves nutrients, whereas when stuff isn’t frozen, it just… well, slowly sheds all its good stuff.

Myth #2: Frozen food loses its nutritional value over time.

Generally, frozen food retains its vitamins and minerals over time. In fact, in some cases, frozen foods have more vitamins and minerals compared to fresh because fresh foods lose vitamins and minerals over time while freezing preserves nutrients. (We noted this in Myth #1, but felt it’s worth repeating!)

Myth #3: Frozen food is highly processed. 

While this might be true for some frozen food brands (we’re not dropping names!), it’s not true about all frozen food makers. Avoiding highly processed frozen food is simple, really: Just inspect the label. Yep, that’s it! Pro tip: Ingredients are listed from largest to smallest quantity, so pay most attention to the first few items you see. 

Myth #4: Frozen food is high in sodium.

Similar to processing, people often conclude that frozen food is high in sodium. While again this is true for some frozen meals, it’s not universally true to all. More and more brands are offering low-sodium options to their frozen repertoire, and we here at Cuisinery are excited to be a leading provider of such dishes. Still, it’s important to remember that the Cleveland Clinic recommends you look for frozen meals that have less than 600 mg of sodium, so always keep an eye on the nutrient label.

Myth #5: Frozen food isn’t as tasty as fresh food.

In all fairness, this isn’t a health myth per say— still, it’s an important myth that deserves debunking. Not only can you make some delicious and nutritious meals using frozen foods, you can also find pre-made dishes that are jam-packed with vitamins and minerals. Here are some ways to incorporate frozen foods into every meal:

Breakfast: French Butter Croissant

Wake up like a Parisian and keep breakfast light and sweet with our French Butter Croissants, some jam, and a café au lait.

Lunch: Veggie Couscous

A healthy version of traditional Mediterranean couscous, this Vegetarian Couscous is cooked with no added salt or fats. Pair it with a hearty soup for additional nutritional value.

Dinner: Scallops Carbonara  

Featuring no artificial ingredients, this flavorful dish from Cadence Kitchen brings delicate, sustainably sourced bay scallops together with crisp, savory bacon, fine mushrooms, subtle leeks, and vibrant, sweet green peas. One word: Yum!