Fresh vegetables aren't always the best; here are some cases where frozen is a better choice.

Frozen products are often considered less healthy than fresh products. But is that really the case?

Fruits and vegetables are good for your health, which is why it's recommended to eat at least five portions a day. So far, nothing new. But it can sometimes be difficult to know where to buy your fruits and vegetables: should you necessarily favor fresh produce at the market or greengrocer, local and seasonal products, or even frozen products? The answer to this question isn't straightforward: it depends on the product.

Some vegetables, especially those with a high water content, don't freeze well: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and radishes. It's therefore best to buy them fresh, ideally locally sourced and in season, to avoid them having traveled a long way and thus losing nutrients.

This is precisely why frozen products are sometimes preferable. "With transport, warehouse storage, time spent on supermarket shelves, and in our kitchens, several days, even several weeks, can pass between harvesting and eating. As a result, fruits and vegetables often lose more than half of their vitamin content," explained nutritionist Boris Hansel to Le Point . "Vitamin C is the most fragile, and studies show that frozen produce contains at least as much, and sometimes more, than its fresh counterparts just a few hours after harvesting." The Ministry of Health also confirms this: "For your health, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are just as good as fresh produce!"

Conversely, "frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness. They retain between 80 and 90% of their nutrients, provided they are purchased uncooked," explains dietitian-nutritionist and content creator @Eliott.diet. He adds, of course, that "this doesn't mean fresh vegetables aren't good. If they are local, seasonal, and consumed quickly, they remain excellent" for your health.

However, certain precautions must be taken when freezing food. First, do not freeze hot food; wait for it to cool down before freezing (but don't wait too long, as bacteria can develop). Second, it is essential to maintain the cold chain when purchasing frozen products, and to adhere to the recommended freezing times. Finally, never refreeze a thawed product.