Should You Wash Frozen Fruits and Veggies? Not All Are Safe to Eat From the Bag

Discover how those frozen peas differ from frozen peaches.

Here at BHG, we go through a lot of fruits and vegetables—both in our Test Kitchen and in the homes of all of our editors. Since that’s the case, part of this supply is always frozen vegetables and fruits. Frozen produce allows us to cut down on food waste (the timeline for use is much less strict), offers us the opportunity to enjoy peak-season produce outside of prime time, plus, research proves that many types of frozen fruits and veggies are actually more nutritious than their fresh, refrigerated peers.

You’re probably well aware that you should wash your fresh fruits and vegetables before consuming them…but not too soon! As a reminder, for nearly every produce aisle item (except for bananas), our Test Kitchen suggests washing just before using your garden goodies, since excess moisture can speed up spoilage. But there are some exceptions to this rule, including pre-washed leafy greens. 

So where does frozen produce land? Ahead, cooking and food safety experts answer a question readers have asked us: “Should you wash frozen fruits and vegetables?”

Meet Our Expert

• Meredith Carothers, food safety specialist for the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington D.C.
• Sarah Brekke, M.S., Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager

Should You Wash Frozen Fruits and Vegetables?

Before they are transported to stores and stocked in the freezer section, here’s how produce is prepared, according to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI):

• Fresh fruits are picked at peak ripeness, cleaned and washed , flash frozen, then packaged.
• Fresh vegetables are harvested at peak ripeness, cleaned and washed, blanched (which improves the texture of the finished product and extends the shelf life), flash frozen, then packaged.

The process for flash freezing is a bit different than at home, explains Sarah Brekke, M.S., Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager: “Most produce items are individually quick-frozen on conveyor belts so that they don’t freeze into a large produce cube that would then be difficult to package, weigh, and use. The frozen produce items are then sent to the appropriate packaging line in the factory to be bagged or boxed and sent to your local grocery store,” she says.

The time between picking and packaging is mere hours, which is a core reason why frozen produce retains so much of its nutrition. (Science suggests that fresh produce begins to lose vitamins and minerals as soon as it is picked. This escalates as the fruits and veggies age.) 

As you may have noticed, an important part of this process is washing. This means that no, you don’t need to wash frozen fruits and vegetables before using them.

“You shouldn’t be washing unless the package directly instructs you to do so,” Brekke says—a sentiment echoed by Meredith Carothers, food safety specialist for the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in Washington D.C.

You may have seen 2019 news reports about extremely rare instances of bacteria and viruses found in frozen food. Once frozen, no additional bacteria can grow on food. However, just like with fresh produce that’s handled by humans, there is a small possibility that frozen produce could get contaminated by a virus or bacteria, say, from an infected worker who wasn’t following proper sanitation practices. Rest assured that there have been no proven illnesses or outbreaks as a result of this; the microorganisms may not have been live, active versions of the viruses or bacteria, food safety experts believe. 

For this reason, and since they’ve already been washed, Carothers, Brekke, and the AFFI confirm that frozen produce does not need to be rinsed before using.

The No. 1 Thing to Look at Before Eating Fruits and Vegetables

Before you dive in and start using your frozen produce haul, it’s vital to ask yourself: Fruit or vegetable? This determines whether you can enjoy them in their frozen state.

“All frozen fruits and vegetables are not safe to eat straight from the bag, but this has nothing to do with washing them,” Brekke explains. 

The AFFI assures us that frozen fruit is safe to eat as-is out of the bag or blend into raw recipes, say, a fruit smoothie. While you can add frozen fruit to baked goods, such as muffins or fruit crisps, cooking is not required since fruit is naturally high in acidity and sugar. These two factors make fruit inhospitable for bacterial growth at freezer temps. 

Since they’re lower in acidity and sugar, frozen veggies might be more at risk for bacterial growth. Plus, some frozen vegetables are packaged with other ingredients like sauces, that could be unsafe (or at least unpleasant) to eat in frozen form.

“It’s very important to follow the cooking instructions on the package for commercially-frozen foods to ensure foodborne illness bacteria are killed before eating,” Carothers says.

Luckily, frozen produce is always sold in a package that’s required to tell us exactly what to do. Always cook frozen vegetables according to the listed instructions before eating them, then drain and/or rinse the veggies only if the package instructs you to do so.

How to Use Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

Now that you know that you need not wash frozen produce, but you should always cook frozen veggies using the package instructions as your guide, you’re all set to start working towards your five-a-day. Consider making the most of your items on ice in fan-favorites like a Pea and Artichoke Toasts, Spinach Artichoke Dip Soup, Parmesan Chicken and Broccoli, Frozen Strawberry Aperol Spritzes, Homemade Banana Ice Cream, or Cherry Berry Pie.

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Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.