When a heat wave hits you will definitely eat something cool. Frozen fruit is a versatile and nutritious option that both tastes delicious and can help cool you down.
Whether you want to add more fruit to your diet, find a refreshing summer beneficiary or just want to make the most of your frozen fruit stash – here’s all you need to know about frozen fruit and fun ways to use it.
Frozen fruit nutritional facts
In order to set the record straight, Frozen fruit is as nutritious as fresh. It remains stable for approx. 6 to 9 months. “Fruit is frozen on top of freshness, so typically frozen and fresh fruit has similar nutrient content,” says Joanna Gregg, a MyFitnessPal dietitian. She says it may in some cases contain higher vitamin content than fresh (1).
Some frozen fruits contain added sugar and other preservatives, so check a packed nutritional facts and avoid them with these additives. Ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C, is often found in frozen fruit to prevent destruction and can improve the nutrient content (2).
6 fun ways to eat frozen fruit
Frozen fruit is a common ingredient in smoothies, but there are other creative ways to use it. If you are looking for a way to eat more fruit while staying cool in the summer, here is a list of more ways to eat frozen fruit, thanks to MyFitnessPal’s registered dietitians.
#1: Popsicles
If smoothies are go-to, popsicles are the underrated MVP. They are also perfect for using fresh fruit that is turning. All you need is:
- Fruit
- Yogurt or juice
- Popsicle molds or paper cups
Blend the ingredients until smooth and pour into popsicle molds. If you do not have Premade Popsicle molds, you can use a paper cup covered with Saran Wrap and then puncture a popsicle stick in Saran Wrap.
#2: Infused water
Do you love aromatized water? “Pop some in your water bottle to taste it on a hot day,” says Gregg. It reveals your drink while adding a subtle burst of flavor. Chopped strawberries work well, but you can use any fruit you like to revive plain water.
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#3: Breakfast toppings
Frozen fruit is a nice topping for creamy, spoonable breakfast. Try it in:
- Cereal
- Overnight oats
- Yogurt
- Chia pudding
If you add icy strawberries or blueberries to a breakfast, you plan to eat a little later, Gregg suggests to enjoy it before thawing completely to minimize destruction and preserve flavor.
About the expert
Joanna Gregg, MS, RD is a food data curator at MyFitnessPal. She served her bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University and her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. Her focus is to help people find the right balance between food, fitness and healthy living to reach their optimal health.
#4: frozen fruit bites and bark
Make frozen fruit into a snackable treat with bare yogurt or chocolate.
For bite:
Dip frozen or fresh fruit piles in yogurt or melted chocolate, let the excess drizzle and place them on a parchment -lined plate. Freeze until firm for a cool, crunchy snack.
To bark:
Mix chopped fruit in yogurt or melted chocolate, spread it thin on a parchment lined tray and freeze. Once stuck, break into pieces for a light, satisfactory treatment.
#5: Shaved ice
Blend frozen fruit on your own in a food processor or high -speed blender and you get a structure that is surprisingly close to shaved ice. No need to add fluid – make sure your equipment is completely dry to keep the mixture fluffy and scoopable. It is an easy way to transform any frozen fruit into a refreshing treatment of slushy style.
Try this with a lot of different fruits, such as:
- Strawberry
- Blueberry
- Pineapple
- Dragonfruit/Pitaya
- Bananas (creates more of an ice -like structure)
You can use a fruit or make your own flavor combinations!
#6: Salsas
For a more tasty use, try adding it to salsas. Paired together with tortilla chips, Salsas is a mouth water (and potentially spicy) way of using frozen fruit. Gregg recommends trying tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple.
Additional Tip
If you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, here are some other light frozen fruit tips to remember.
- Frozen bananas make the best structure in smoothies when creating a creamy texture.
- Frozen grapes and chopped watermelon are good snacks in bite -sized.
- Freeze a mandarin, cut it longitudinally and turn the peel inside out for a crunchy, icy snack.
The lower line
For a sweet snack that is both nutritious and delicious, frozen fruit is a great opportunity. Whether you want to explore the freezer in your local grocery store or have excess fresh fruit that is around – you can easily transform a simple ingredient into an exciting treat.
The post 6 Fun ways to use frozen fruit this summer first appeared on the MyFitnessPal blog.