Top 5+ fruits you should never buy fresh (only frozen)

Stash them in your freezer year-round.

Fresh fruit is mostly amazing, especially in season from the farmer’s market—ripe, juicy, and full of flavor. I love sweet strawberries in the middle of summer, or a crisp apple in the fall.

But frozen fruit also has a place in our home.Our freezer always has a big bag of mixed berries and a huge bag of frozen strawberries. We’re ready for smoothies at a moment’s notice, and I love to simmer them to make a quick yogurt topping. “When fruit is frozen right after harvest, it retains pretty much the same flavor and nutritional value as fresh,” says Erin Mittelstaedt, CEO of The FruitGuys.

The downside is the texture, she points out. When you thaw frozen fruit, it typically gets soft and mushy. “With that in mind, frozen fruit is great for situations where texture isn’t super important, like smoothies, cooking, and baking,” Mittelstaedt explains.

Here’s a look at five fruits that you should consider buying frozen year-round.

1. Berries 

Strawberries, blueberries, and other berries sure are good when they're fresh. But the window for the absolute best flavor and freshness can be a short one. Frozen berries are picked and frozen when they are at their juiciest, so you get the best taste and flavor. They can also be more nutritious and affordable than fresh berries.

Because frozen berries are mushy when you thaw them, their ideal use is in smoothies, desserts, or blended into a topping. They can also be a good snack right out of the freezer. “If you want to buy frozen fruit to snack on, I’d recommend choosing fruits that taste great semi-frozen,” Mittelstaedt says, suggesting berries, grapes, stone fruits, and tropical fruits. “Eating these fruits semi-frozen will help solve some of the texture issues.”

2. Açaí

Açaí are small, purple, round berries that grow in Central America and South America. They’re packed with nutrients and are considered superfoods for their nutritional power. They are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and heart-healthy fats.

These berries are usually found in smoothie bowls, often called açaí bowls. “They are not available fresh in the USA,” says produce expert Robert Schueller of Melissa’s Produce, who says buying frozen is the key to using açaí in drinks and bowls.

3. Dark Sweet Cherries

Cherry season is usually only a few brief months in late spring through early summer. But year-round, you can find dark sweet cherries in the freezer section. They can be used for smoothies, fruit cobblers, crumbles, and other desserts. 

Frozen cherries are also great anytime snacks. Just let a handful of them thaw in a bowl for a few minutes until they get soft and juicy. Know that the occasional pit can slip through during processing, so be vigilant when digging in.

4. Dragon Fruit

The eccentric-looking dragon fruit (also called pitaya) is a bright pink or yellow fruit with pointy spikes. Inside, there’s a creamy center dotted with edible seeds. Full of antioxidants, dragon fruit offers a nutritional boost with few calories. It’s popular in bowls and is great blended into smoothies.

Schueller notes that it's a great superfruit to add to açaí bowls and drinks. And a $4 or more each, fresh dragon fruit can be very expensive, so he adds that it's a "very economical way" to enjoy this fruit.

5. Mango Chunks

Determining a mango's ripeness can be tricky. Frozen mangos, however, are picked and frozen at peak ripeness, so they’re always tasty. It can also be challenging to peel and slice a fresh mango.

Again, this is where frozen mango wins: The fruit is peeled, sliced, and ready to use. Besides smoothies and fruit bowls, frozen mangos can be used for salsas, chutneys, ice cream, and sorbets.