The Ultimate Guide to Frozen Broccoli

Ah, broccoli. Mini trees. Green goodies. Veggie wonders. Whatever you want to call it, today we’re here to talk about one of the tastiest and healthiest vegetables: broccoli. More specifically, frozen broccoli, and how you can enjoy it.

Why Frozen Broccoli Rocks

First off, let’s talk about why broccoli, frozen or not, is such a great veggie. For one, it has a ton of nutrients to fill you up, provide you with energy, and help keep you healthy. Some of those include:

• Fiber for digestive health
• Potassium for nerve and heart function
• Folate to help produce new cells in your body
• Vitamins C & K that help your body heal any scratches or cuts

We know, it already sounds pretty great. But it gets even better. In addition to these essential nutrients, this superfood can also help protect you from heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. We love it so much that we’ve put it into two different medleys, Broccoli Remix, and Vegetable Medley, just for you.

So, in other words, this should be you and broccoli:

 Is Frozen Broccoli as Good as Fresh?

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics of why we love Broccoli, let’s talk about frozen vs. fresh.

Frozen Broccoli is Nutritious

While there’s been some debate about the differences (and lots of misconceptions!), we know that frozen vegetables are just as good for you as fresh vegetables.  In fact, in some instances, frozen vegetables are actually more nutritious than their fresh counterparts. For example, frozen broccoli has 400% more beta-carotene than fresh broccoli!

Frozen vegetables can keep high level of nutrients because they’re picked at peak ripeness, and then flash frozen within 24 hours. Fresh vegetables, on the other hand, sometimes spend weeks in transit before they reach your plate, causing them to lose nutrients and taste along the way.

Keeping Frozen Broccoli on Hand Makes it Easier to Eat Healthier

Recent studies show that keeping your freezer stocked with vegetables will help you meet your daily recommended vegetable intake.  It’s so much easier to eat lots of veggies when you always have them on hand, and the freezer is the only place to keep vegetables where you never have to worry about them going bad.

Frozen broccoli is easy to prepare, it’s already washed and chopped, and if you buy Tommy’s we’ve already done the work of seasoning it for you!

Buying Frozen Broccoli is Cost-Effective

Not only are frozen veggies good for you, they’re good for your wallet, too. As they’ve become more available at grocery stores, frozen foods have become more affordable. There’s less waste when you buy frozen – no risk of it rotting in your fridge before you get around to cooking it, and frozen broccoli medleys can be portioned out and saved in the freezer for long periods of time.

If you buy fresh broccoli, you’re often paying per pound, including for the stem – something most of us don’t even eat!  When you buy frozen broccoli, you’re only paying for the part of the vegetable you’re going to eat, and your wallet will thank you!

Need more information on why frozen broccoli is better than fresh broccoli? Take a look at our Why Frozen page to get all the insider info.

How to Prepare Frozen Broccoli

Alright, we’ve gone over the benefits of eating broccoli and why frozen is better than fresh. Now let’s get into the best way to make sure your frozen broccoli is as tasty as can be, and the best ways to cook frozen broccoli.

Just like there are a variety of ways to add broccoli to your meals, there are a variety of ways to prepare it too. Our number one recommendation? Sauté your broccoli on the stove top.

How to Sauté Frozen Broccoli

Sauteing vegetables helps seal in all the important nutrients, as well as the good taste and crunchy texture.  Adios, soggy army-green broccoli!!! Sauteeing is a quick and easy way to get some broccoli on your plate.

Sautéing instructions for frozen broccoli:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Pour your frozen broccoli into the skillet (we recommend Broccoli Remix or Vegetable Medley).
3. Add one tablespoon of olive oil – do not add water!
4. Cook uncovered on medium-high for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked.
5. If you like your vegetables carmelized, you may want to leave them in the pan for a bit longer to brown.
6. Enjoy!

How to Roast Frozen Broccoli

If you want your frozen broccoli to have a roasted taste, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Roasting frozen vegetables is another way to keep in all the great taste, texture, and vitamins and minerals. It’s also simple, because who doesn’t like convenience when making your meals?

Roasting instructions for frozen broccoli:

1. Pre-heat your pan BEFORE putting your vegetables in it.
2. Make sure you have a pan that’s big enough to fit all the vegetables on one layer. This will make sure they all cook evenly.
3. A hotter oven will help caramelize and roast the veggies just right.

To roast:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Pour contents of your frozen broccoli bag onto an oven safe pan.
3. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil (optional).
4. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
5. You can test your vegetables’ readiness every 2-3 minutes by piercing them with a fork. You’ll know they’re ready when you can easily put a fork into the vegetables.
6. Enjoy!

How Long Does it Take to Prepare Frozen Broccoli?

Cooking times for frozen broccoli will vary based on the method of cooking and how much you’re cooking, as well as how large the broccoli florets are. For sauteeing, it should take about 5-7 minutes for your frozen vegetables to be cooked through. To roast frozen vegetables, it can take 20-30 minutes for them to be cooked all the way through.

The Best Frozen Broccoli

Need help choosing the best frozen broccoli at the grocery store?  Here’s our tip: read the label!  Not all frozen broccoli is created equal.  There are many brands out there that include artificial seasonings or artificial colors in their frozen vegetables.  YUCK!

Tommy’s Superfoods vegetables are created the way that nature intended, all non-GMO and with no artificial ingredients ever.  Even better, our frozen vegetable medleys include carefully selected vegetable blends that ensure you’re getting a balanced vegetable component on your plate.  Next time you’re at the store, try one of these amazing products packed full of frozen broccoli and other goodness:

Ready to Get Your Broccoli On?

Are you ready to start using frozen broccoli in your kitchen? Check out our recipes archive for ideas on how you can mix it up and make it yummy.

How do you use frozen Broccoli and other veggies in your meals? Leave us a comment and let us know!