Various frozen vegetables displayed on a Wal-Mart Supercenter shelf

Common frozen vegetables found in supermarkets include spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, corn, yam (in Asia), many others, and mixtures of these and other vegetables or other types of food, such as pasta or cheese. They may be cut or processed some other way into a shape or form that is convenient for cooking or eating, and sometimes seasoned.

Some popular brands include Birds Eye, Green Giant and Hanover, though many supermarkets have their own store brands, too.

Frozen vegetables have some advantages over fresh ones, in that they are available when the fresh counterpart is out-of-season, they have a very long shelf life when kept in a freezer, and that they often have been processed a step or more closer to eating. In many cases, they may be more economical to purchase than their fresh counterparts. Since they are already cooked, and will likely be cooked more once they enter the household, they are believed to be more sanitary than fresh vegetables.

While many consider frozen vegetables to be inferior to their fresh counterparts, the opposite is true in many cases. Vegetables purchased in the produce section of supermarkets have spent multiple days in transit, and many of the original nutrients will have leeched out. Frozen vegetables are frozen at their freshest, maintaining their nutrients. Freezing does change the taste and texture of the vegetables, however, making them less savory to some consumers.

In general, boiling vegetables can cause them to lose important nutrients, including vitamins and those that prevent cancer. In particular, Vitamins C and Folic acid are susceptible to loss during the commercial process. Studies have also shown that thawing frozen vegetables before cooking can accelerate the loss of vitamin CVitamin C losses in some frozen vegetables due to various cooking methods..

Over the years, there has been controversy as to whether frozen vegetables are better or worse than fresh ones. Generally, reports show that frozen vegetables are not so much nutritionally different from fresh onesEffect of home freezing and Italian style of cooking on antioxidant activity of edible vegetables..

According to the Food and Drug Administration, based on a 1998 report, frozen vegetables have the same nutrients and health benefits as their fresh counterparts Fresh vs. Frozen? Choosing your fruits and vegetables. A 2003 Austrian study found that frozen vegetables are nutritionally better than out-of-season imported fresh ones Frozen Vegetables Often Healthier Than Fresh.

However, there may be some risk in eating poorly cooked frozen vegetables. For example, a 2007 Australian study found that frozen vegetables may contain a bacterium called "map," which can thrive in both extreme cold and hot temperatures. CityNews: Do Frozen Vegetables Pose A Hazard For Your Kids?

Not all products classified as frozen vegetables can be viewed as health foods. On June 2, 2003, the USDA classified frozen French fries as a frozen vegetable USDA Classifies Frozen Fries as "Fresh Vegetables".