Dragon fruit, also known as strawberry pear or pitaya, is a tropical fruit and member of the cactus family. Including this fruit in your diet is good for health as it is packed with nutrition while being low in calories.
You can choose between fresh and frozen dragon fruit or a combination of both, which largely depends on availability. If you do not consume fresh produce quickly after buying, frozen can be a good option. Also, if fresh produce is out of season, you can enjoy frozen fruit that tastes great and has plenty of nutrition.
What’s Tempting About Dragon Fruit?
This tropical fruit has a mild sweet taste similar to a combination of kiwi and a pear. High in Vitamin C, iron, and other antioxidants, the bright purple-pink hued fruit is a delicious addition to your diet. The high fiber content supports the growth of good bacteria in your gut and strengthens the immune system. It also helps slow the absorption of sugar, keeping blood sugar levels steady while satisfying sweet cravings.
The peak season of this fruit is from summers to early fall, though if you want to enjoy it year-round, you can buy frozen dragon fruit. One of the easiest ways to use this fruit is to get some diced chunks for your freezer or a freeze-dried powder.
Frozen foods have earned a bad reputation for being unhealthy, but this is not so. The below reasons are enough to convince why you should buy this frozen super fruit.
Nutrients Are Intact Or Have Even More Than Fresh Fruits
Pitaya to be frozen is picked at harvest when it is incredibly ripe and is of the highest quality with higher nutrient content than fresh produce. Once harvested, they are frozen after separating the pulp from the shell within a few hours.
However, for fresh produce, there is nutrient loss as a result of exposure to oxygen during the process of picking, transport, and storing in a warehouse and then to your refrigerator. Fresh Dragon fruit has a higher nutrient value only when picked from the farm and eaten in a day or two.
Easily Accessible and Affordable
A fresh variety of pitaya is less accessible and affordable. It largely depends on where it is grown and the season. Frozen fruit can be easily found in any local supermarket all around the year and are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to fresh options. They are often cheaper than fresh ones.
Convenience
Consuming frozen fruit also saves you from the hassle of washing, peeling, and chopping, saving your time in the kitchen. The frozen cubes are pre-peeled and pre-cut and can be consumed at any time as a healthy and tasty snack. You can simply buy it and keep it in the freezer and use it when you need it.
Minimizes Wastage
Frozen produce lasts for a long time compared to fresh ones that get spoiled in a week or less. To avoid discoloration and dry out, the fresh fruit should be cut only when you are ready to eat.
You can eat portions with frozen produce depending on your hunger, which is not there for fresh ones, which cannot be stored for a long time and needs to be consumed before it gets spoiled. Frozen dragon fruit can be easily measured, allowing you to use what you need and save the remaining without any wastage.
Use It In A Variety of Recipes
Frozen options are versatile and can be used in many ways in your different recipes. The pre-cut frozen cubes can be used to flavour water or wine while keeping your drink chilled. You can also make a smoothie or defrost the cubes and puree it to add in yogurt or oatmeal. They are also perfect for fruit salads and ice cream. If you love experimenting, you can incorporate the frozen cubes in many other ways, too, in your recipes.
Free of Additives and Sugar
Freezing preserves food and does not require the use of additives to be frozen. They are packaged in a way to retain the taste and nutrients of the fresh fruit. Before buying a package of this frozen fruit, you can check the labels behind the packaging to ensure they are 100 percent fruit with no additives or preservatives.
Hit the freezer food aisle of your local supermarket and stock up your freezer with frozen dragon fruit. Enjoy this incredibly delicious fruit raw or add to your favourite drinks and foods for a pop of colour.
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