We all know we should be eating fresh fruits and vegetables (nine servings a day, to be exact), but sometimes you just have to have that produce when it isn't in season. Research shows that consumers have a tendency to choose frozen foods over canned, but which is more sustainable?

Carbon footprint

While cans use a bit more energy in the canning facility, distribution and storage is much to their advantage in the “green” dispute. Frozen vegetables must continuously use energy to remain frozen, while their counterparts “can” just sit on a shelf at room temperature, and are easily recyclable.

Advantage: Canned

Health

Some research shows that both frozen and canned foods may have the nutritional equivalent — even superiority in certain cases — of cooked or raw fresh foods. Canned foods historically have a large amount of added sodium, though that practice is becoming less common. Canning also reduces the risk of food-borne illness. Both frozen and canned vegetables are packaged at the height of their ripeness (and nutritional value). However, most canned foods lose much during the preservation process, while flash-freezing keeps the contents mostly nutrient-packed.

Advantage: Frozen 

Health, continued (the BPA battle)

It gets a little tricky here. Cans historically have had bisphenol A or BPA linings (and most still do), but there are companies, such as Eden Foods or Salem-based Truitt Brothers, that have taken the BPA out of their containers. Frozen foods typically come in bags or boxes that do not contain BPA. However, a recent study by Environmental Health Perspectives found that most plastics, even ones that don't contain BPA, can often release chemicals that act similarly to estrogen into your food. 

Tossup: Try to avoid plastics, and look for BPA-free whenever possible

Waste

Cans are the most recycled product on Earth. Frozen foods often come in plastic bags, which many times cannot be recycled or are simply thrown out. When different types of plastics are melted together, as they regularly are, the resulting product is much more structurally weak. Roughly 68 percent of a standard aluminum can is made up of recycled material.

Advantage: Canned

Cost

The difference in price is variable and sometimes slight, but canned fruits and vegetables are often the cheapest choice,(corn being a notable exception). It depends on the season and where you live, but as a general rule, canned products will have the lowest price tag.

Advantage: Canned

Miscellaneous

Dual purpose: Metal cans aren't so great for a lump on your forehead. A bag of frozen peas, on the other hand, can be just the thing!

Advantage: Frozen 

Aesthetics

Not much of a debate here. Products tossed into a can brew in liquids that dull their color, while the same frozen product will maintain its vibrant colors until the day it is opened.

Advantage: Frozen

Donation friendly

A recent food drive held by Oregon Food Bank collected more than 1.3 million pounds of nonperishable food in Oregon and Clark County, Wash. Collecting food for the less privileged is an important part of American culture, and frozen foods aren’t allowed.

Advantage: Canned

Verdict

When buying fresh isn't a viable option, there may be only a few places to turn. We can deduce that cans are a little less harmful to the planet, but frozen vegetables may be a bit better for your personal ecosystem.

Buying locally would always be best. Keep an eye out for sustainable options when food shopping, no matter your canned or frozen preference. 

Winner: Cans

Sources: eatingwell.com; fitsugar.com; ams.usda.gov; omicsonline.org; truittbros.com; oregonfoodbank.org; lhwmp.org