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Fresh vs Frozen

Battle of the cauliflower rice!

Trader Joe’s offers both fresh and frozen options, usually for less than actual cauliflower. Which should be your go to?

Healthy replacements have been a thing for a while, cauliflower rice being a huge one. I used to make it from actual cauliflower but it was such a mess and took time to make a sad version of rice that I stopped. Having pre riced cauliflower available at TD’s gets rid of the prep, and the excuse to not eat it. Full disclosure—it does not taste like rice! Knowing that helps to accept and like it for what it is, low carb low calorie way to eat your favorite rice dishes. It looking like rice helps me mentally feel fuller then if I just ate cauliflower. Plus you can use it for burrito bowls, Chinese food, chicken and rice—anything you’d usually have with rice instantly becomes way less calories! Which is the best option for cook though?

Fresh

Safe to assume fresh is best, but it shined in a way I didn’t think it would! Found in the vegetable section at trader joes this comes in a bag ready to go. You just poke several holes in it with a fork, microwave 3-4 minutes, and its done. I thought theyd expect you to cook it on the stove top or preparation be a little more complex, but it was so simple! It came out fluffy with pieces staying apart like rice—visually looked great! Tasted…..like cauliflower rice but that’s a huge win! Ready in no time as a healthy replacement, looks great, and tastes light and fluffy. Not watery at all which I always think will happen when microwave cooking in a bag. This is my go-to and the speed/ease really got me.

Frozen

Had higher hopes for this! Found in the frozen section like so many great goodies. No poking holes this time, they want you to put the portion into a microwave safe bowl and heat it up. Plus to frozen is that it lasts, and being able to cook just what you want is a nice touch. But the bag doesn’t make that much, I made the whole bag for both and it was about 2-3x meals each. Better to cook it all and just refrigerate I think. It says 3-4 minuets but took around 5 for me……and the dreaded liquid pooled at the bottom.

A little wet for my liking

Strained it out, heated another minuet, strained again, and it was finally ready. Way less time then using actual cauliflower but really thought frozen would be faster than fresh. Expected taste to be worse but convenience higher, expected wrong! Once ready the taste is different, it’s a little hardier and had more of a crunch. This one filled me up a little more and depending on what your looking for a good option, fresh was soft and fluffy and frozen a crunchy and thicker. Id use this more for burrito bowls or things with a heavier topping like cheese.

And the winner is…….

Fresh! As long as you plan to eat it within a few days its hands down the way to go. Cauliflower rice is something that if I don’t cook right away ill delay and delay lol, but once ready forces me to use it for meals. It was much faster to prepare the fresh rice, and not having to strain saved dishes and time. It’s a little lighter and a lot easier, victory goes to fresh!