Pre-Cut Produce Is One Dinner Time Hack That's Not Worth The Price

Pre-cut produce can be a big temptation when shopping at the grocery store. From the big tubs of vegetables to the pre-made fruit salads, a wide variety of options are available. It would be so easy to buy a ready-to-go container of fruit to bring to your barbecue or pre-chopped vegetables to throw into your stir fry. After all, it would save so much time and effort.

However, you may want to rethink the urge to shell out for this convenience. When comparing prices at the grocery store, opting for a pre-chopped version of a fruit or vegetable can easily cost several more dollars per pound than buying it whole. Choosing this product repeatedly can add up throughout the year; and, honestly, groceries cost enough lately.

Even if you have the money to opt for pre-cut produce, there are additional reasons not to do so, including those related to food safety and the nutritional value of pre-cut versus whole fruits and vegetables.

On top of costing more, pre-cut produce carries additional safety concerns over uncut varieties. In an interview with HuffPost, Bob Bracket, director of the Illinois Institute of Technology's Institute for Food Safety and Health, explained that chopping the food and mixing it together increases the potential for bacteria such as Salmonella to spread from one piece of produce to others. This could result in a whole batch of pre-cut fruit being contaminated thanks to one piece.

Chopping fruit yourself at home minimizes the risk of foodborne illness. In addition to ensuring you wash it properly before handling it, you are likely only cutting a few pieces. This smaller scale reduces the possibility of cross-contamination and allows you to clean the knife often.

Whole fruits and vegetables can also have more nutrients than pre-cut varieties. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it only takes a few days for pre-cut vegetables to begin to break down and lose their vitamins and minerals. When you factor in the time the produce was sitting in the store, this doesn't leave a large window to eat them after bringing them home. When chopping food yourself, you can ensure it is eaten fresh and hasn't begun to degrade. This maximizes the health benefits you receive from the fruit or vegetable.

In light of the safety and nutritional concerns that come with pre-cut produce, it simply isn't worth the extra cost. In addition, there are other drawbacks that come with this purchase. 

One of these is plastic waste. Those bags or tubs of plastic that house pre-chopped produce can easily be avoided when buying whole fruits or vegetables and bringing your own reusable bag. 

Another reason not to purchase pre-cut produce is the missed opportunity to shop locally. By instead purchasing your produce from a local farmer's market or co-op, you can buy food that's in season and didn't have to travel far to get to your supermarket. This can save you even more money on your groceries.

There may be times when purchasing pre-cut produce is unavoidable, especially if you have mobility concerns that make chopping an impossibility. In this instance, be sure to wash it thoroughly, and eat it within a few days to ensure maximum freshness and nutrients.

In most cases, however, the additional cost of buying pre-cut produce simply isn't worth it. In addition to the extra money spent adding up quickly, the nutritional and safety concerns are reason enough to think twice about paying for this convenience. Cutting veggies yourself can save you money and headaches.