The Frozen Advantage: Why It Works Better for Meat Alternatives
When it comes to meat alternatives, format matters. While both frozen and chilled options have their place on the shelf (and in your kitchen), there are some clear advantages that make frozen the smarter choice in many cases- especially when it comes to quality, no preservatives, longer shelf life, and sustainability.
Let’s take a closer look.
The Journey Starts Frozen
Every meat alternative begins its life the same way:
Weighing → Mixing → Forming → Freezing.
From there, the product either stays frozen through delivery and storage, or it’s thawed and moved into the chilled supply chain.
The Process of Frozen Meat Alternatives
- Weighing, Mixing, Forming: Ingredients are precisely measured, blended, and prepared into the final product.
- Freezing: Once formed, the products are immediately frozen. This step is crucial as it locks in freshness and flavour, ensuring that the product retains its quality over time.
- Frozen Delivery: The frozen products are then delivered to retailers while maintaining their frozen state. This method ensures that the products remain in optimal condition until they reach the shelves.
- Shelf Fill: Frozen meat alternatives can have a shelf life of up to 12 months. This extended shelf life allows retailers to stock products without the pressure of quick turnover, reducing waste and increasing profitability.
The Process of Chilled Meat Alternatives
- Weighing, Mixing, Forming: Similar to frozen alternatives, the process begins with weighing, mixing, and crafting the product.
- Freezing: The products are frozen, but this is often a temporary measure.
- Defrosting, Stamping, Repackaging: Upon order, they’re defrosted, repackaged, and labelled for sale. This additional handling can introduce risks of contamination and quality degradation.
- Chilled Delivery: Products are delivered chilled, which requires careful handling to maintain quality.
- Shelf Fill: Chilled meat alternatives typically offer a shelf life of around 21 days. This shorter window increases pressure on retailers and contributes to waste—around 8% for chilled products overall, and up to 15% for plant-based chilled products. For consumers, the shorter shelf life can also lead to more food being discarded at home, especially if not used in time.
Why Frozen Deserves a Spot in Every Freezer
- Exceptional Product Quality
Freezing locks in flavour, colour, and texture from day one. Chilled products are best enjoyed fresh and within a shorter window to preserve their full flavour and experience.
- Longer Shelf Life
Up to 12 months of storage means less pressure and more flexibility. For consumers, it means less food waste at home and more flexibility. If plans change, your food won’t spoil—and many frozen meat alternatives (including ours) can be cooked straight from frozen, with no lengthy defrosting required. It’s better for the planet, and easier on your wallet.
- Cleaner Labels, No Preservatives
Frozen products don’t need to rely on preservatives or masking agents to stay fresh, allowing for shorter ingredient lists and cleaner labels.
Frozen Helps Tackle Food Waste
Retailers know food waste is one of the biggest sustainability challenges in the industry. With shorter shelf lives and higher sensitivity to storage conditions, chilled products are more vulnerable to spoilage, leading to higher waste percentages.
Why it Matters
Each year, food waste is responsible for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions-more than all commercial flights worldwide in a year. Reducing waste through longer shelf life is a tangible way to lower environmental impact and support sustainability goals.
Frozen Is Good for You and the Planet
Choosing frozen isn’t just about convenience—it’s a smarter, more sustainable choice.
With a longer shelf life and less risk of spoilage, frozen products help reduce food waste at home—meaning fewer forgotten meals in the back of the fridge and more flexibility in your weekly routine.
And because less waste = fewer emissions, frozen also helps lower your personal impact on the planet.
It’s a win-win: less stress, less waste, more flavour.
