Budget grocery shopping: Aussie shoppers saving up to $675 with one simple grocery swap

Australian shoppers can save up to $675 per year of groceries with one simple exchange.

New research from consumer group Canstar has shown this supermarket customers can save a significant amount of money by choosing frozen fruits and vegetables instead of fresh produce.

Canstar analyzed the costs of main fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and strawberries in the major supermarkets and frozen products were on average 53 percent cheaper than their fresh counterparts.

Some frozen items were more than 70 percent cheaper than fresh varieties.

The research found that those who swapped just half of their weekly fruit and vegetables could save $13 a week, which equates to just over $675 a year.

Seventy-five percent of consumers surveyed say they often choose frozen fruits and vegetables because of the ‘convenience’.

Fifty-two percent say they choose frozen products because they are “always in stock, regardless of the season.”

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Forty-three percent made the choice to buy frozen food because frozen “provides better value.”

And 36 percent of respondents say frozen is their first choice because “fresh produce spoils too quickly.”

Canstar.com.au Spokesperson Eden Radford said of the findings: “Switching from just half of the regular fruit and vegetable shop could deliver significant savings to households at a time when the cost of groceries is set to rise.

“Choosing frozen food can also help stabilize budgets, with seasonal volatility having less impact on prices, while the convenience of convenience can save families valuable time.

“Frozen isn’t the only switch that allows shoppers to save money. Deciding to choose private label products is also a great way to reduce a store’s costs.

“Whether it’s buying frozen ingredients for a breakfast smoothie, or finding party snacks for a weekend together, the 2026 Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Award winners are a great place to start.

“At a time when every dollar counts, the freezer is proving to be a powerful ally for Australian households – and the savings are really adding up.”

Dietitian Susie Burrell previously told nine.com.au some frozen products may provide health benefits because they are “frozen quickly during harvest.”

“Since frozen vegetables are flash frozen at the time of harvest, key nutrients, including vitamins B, C and K, are typically higher than those in fresh vegetables harvested some time ago,” she said of frozen green leafy vegetables.

Canstar has found that frozen food is becoming increasingly popular, with 66 percent of consumers surveyed saying they eat at least one frozen meal a week, up from 60 percent in 2025.

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They also found that 80 percent of consumers are “changing their shopping habits to combat rising grocery costs” by opting for supermarket store brands.

Consumers also save by shopping in bulk at Costco or other discount stores, waiting for groceries to be marked down, and using catalogs and apps to find the lowest prices.

While Canstar research shows that 80 percent of consumers are already changing their shopping habits to combat rising grocery costs, there are still plenty of tactics that can be tried, including choosing store brands.

Shoppers also buy in bulk at Costco and other discount stores, waiting for items to be marked down and using catalogs and apps to find the lowest prices.

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