Fresh vs Frozen Green Beans: Cost Calculator

Fresh or frozen green beans? I tested both.

Fresh costs $1.99 a pound. Frozen costs $1.62 a pound.

Sounds like frozen is cheaper, right? It is. But let me show you exactly how much you save when you factor in prep time, waste, and cooking method. For full green beans nutrition facts and cooking methods, check out my complete guide.

Use the calculator below to see which option makes sense for your budget and schedule.

Jump to:

• The Hidden Costs of Fresh Green Beans
• The Case for Frozen Green Beans
• The Catch with Frozen
• Cooking Time Matters Too
• Fresh vs Frozen Green Beans: Total Cost Breakdown
• When Each Option Makes Sense
• Find Your Real Green Beans Cost
• Bottom Line
• More Recipes:

The Hidden Costs of Fresh Green Beans

Fresh green beans look cheap at $1.99 per pound. But that's not the full picture.

Waste

After trimming the ends, you lose about 11% of what you bought. 1 lb of fresh green beans gives you only about 0.89 lb of usable beans.

Prep Time

Fresh green beans require picking through, washing, drying, and cutting. That's about 12 minutes of active work per pound.

Task	Time	Value at $15/hr
Picking green beans	2 min	$0.50
Washing green beans	1 min	$0.25
Drying green beans	1 min	$0.25
Cutting ends and cutting	8 min	$2.00
Total	12 min	$3.00

Quality Control

With fresh green beans, you control the cut size. If you want smaller, uniform pieces, fresh gives you that option. Frozen beans come pre cut and tend to be bigger.

The Case for Frozen Green Beans

Frozen green beans are pre cut, pre washed, and ready to cook. No waste. No prep time.

Cost Comparison

Type	Price per lb
Frozen	$1.62
Fresh (before prep)	$1.99
Fresh (accounting for waste)	$2.24

Frozen costs less upfront, and when you factor in zero prep time and zero waste, it's significantly cheaper. Plus, frozen vegetables retain more nutrition since they're picked and frozen within hours of harvest.

The Catch with Frozen

Frozen green beans are bigger than fresh. My husband noticed this. We usually dice fresh ones smaller.

But here's the thing: once cooked, you can't tell much difference. For me, frozen oven was perfect. Same taste. Half the work.

If you want smaller, more uniform pieces, fresh gives you that control. Otherwise, frozen works great.

Cooking Time Matters Too

How you cook green beans affects the total time investment.

Method	Active Cooking Time	Value at $15/hr
Stovetop	5 min	$1.25
Oven	1 min	$0.25

Oven cooking is more hands off. You toss with oil and spices, spread on a pan, set a timer, and walk away. Stovetop requires stirring and attention, plus you need to add water to let them cook through.

Fresh vs Frozen Green Beans: Total Cost Breakdown

Here's what 1 lb of green beans actually costs when you include everything:

Type	Stovetop	Oven
Fresh	$6.49	$5.49
Frozen	$2.87	$1.87

Frozen + oven is the cheapest at less than $2 per pound. And unlike some vegetables, the texture is great.

When Each Option Makes Sense

Choose fresh green beans when:

• You want control over cut size
• You prefer smaller, uniform pieces
• Frozen isn't available or is more expensive in your area

Choose frozen green beans when:

• Making oven roasted green beans fry
• You want to minimize prep time
• You're meal prepping and want convenience

Find Your Real Green Beans Cost

Adjust the variables below to see which option works best for you. All calculations are for 1 lb of cooked green beans.

Bottom Line

For green beans fry: Frozen + oven. Less than $2 per pound. 1 minute of active time. Once cooked, you can't even tell the difference.

The math:

• Frozen oven is cheapest at $1.87 per pound
• Fresh oven is $5.49 per pound
• You save over $3.50 per pound with frozen

For me, frozen oven wins. Same taste. Half the work. A third of the cost.

Are you team fresh or team frozen? Let me know in the comments!

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