Nutrient Loss Sample Comparison Chart
The chart below comes from the US Department of Agriculture Research Services Division, Composition of Foods - Handbook No. 8, Analysis Charts Table 2 - Nutrients In The Edible Portion Of One Pound Of Food.
See Also
Beef Liver. A Complete Guide: Functional Food & Ultimate SupplementAre Freeze Dried Bananas Good for You?If at First You Don’t Succeed, Dry and Dry AgainExtend the Life of Your Produce: Dry Your Food!What this chart shows is the the amount of nutrients left over after processing. Dehydrated food performs better than its frozen or canned counterparts by far.
Notes:
- Comparisons are of overall nutritional losses incurred in food preservation.
- Canning: 60 - 80% nutrient loss due to high temperatures in the canning process..
- Frozen: 40 - 60% nutrient loss. Moisture expands when frozen, causing food cells to rupture.
- Dehydrated: 3 - 5% nutrient loss due to low heat during the drying cycle and the gentle air flow, this translates to minimal loss.
- This means that there is less than 5% nutrient loss on dehydrated food on ANY size portion .vs. 40% - 80% in canned or frozen.
- Dehydrated food weighs less by 70 - 94%. The nutritional value in the food isn't destroyed by drying process. Remove the water and the nutritional value goes up as a percentage of the reduced weight.
| Carrots 1 lbs. | Canned | Frozen | Dehydrated |
| Food Energy Cal | 127 | 238 | 1,547 |
| Protein gm | 2.7 | 3.8 | - |
| Fat gm | 0.9 | - | 5.9 |
| Carbohydrates gm | 29 | 115 | 367 |
| Calcium | 113 | - | 1,161 |
| Phosphorus mg | 91 | - | 1,061 |
| Iron mg | 3.2 | 4.9 | 27.2 |
| Sodium mg | 1,070 | - | 1,216 |
| Potassium mg | 544 | - | 8,818 |
| Vitamin A mg | 45360 | 49,000 | 2,040 |
| Thiamine mg | 0.11 | - | 1.39 |
| Riboflavin mg | 0.11 | - | 1.36 |
| Niacin mg | 1.6 | - | 13.7 |
| Abscorbic Acid mg | 9 | 4 | 68 |
| Peas 1 lbs. | Canned | Frozen | Dehydrated |
| Food Energy Cal | 229 | 331 | 1,542 |
| Protein gm | 15.9 | 24.5 | 109.3 |
| Fat gm | 1.4 | 1.4 | 5.9 |
| Carbohydrates gm | 56 | 58 | 367 |
| Calcium | 91 | 91 | 290 |
| Phosphorus mg | 229 | 408 | 1,542 |
| Iron mg | 7.7 | 9.1 | 23.1 |
| Sodium mg | 1,070 | 505 | 159 |
| Potassium mg | 435 | 680 | 4,559 |
| Vitamin A mg | 3,080 | 540 | |
| Thiamine mg | 0.43 | 1.45 | 3.38 |
| Riboflavin mg | 0.24 | 0.45 | 1.31 |
| Niacin mg | 3.9 | 9.3 | 13.7 |
| Abscorbic Acid mg | 40 | 85 | - |
| Potatoes 1 lbs. | Canned | Frozen | Dehydrated |
| Food Energy Cal | 200 | 331 | 1,651 |
| Protein gm | 5 | 5.4 | 32.7 |
| Fat gm | 0.9 | - | 2.7 |
| Carbohydrates gm | 44 | 78 | 381 |
| Calcium | 18 | 45 | 159 |
| Phosphorus mg | 136 | 136 | 785 |
| Iron mg | 1.4 | 3.2 | 7.7 |
| Sodium mg | 5 | 36 | 404 |
| Potassium mg | 1,134 | 771 | 7,258 |
| Vitamin A mg | - | - | - |
| Thiamine mg | 0.17 | 0.32 | 1.05 |
| Riboflavin mg | 0.1 | 0.05 | 0.27 |
| Niacin mg | 2.9 | 2.9 | 24.4 |
| Abscorbic Acid mg | 41 | 144 | 27 |
| Thiamine mg | 0.17 | 0.32 | 1.05 |
| Riboflavin mg | 0.1 | 0.05 | 0.27 |
| Niacin mg | 2.9 | 2.9 | 24.4 |
| Abscorbic Acid mg | 58 | 41 | 144 |
| Apricots 1 lbs. | Canned | Frozen | Dehydrated |
| Food Energy Cal | 245 | 445 | 1,506 |
| Protein gm | 4.5 | 3.2 | 25.4 |
| Fat gm | 0.9 | 0.5 | 4.5 |
| Carbohydrates gm | 61 | 113 | 383 |
| Calcium | 77 | 45 | 390 |
| Phosphorus mg | 104 | 86 | 631 |
| Iron mg | 2.3 | 4.1 | 24 |
| Sodium mg | 5 | 18 | 150 |
| Potassium mg | 1,642 | 1,039 | 5,715 |
| Vitamin A mg | 1,250 | 7,620 | 63,960 |
| Thiamine mg | 0.12 | 0.09 | Trace |
| Riboflavin mg | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.36 |
| Niacin mg | 2.5 | 3.5 | 16.2 |
| Abscorbic Acid mg | 41 | 69 | |
| Thiamine mg | 0.12 | 0.09 | Trace |
| Riboflavin mg | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.36 |
| Niacin mg | 2.5 | 3.5 | 16.2 |
| Abscorbic Acid mg | 27 | 41 | 69 |
