Frozen berries may seem perfectly safe straight from the bag, but food safety experts say there’s one simple step many people skip before adding them to smoothies.

Rinsing them.

Because frozen berries are stored at extremely low temperatures, many assume freezing kills harmful bacteria completely. In reality, freezing mostly slows bacterial activity rather than eliminating it entirely. Certain pathogens, including Listeria, norovirus, and hepatitis A, can survive freezing temperatures and become active again once the fruit begins to thaw.

That’s why experts still recommend rinsing frozen berries before eating or blending them.

Although many frozen berries are pre-washed before packaging, they can still carry traces of dirt, bacteria, or contaminants from harvesting, processing, packaging, or transport. Since smoothies are usually consumed raw without cooking, there’s no heat involved to destroy any remaining microorganisms.

Fortunately, the solution is simple.

Running frozen berries under cold water for a quick rinse can help remove surface contaminants while adding an extra layer of protection. Most nutrition and food safety specialists agree that this small habit is worth the few extra seconds it takes.

Some people worry rinsing frozen berries will affect texture, but experts say doing it immediately before blending usually minimizes any noticeable difference.

Frozen berries remain a healthy and convenient source of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. With one quick rinse, you can enjoy them with a little more confidence and peace of mind.