Translation guide
In Japanese, 'frozen food' is most commonly expressed as 冷凍食品 (reitō shokuhin), the standard term for commercially frozen foods. For home-frozen items, 冷凍した食べ物 (reitō shita tabemono) or 冷凍保存した食品 (reitō hozon shita shokuhin) are used. The word 冷凍 (reitō) itself means 'freezing' or 'frozen' and appears in many compounds.
Referring to frozen food products sold in stores, such as frozen vegetables, meals, or ingredients.
The standard term for commercially frozen foods. It is a compound of 冷凍 (freezing) and 食品 (food products).
冷凍食品のコーナーはどこですか？
Where is the frozen food section?
冷凍食品は便利ですね。
Frozen food is convenient, isn't it?
An abbreviation of 冷凍食品, commonly used in industry or casual contexts, similar to 'frozen foods' in English.
冷食コーナーで買い物する。
I shop in the frozen foods section.
Referring to food that has been frozen at home, such as leftovers or homemade meals.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'food that has been frozen'. 冷凍する means 'to freeze'.
冷凍した食べ物を解凍する。
I thaw the frozen food.
More formal, emphasizing preservation by freezing. 冷凍保存 means 'frozen storage'.
冷凍保存した食品は長持ちします。
Frozen food lasts a long time.
Talking about frozen food as a category or concept, without specifying commercial or homemade.
Even for general references, 冷凍食品 is the most natural term. It covers both commercial and homemade frozen foods in broad contexts.
冷凍食品の需要が増えている。
Demand for frozen food is increasing.
Do not directly translate 'frozen food' as 凍った食べ物 (kōtta tabemono). While grammatically correct, it sounds unnatural and is not used in standard Japanese. Use 冷凍食品 or 冷凍した食べ物 instead.
The word 冷凍 (reitō) can be attached to many nouns to indicate they are frozen, e.g., 冷凍野菜 (frozen vegetables), 冷凍肉 (frozen meat). This is very common and productive.