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How to Freeze Broccoli - Easily! With Step-by-step Photos

How to Freeze Broccoli

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If you like frozen broccoli in the winter, just imagine how good it would taste if you had picked a head yourself and then quickly froze it at home!  It is also one of the simplest ways to put up a vegetable for the winter. Here's how to do it, complete instructions in easy steps and completely illustrated. The broccoli will taste MUCH better than anything you've ever had from a store.

Directions for Freezing Broccoli

Ingredients

• fresh broccoli - any quantity.  I figure one handful per serving.

Equipment

• 1 Large pot of boiling water
• 2 large bowls, one filled with cold water and ice.
• 1 sharp knife
• Vacuum food sealer or "ziploc" type freezer bags (the freezer bag version is heavier and protects better against freezer burn.
  
  See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

Instructions

Step 1 - Get the broccoli!

This is the most important step!  You need broccoli that are FRESH and crisp.  Limp, old broccoli will make nasty tasting frozen broccoli. 

Broccoli are of the best quality when they are tight, before the florets start to open or turn yellow.

 

 

 

 

How much broccoli and where to get it

You can grow your own, pick your own, or buy them at the grocery store. Start with fresh broccoli - as fresh as you can get. 

Step 2 - Wash the broccoli!

I'm sure you can figure out how to rinse the broccoli in plain cold water. 

Step 3 -Split the broccoli

Select firm, young, tender stalks with compact heads. Split lengthwise so flowerets are no more than 1 1/2 inches across. Remove leaves and woody portions. Separate the heads into convenient-size sections.

 

Step 4 - Soak the florets in brine (salt water)

Soak the broccoli in brine (4 teaspoons salt to 1 gallon ordinary tap water) for 30 minutes to remove insects. The rinse under fast running water.

Step 5- Get the pots  ready

Get the pot of boiling water ready (about 2/3 filled) and a LARGE bowl with ice and cold water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6 - Blanch the broccoli.  

All fruits and vegetables contain enzymes and bacteria that, over time, break down the destroy nutrients and change the color, flavor, and texture of food during frozen storage. broccoli requires a brief heat treatment, called blanching, in boiling water or steam, to destroy the enzymes before freezing. Blanching times for broccoli is 3 minutes  (or blanch with steam for 5 minutes) - the duration is just long enough to stop the action of the enzymes and kill the bacteria.

Begin counting the blanching time as soon as you place the broccoli in the boiling water. Cover the kettle and boil at a high temperature for the required length of time. You may use the same blanching water several times (up to 5). Be sure to add more hot water from the tap from time to time to keep the water level at the required height.

Step 7 - Cool the broccoli

Cool broccoli immediately in ice water. Drain the broccoli thoroughly (this shouldn't take more than a minute).

After vegetables are blanched, cool them quickly to prevent overcooking. Plunge the broccoli into a large quantity of ice-cold water (I keep adding more ice to it). A good rule of thumb: Cool for the same amount of time as the blanch step. For instance, if you blanch sweet broccoli for 3 minutes, then cool in ice water for at least 3 minutes. 

Drain thoroughly. 

Step 8 - Bag the broccoli

I love the FoodSavers (see this page for more information) with their vacuum sealing!  I am not paid by them, but these things really work.  If you don't have one, ziploc bags work, too, but it is hard to get as much air out of the bags.  Remove the air to prevent drying and freezer burn. TIP:  If you don't own a vacuum food sealer to freeze foods, place food in a Ziploc bags, zip the top shut but leave enough space to insert the tip of a soda straw. When straw is in place, remove air by sucking the air out.  To remove straw, press straw closed where inserted and finish pressing the bag closed as you remove straw.

 

 

Step 9 - Done!

Pop them into the freezer, on the quick freeze shelf, if you have one!

Freezing keeps broccoli safe to eat almost indefinitely, but the recommended maximum storage time of 12 months is best for taste and quality. The quality of the frozen broccoli is maintained best in a very cold freezer (deep freezer), and one that keeps them frozen completely with no thaw cycles. Excluding any air from inside the bags which leads to freezer burn, by using vacuum-sealed bags, is also important to maintaining quality.

 

 

I love the FoodSavers (see this page for more information) with their vacuum sealing!  Here's an example of one model:

FoodSaver V2840 Advanced Design This one is the least expensive of the Food Saver models that has all the advanced features, like automatic bag detection and sealing, which makes it faster and easier to seal.  And yes, you can seal and freeze foods with liquids (just freeze the unsealed bag in the freezer overnight, THEN seal it!) See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon Home vacuum-packaging system vacuums, seals, and shuts off automatically Upright vacuum-sealing appliance with SmartSeal technology keeps food fresh longer Push-button operation; built-in roll storage and cutter; automatic liquid detection Crush-free instant seal; 2 vacuum speeds; 2 seal levels; progress lights; integrated bag opener Marinate and canister modes; includes 3 quart-size bags, 2 gallon-size bags, and a roll of bag material Measures approximately 6 by 18-8/9 by 10-2/5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Tips:

• Harvest early in the morning, especially if the weather is hot, to get peak flavor.
• Harvest the broccoli at its peak maturity (firm, straight, no florets opening, dark green, not yellowing)
• Process promptly after harvesting, or keep cooled in the fridge or with ice until then.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I've frozen broccoli but it seem so limp and fell apart. Any idea why?
   
   Generally, that means the broccoli was overcooked.  It only takes 90 seconds in steam or boiling water to heat/cook the broccoli after removing it from the freezer
    
2. How long can they be frozen?
   
   It depends upon how cold is your freezer and how you packed them.  Colder (deep freezes) are better than frost free compartments, which actually cycle above freezing (that's how they melt the ice).  Vacuum packing results in longer storage capability, too.  Thicker bags also help prevent freezer burn.
   
   In general, up to 9 months in a ziploc bag in an ordinary freezer, and 14 months in a deep freeze in a vacuum packed bag.  After that, they broccoli won't make you sick; they just won't taste a s good.