Of course, freezing vegetables at home is pretty easy too. Here are the simple steps of freezing vegetables at home:
- Select Vegetables: Select the vegetables you want to freeze. Fresh and ripe vegetables give better results.
- Wash: Wash and clean the vegetables. Especially peel the skins of vegetables with shells.
- Cut: Cut vegetables into desired sizes. For example, cut the broccoli into small pieces or cut the carrots into rings.
- Blanching: Some vegetables are recommended to be blanched before freezing. Blanching is to boil the vegetables for a short time (usually 1-2 minutes) by placing them in boiling water. This helps to preserve the color of the vegetables and maintain their quality. For the blanching process, boil the vegetables in boiling water and then cool them by placing them in ice water.
- Dry: Dry the vegetables with a towel or paper towel. Let it dry to prevent its moisture from forming ice crystals in the freezer.
- Freeze: Put dried vegetables in freezer bags or containers. Seal the bags by deflating or freeze the containers tightly.
- Freezing process: Vegetables will freeze within 2-3 hours after freezing. After taking them out of the freezer, let the vegetables sit for 5-10 minutes before using them so you can let them soften.
Note: When freezing vegetables in the freezer, place the vegetables in a single layer. By stacking layers, vegetables can stick together and ice crystals can form more.
You can use frozen vegetables in your meals. You can also freeze vegetables that are plentiful in their season to enjoy fresh vegetables in winter.