To blanch or not to blanch?

[Headfry]

Should I blanch my broad beans and peas before freezing....help please

[SarzWix]

I never blanch peas. They weren't very nice the only time I tried it, whereas freezing them unblanched leaves them with a better texture IMHO.

Broad bean, I'm not sure. I've only once had enough to freeze, and I did blanch them. Never tried freezing them unblanched.

[Alison]

I never blanche anything, find the texture is much nicer if you don't. Then cook all my veggies from frozen, nice and quick and you don't end up with horrible mushy / grey veggies.

[jackie j]

I don't blanch but what I do is open freeze everything on trays and then bag when frozen. This stops it sticking together in the bag. Takes time but worth it in the end.

[rustylady]

Same as Jackie. Life's too short to blanch a pea

[chris]

I do the same as the two ladies above!

[Matt94]

yep i too never blanche - i just wash them and bung them in a bag.

[Paulottie]

I blanch frnch beans, runners (cut spagetti style) and broads (young) return to boil remove and dunk in iced water dry well before freezing. broads when older I paste to freeze.... used 50% with chick peas to make falafel...lovely soft texture....yum

never had enough peas to freeze- we eat the lot and anyway birdseye do it so well.

[roitelet]

I've done Broadies blanched and unblanched and found the blanched ones better. Try both ways and draw your own conclusions.

[Alison]

I've done Broadies blanched and unblanched and found the blanched ones better. Try both ways and draw your own conclusions.

I did but came to the opposite conclusion to you. The problem is that when I cook veggies I don't do much more than blanche anyway so if I do both they are over cooked and that reminds me of school dinners

[Chocolate8me]

Earlier I threw some Kale in a bag in the freezer unblanched, I will test it out tomorrow.

Then I will blanch some, and test that out on Friday.

My own test in my own laboritory (kitchen) with my own tools & equipment and my own conclusion.

[Headfry]

Thanks folks for you kind answers, I think I may take a chance this year and NOT blanch!

[binley100]

I personally don't blanch anything ......for one thing too much faff and another some stuff goes to mush. With most things I chuck it straight from frozen into boiling water or put in pan and pour boiling water over, quickly bring back to the boil simmer till cooked. All things legumey take a very short time , brassica things take a little while longer. Veg like courgettes, squash and roots just go from freezer into hot fat and get roasted.

[Florence Fennel]

I stopped blanching runner beans since recommended on here, but I tried it with cauliflower and don't like it - prefer it blanched, so it's really what suits you best.

[Thelma Sanders]

I blanch unless I'm using it up very quickly