Leek Glut

[mcdood]

I have a large bed of leeks and for various reasons I haven't harvested as many as I could/should and I'm now worried with temps warming that they will soon start going to seed. I plan to make up several batches of Leek and Potato soup to eat and freeze and will give away leeks where I can. I found an old thread (2010) on here suggesting freezing leeks by just washing, slicing then bagging up in the freezer. Anyone experience on here of freezing or other suggestions please?.

[.commander]

You can slice and freeze them. Supermarkets sell them this way.

"Once washed blanch whole ones for 3-4 mins, cool, drain and pack.

Slice thicker ones and blanch for 2 mins etc. Book suggests 1/2lb quantities in bags but it depends on your use level.

Suggested freezer life of 6 months"

Earthbabe said this on here at some point.

[Nicos]

I sautée mine then freeze.
They reduce in size dramatically....much quicker and less space consuming than soup.
It's surprising how versatile they are once defrosted...I bung them in anything requiring an onion...much sweeter too!

I think I have leek envy now as most of mine have been used up!

[Snadger]

My summer/autimn leeks from last year are just about finished so I need to start harvesting my winter leeks. Its surprising how much growth they put on over the winter months. Winter leeks have more green on them which I enjoy eating I have froze them before but somehow its not like eating them fresh and I usually forget they are in the freezer.
I now fancy a leek pudding tonight so I may grab a few from the 'Shop at the end of the garden' or allotment in my case.

[PyreneesPlot]

I just wash, slice and freeze too, but I think I'll try Nico's sautéeing approach too.

[SarrissUK]

I've never grown leeks to the extent I have a glut, but I have bought some dirt cheap in the farm shop before. I cook them down in a pot rather than frying, as I'd be too prone to add some kind of fat to fry them in, which reduces freezer life. I just sling them in a big pot with a bit of water to kind of steam them down in size

[Snadger]

Had three small fresh leeks in a leek pudding covered with beef mince last night for supper. Yum!The ground was so wet I didn't need to dig them, I just pulled them up.

A handy tip is that if you have a glut and need the area they are growing on, dig them all up with soil on them and heal them in in a clump in a spare corner somewhere. They will keep ticking over and growing for use as and when you require them.

[mcdood]

Thank you all, lots of options for me to try.

[veggiechicken]

Like Snadger, I pulled 3 leeks from "the Shop at the end of the garden" today.
Cut off the roots with about an inch of stem - to replant (and regrow).

Then slice the leeks, cook gently in a little oil/butter until softened, stir in some flour and continue cooking then add some milk to turn it into "creamed leeks" or more milk to make leek soup.

You could probably freeze it at the "creamed" stage but I eat the lot.