Freezing beans

[Bex]

Getting a bit ahead of myself as I've picked 4 French beans from my dwarf plants today and now I'm wondering what I'll do when the plants really get going. Do frenchies freeze? If so is it a case of top and tailing them laying on a tray and freezing? Do I have to Blanche them? Excuse my ignorance.


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[snakeshack]

Sounds ok to me , I don't blanch


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[arpoet]

I blanch sometimes and don't other times. Same with runners.
Which ever way you decide upon, open freeze on a tray then bag up once frozen.

[kathyd]

I didn't blanch last year Bex, and they seemed fine. I just top and tail as you say, and open freeze on trays before bagging like arpoet.

[BUFFS]

we blanche them for 2mins and bag up into portion sizes in freezer bags and then all into plastic bag(labelled) into the big freezer, we haven't bought any in more years than I care to think about but as I am putting in raised beds we will not be using climbing(more productive) but dwarf beans next year, tried parsnips in raised bed this year and they all germinated so we will be enjoying roast parsnips quite a lot this coming winter...

[lottie dolly]

most of my beans get frozen,just prepare and freeze,no messing around,steam them from frozen is the best results for me,made a mistake once,thought i would get the dinner ready to put a light under later on,euk...they were all soggy,never again,

[Potstubsdustbins]

We only like runners, I grow, SWMBO freezes and cooks.

Her method which has proved successful for some years is to top, tail and slice the beans, cold water wash and freeze in bags. When she needs them, about twice a week she defrosts and puts the portion in to a pan of cold water as she starts to plate up on goes the gas to bring them to the boil, as soon as the water starts to bubble she serves them.

She did try blanching one year and they turned to mush when cooked.

[Martin H]

She did try blanching one year and they turned to mush when cooked.

Ours were like that. Mind you we did boil them from cold. I wonder if steaming from frozen like lottie dolly says would be better? How long to steam them for?

[Bex]

So my thinking was right woohoo! Lol that never happens. I'll invest in a steamer, I've a bamboo steamer but that won't last.


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[lottie dolly]

Ours were like that. Mind you we did boil them from cold. I wonder if steaming from frozen like lottie dolly says would be better? How long to steam them for?

steaming time depends on how you like them,and weather you slice as in shreds,chunks or the whole round pod type,the later are the best, give them aprox 10 to 15 mins,there are only 2 of us,i put the spuds in the lower steamer,and cook at the same time,this is on the hob,now the electric steamer seems to takes for ever,you would be better of with 2 separate steamers,a lot cheaper to,just experiment until your taste buds are tickled,i have not boiled veg for years,taste is so much better,plus spuds stay whole,the steamers i use are the superstores or wilkis ones,

[Greenleaves]

Open freeze without blanching, bag them in portion sizes and steam from frozen. Add for the last 5 mins of the potatoes already steaming

[Two_Sheds]

Do frenchies freeze?

Mine really feel the cold, I have to put the electric blankie on for them