Freezing veg / fruit

[annie8]

Help please! I’m off on holiday for 2 weeks tomorrow. I have lots of broad beans, peas and rasps ready and can’t eat them all before I go. Can I freeze them? Hate the idea of them going to waste.

[jonahjonah]

Hi Annie,

I've been spreading rasps in a single layer on a baking tray, freezing, then packing in a freezer bag or box. I think they'll be quite soft when thawed, but good for anything that doesn't want a fresh, firm berry.

I haven't frozen the veg, but many website recommend blanching, cooling/drying, and freezing. I've been getting loads of advice for freezing meals, so I'm sure some of the knowledgeable types will be around with tried and tested veg advice.

[Jimny14]

Sounds right jonah, that's what we do. Soft fruit lay in a single layer then bag, beans and peas dropped in to already boiling water then bring back to boil as fast as possible, once back to boil drain off and plunge in to cold water (normally iced of possible) then when cool drain off freeze in similar way to fresh berries. If you just bung em in a bag together before freezing they tend to set in to a solid block

[Chestnut]

Hi Annnie,
As JJ said, raspberries can be frozen easily. Just spread out on a baking tray and pop into freezer. They are a bit mushy when you defrost them, but fine for jelly covered tarts, or cooking in pie filling or jam.

Broad beans and peas can also be frozen, but I was taught to blanch them in boiling water for 30-60 secs- then straight into iced water to stop the cooking process, then spread on baking trays and freeze.

Best to do the boiling part in small batches (1-2 portions), but you can save time and electricity by tipping the hot water straight into another saucepan - catching the peas in a sieve as you do- then peas/beans into ice water and saucepan containing hot water back on the hob

[Potstubsdustbins]

Some one has to disagree otherwise we wouldn't be gardeners.

SWMBO tried all that blanching procedure some time back and we found it turns more or less everything mushy when used.

Peas dead easy, pod, rinse in cold water, dry on kitchen towel and freeze, SWMBO does it by the portion. to use drop in cold water bring to the boil and plate up straight away, nearly as good as fresh.

Raspberries same as Jonah.

I don't do broad beans but runners. Top, tail and slice, rinse in cold water and dry. To use same as peas.

I haven't had a soft mushy bean or pea for years.

[Mark_Riga]

Peas don't need blanching really as not likely to be in the freezer for more than 6 months I bet. We just pod them and straight into freezer. If you have too many broadbeans, you can let some ripen on the plants. In late august/Sept the pod should be black and dry. The beans can then be stored and used for home made humus as a substitute for chick peas and you can save some to plant next year.

[Greenleaves]

We don't blanch anything, I think the modern freezers get much colder than several years ago, like Potties young lady, prepared and frozen in portions. The only difference being we vacuum pack ours.

Agree with open freezing the fruit first

[Penellype]

I wash and open freeze fruit (raspberries, currants, gooseberries, strawberries for cooking) and I freeze peas straight from the pod. I've not tried freezing beans raw, but will do as I always have a glut - I hate the texture of vegetables that have been blanched and frozen. Any that I have frozen this way I make into blended soups later.

[1Bee]

Hmm. My blanched french beans and runners are still crunchy, but if I freeze them without blanching they go grey and soft... *scratches head*

[Penellype]

Hmm. My blanched french beans and runners are still crunchy, but if I freeze them without blanching they go grey and soft... *scratches head*

Interesting. Every time I have frozen blanched runner beans I've thrown them away as they are textureless and unpleasant. Not tried without blanching yet.

[Chestnut]

^^^^I also will be experimenting with freezing straight from the pod this weekend ;-)

[Nicos]

I actually prefer frozen broad beans .
Straight from the pod, then once defrosted they squeeze out of the hard outer skin much more easily than fresh ones do.
I freeze peas straight from the pod too.
Just eating up the last ones from last year and they have frozen well unblamched.
Corn on the cob I freeze whole with the husks intact

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have been put right by my lady "I do not rinse peas, pod and straight in the freezer, how else do you think I keep them sweet for you".

Well that's me told in no uncertain terms 'yus my dear'