Freezing ready-cooked veg

Freezing ready-cooked veg - White Flowers on Brown Wooden Chopping Board

I really don't like blanching. Could I cook the veg. ready to eat and put straight into the freezer? If so, how long might it last?

OR, as an alternative to blanching, could all the veg be boiled for just 1 or 2 minutes, dried (it's said they're still continuing the cooking process during this time) and then put straight into ziplocked bags and into the freezer?

I get fresh produce from the Farmer's Market and would like to freeze it, mainly short term, up to a month max.

freezingblanching


Best Answer

Blanching is a necessary step prior to preparing vegetables for storage in the freezer. Blanching deactivates the enzymes, present in fruits and vegetables, which are responsible for browning and potential off flavors during storage. Your blanched vegetables will look and taste better after being frozen. They will also last longer. Blanching is a quick process. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add vegetables. Allow the pot to return to the boil (cover on). This should take about a minute. Remove to an ice bath. Drain. Package. Freeze. If you are ok with boiling for a minute or two, this should not add much time to your process.



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Quick Answer about "Freezing ready-cooked veg"

  • Allow cooked vegetables to fully cool to room temperature – do not overcool the vegetables as you don't want to risk them going bad. ...
  • Scoop your cooked vegetables into an airtight container or a freezer bag. ...
  • Seal tightly and place into freezer.
  • Label with a title and date for the vegetables.


    • What vegetables can you freeze after cooking?

    You can freeze almost anything. The best vegetables to consider are corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, squash and winter greens such as spinach, kale, chard and collards. Onions, peppers, celery and herbs can also be frozen.

    Can you freeze a cooked ready meal?

    In short: yes. You can freeze virtually all types of cooked meat, as long as you do it properly. Many ready meals, which contain meat, are cooked and then frozen, so the same principle applies to home freezing.

    Can you freeze already cooked vegetables?

    So, yes, you can freeze roasted vegetables, and what is more; most roasted vegetables freeze well. Vegetables with high water content such as tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and mushrooms can be roasted and frozen, but their texture will change in the freezing process.

    How do you store cooked vegetables in the freezer?

    What to Consider Before Tossing Cooked Veggies into the Freezing Camera
  • Always let the cooked veggies cool down completely until they reach room temperature. ...
  • Get the freezer bags or glass hermetic containers with lids ready.



    • Bulk Cooking Indian Meals for Freezer II CANDID HOMEMAKING



    More answers regarding freezing ready-cooked veg

    Answer 2

    Yes, you can freeze cooked vegetables, there is no problem in that. You can even freeze raw vegetables without any preparation.

    Blanching increases the quality of raw frozen vegetables, but if you don't want to blanch, you can do without. There will be some difference in the end result, it is up to you to decide if it is good enough for you.

    The "how long will they last" has nothing to do with blanching or not blanching. If you keep them at -18 C, they are safe for indefinite periods of time. And tastewise, they last for as long as you are willing to eat them.

    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Karolina Grabowska, EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov

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