How to keep frozen beans soft?
I like putting beans (e.g., mung beans, red beans) into my ice cream when I make ice cream at home.
What I do: soak the beans overnight, boil them, mash them, then mix them into the cream as it's being beaten, then freeze the entire mixture before enjoying.
The problem is that, after freezing, the beans turn into VERY hard bits! They're so hard, it's like I'm biting into crunchy pieces of nuts! I buy the same types of ice cream from the store and their beans don't exhibit this problem. Theirs are soft and chewy.
I'd like for my beans to be soft and chewy when my ice cream comes out of the freezer as well. How is it done?
Best Answer
I think some fats may help better than just sugar? I have never tried this but it is worth the experimentation. If you add heavy cream (dairy) it may help. Coconut cream is high in fat and could also help in keeping it soft at lower temperatures. It is the ice crystals that make it hard, so the key is to separate the ice crystals at the microscopic level. Fat droplets can help in that if they are mixed well.
If not, just work with some scentless cooking oil in small quantities. As @Ecnerwal mentioned, read through the ingredients of the store bought ice cream and see what other ingredients are present that you may not have in your recipe. Based on some mung bean recipes online, it appears that egg yolks also help with the texture. Good luck!
Pictures about "How to keep frozen beans soft?"
How do I make beans more Soft?
Beans That Are Still Hard After CookingAdd 1/4-1/2 teaspoons of baking soda to encourage softening and give your beans another 30-60 minutes to cook while simmering (your liquid should be hot, but not rapidly boiling).How do you cook beans that have been frozen?
To use, just add frozen beans directly to recipes like chili or beans and rice. They'll thaw right in the pot or pan. For recipes where you need to start with thawed beans, pull them out the night before and let them thaw in the fridge, or place the sealed bag in a large bowl of warm water to quick-thaw.Should I thaw frozen beans before cooking?
Beans maintain their shape better if they are thawed slowly. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, for several hours at room temperature, or for about an hour in a pan of warm water. When the beans can be removed from their freezer container, put them in a saucepan to reheat and finish cooking.Why are frozen green beans so tough?
One reason beans are fibrous, tough, and stringy may simply be that they are picked past their prime. Pod diameter, NOT length is the best indicator for harvesting beans, and freshness can be confirmed by an audible snap when the bean is broken.how to freeze vegetables at home for winter in 3 easy steps | diy frozen green peas, beans, carrots
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Charlotte May, Skylar Kang, Charlotte May, SHVETS production