{"id":14420,"date":"2021-01-30T08:25:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-30T12:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growagoodlife.com\/?p=14420"},"modified":"2023-07-18T10:14:23","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T14:14:23","slug":"freeze-broccoli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growagoodlife.com\/freeze-broccoli\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Freeze Broccoli"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having plenty of prepared broccoli in the freezer makes it easy to grab a handful to use in recipes. You can add frozen broccoli to soups, stir-fries, and casseroles. Learn how to freeze broccoli to preserve it for future meals.<\/p>\n

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Broccoli is a great vegetable to have on hand for nutrition, flavor, versatility, and quick cooking time. The part of the broccoli we eat is actually the flower head that is harvested just before it blooms.<\/p>\n

Growing broccoli<\/a> is a test of patients. Most varieties need 70 to 100 days to reach maturity when started from seed under lights indoors and transplanted to the garden. If you are growing a number of plants, they can mature at different times, or be ready to harvest all at once.<\/p>\n

Once you spot a crown beginning to form in the center of the plant, you need to keep an eye on it. You want the crown to grow as large as it can, but you want to harvest it while buds are tightly closed before they bloom.<\/p>\n

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Loose heads and yellowing are signs that the broccoli is about to blossom. Harvest immediately, because once the buds open, the broccoli will have a bitter flavor and mealy texture.<\/p>\n

While broccoli florets are the favorite, all parts of the plant can be eaten including the stems and leaves.<\/p>\n

The stalks have a woody outer layer, but the center of the stems can be exposed with a little trimming. Use a vegetable peeler to slice off the outer fibrous skin, and then cut the stems into chunks and blanch and freeze separately, or right along with the florets.<\/p>\n

The leaves can be used the same way you would enjoy kale or cabbage, such as raw in salads, briefly cooked, or chopped and added to a soup or stir-fry. You can also toss the leaves and stems in a vegetable scrap freezer bag to make homemade stock<\/a> later.<\/p>\n

Steps to Freezing Broccoli<\/h2>\n

Whether you have an abundant harvest of broccoli from your garden, stocked up at the grocery store, or stumbled on a great deal at the farmers’ market, you can preserve broccoli by blanching and freezing.<\/p>\n

A detailed printable recipe can be found at the bottom of this article, but here are the steps to blanch and freeze broccoli:<\/p>\n

Step 1: Harvest at Peak or Select Healthy Crowns<\/h3>\n

Harvest mature broccoli once the heads have sized up, are still tight, and before flower buds open. Pick broccoli in the early morning when the plants are hydrated and cool from the night air. Use a sharp knife or clean pruning shears to cut the main head off the plant along with several inches of the stalk. The plant will continue to produce side shoots with smaller heads of broccoli for a later harvest.<\/p>\n

If you are picking up broccoli to preserve, choose broccoli crowns that look fresh, feel firm, and have a deep green color. Avoid crowns that are loose, yellow, or brown. Also skip the ones with shriveled leaves and dried out stems. These are signs that the broccoli has been hanging around for a while and may not be the best quality to preserve.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Gather Your Equipment<\/h3>\n

Common kitchen equipment you will need to freeze broccoli:<\/p>\n