Fresh broccoli can be found in summer, but if you freeze it, you can enjoy this excellent and healthy green vegetable all year round. Freezing broccoli is simple, and you'll find that the ones you freeze on their own taste better than the ones you buy at the grocery store. Read the article to find out how to freeze and enjoy them in three different ways: boiled, roasted or baked.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Freeze the Broccoli
Step 1. Choose or buy broccoli
Buy broccoli when it is in season, in June or July. Choose broccoli with green, firm buds that are not yellowed or have begun to fall out. Avoid broccoli with brown or blotchy spots.
Step 2. Wash the broccoli
Remove all traces of dirt, insects or pesticides.
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If you live in an area where broccoli parasites or worms are a problem, prepare a salt water solution and let the broccoli soak for half an hour. This will kill all parasites and cause them to surface. Discard the salted water, rinse the broccoli and go on.
Freeze Broccoli Step 2Bullet1 -
Remove all leaves from the broccoli.
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Step 3. Cut the broccoli into buds of about 2.5 cm
Cut the lower stem into pieces of about half a centimeter. Discard the final, woody part of the stem.
Step 4. Put the broccoli in a bowl and cover with water
Squeeze the juice from half a lemon, mix and let it rest for 5 minutes. Pour the lemon water solution into a saucepan.
Step 5. Add water to the pot
Using a bamboo basket as a measure, add enough water so that the basket floats on about 2.5 cm of liquid. Remove the basket after checking the water level.
If you don't have a bamboo basket, add enough water to cover the amount of broccoli you are cooking
Step 6. Cover the pot and boil the water briskly
Putting the lid on makes the water boil quickly and saves energy.
Step 7. Place the broccoli in a bamboo basket and drop it into the pot
Cover the pot and bring the water back to a boil. Once boiling has resumed, steam the broccoli for five minutes.
If you don't use a bamboo basket, put the broccoli directly into boiling water. Blanch them for 2 minutes, then remove them using a skimmer
Step 8. Remove the bamboo basket and cool the broccoli immediately
You can put them under running water or immerse them in ice water.
If you are not using a bamboo basket, pour the broccoli from the pot into the colander and cool immediately
Step 9. Drain the broccoli
Use the bamboo basket or use a colander. Shake them to remove excess water.
Step 10. Divide broccoli into freezer bags
Lay them out so they lie flat.
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Put enough broccoli in each bag to make a meal for the whole family. This way you'll only defrost the exact amount of broccoli you need, with no leftovers. A rough measurement is a handful of inflorescences per person.
Freeze Broccoli Step 10Bullet1 -
If you are not using a vacuum sealer, close the bag almost completely. Put a straw in the space you left. Suck in all the air. Remove the straw as you finish closing the bag.
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Label the bags with the date you frozen them. Use them within 9 months for better flavor and proper nutritional value.
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Method 2 of 4: Blanch the Frozen Broccoli
Step 1. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over a high heat
It is important to use a large pot, because the broccoli should not stay too long in the water. A smaller pot will cool quickly when you pour in the frozen broccoli and take longer to cook.
Step 2. Remove the broccoli from the freezer
They may have become a single block, or not; okay in any case.
Step 3. Pour the broccoli into boiling water
Drain them after a minute and a half - this is the time it takes to rehydrate the frozen broccoli.
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Cooking the broccoli for more than a minute will make it mushy and break.
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Do not throw the broccoli in the water until it boils.
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Step 4. Drain the broccoli
Put them in a bowl and season them with butter, salt, pepper and a sprinkle of Parmesan if you like.
Method 3 of 4: Roasted Broccoli
Step 1. Heat the oven to 220 ° C
Step 2. Remove the broccoli from the freezer
Spread them out on parchment paper. If they have stuck in the freezer, use a fork and knife to separate them.
Step 3. Sprinkle the broccoli with olive oil
You can also use sesame or grape seed oil.
Step 4. Season the broccoli with salt and pepper
Sprinkle with other spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, or cumin if you prefer.
Step 5. Place the broccoli in the oven
Cook them for 15 minutes, or until the inflorescence has brownish and crunchy parts.
Step 6. Remove the broccoli from the oven
Put them in a bowl and serve hot.
Method 4 of 4: Making Broccoli Stew
Step 1. Heat the oven to 180 * C
Step 2. Bring the water to a boil over high heat
Remove the broccoli from the freezer (you will need about 200 g) and pour it into boiling water. Drain them after a minute and a half. Set aside the water in which you blanched them.
Step 3. Prepare the sauce that will tie everything together
In a bowl, mix:
- 100 gr of Mayonnaise
- 100 gr of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 can or bag of Mushroom cream.
- 2 eggs
Step 4. Add the broccoli to the bowl
Stir using a large wooden spoon
Step 5. Pour the dough into a greased pan
Any size is fine, as long as it can comfortably hold all the dough.
Step 6. Prepare the topping
Break 2 packs of crackers and mix them with 70g of melted butter. Spread the dressing evenly over the baking sheet.
Step 7. Place the pan in the oven
Cook for half an hour, or until the sauce turns golden.
Advice
- Using lemon (or lime) will keep the broccoli a bright green even after cooking.
- The vegetables will be tastier and crispier if you dry them before freezing them; never freeze wet vegetables.
- A bamboo basket with a handle is easier to use, as it can be easily lowered into the pot and removed with the broccoli in it.
Warnings
- Be careful when steaming. Wear a kitchen glove when you lift the lid or lower or remove the bamboo basket. Do not put your face on top of a steaming pot.
- Cut the vegetables on a cutting board that you didn't use to cut the raw meat.
- Don't let them blanch in the microwave.
