Freezing Vegetables and Fruit Guide – Simple Steps To Perfect Freezer Preservation
Freezing fruit and vegetables is a great way to make your produce last a lot longer than the shelf-life. It also protects your produce from spoiling and keeps it handy for when you wish to use it, avoiding having to spend a lot of money for out-of-season produce. It’s a great way to preserve a fall harvest or a great sale at the grocery store.
Blanching Vegetables
To freeze vegetables, it is a good idea to blanch them first. You can blanch the vegetables by immersing them in boiling water for up to five minutes. By blanching them, you are killing any bacteria that may be present. Some bacteria will be killed by the freezing, but many can tolerate very cold temperatures and flare up when you defrost the vegetables, blanching helps make sure that doesn’t happen.
Blanching Vegetables
As well as killing bacteria, blanching also helps to kill any little bugs that you might not be able to see. Once you have finished blanching your vegetables, move them to a large bowl filled with water and ice, adding more ice as necessary Keep them in the in the ice bath for as long as you blanched them.
Prepping Vegetables for Freezing
To prepare your vegetables for freezing, cut them up into small pieces. This will only apply to items such as sugar peas, green beans and other similar items. Beans can be frozen as is after they are blanched. Be sure to store your foods in freezer bags as the bags are designed to keep your fruits and vegetables from developing freezer burn. Using standard sandwich bags or non-freezer bags will result in ice crystals forming inside, ruining your veggies.
Prepping Fruits for Freezing
Freezing fruit is a little different as it does not require blanching. Blanching fruit may actually destroy it before you get the chance to use it. To freeze your fruit, after you pick, use a commercial or homemade fruit wash and then allow the fruit to drain for up to 30 minutes. For some fruits, placing them on layers of paper towel will help with the drying process.
Flash Freeze
After you have let the fruit sit and drain, place the fruit on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Lining the pan with waxed paper makes the fruit easier to remove later. Place the uncovered or lightly covered pan of fruit in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. Once frozen, bag in individual bags. For fruit smoothie bags, cut the fruit after washing into the size your blender requires. Freeze the cut fruit. Once frozen, place the measured amount needed for smoothies (I do 1 cup portions) and use individual sandwich bags. Put the individual bags into one large gallon freezer bag. Use the fruit frozen right from the bag for instant smoothies! Just add liquid – milk, juice, frozen yogurt, etc.
Freezing
Make sure you label the fruit and vegetables with the date they were packed. Mostly so you know how long they’ve been there, but also because once frozen, it’s really difficult to tell what’s in a package.
How long will your fruits and vegetables last? It depends a lot on your freezer. Standard freezer/refrigerator combinations don’t get or stay cold enough for long-term storage. Never store them in the door of the freezer, that’s the warmest location.
In a deep freezer (stand alone), most fruits and vegetables are good for up to 3 to 6 months. If you choose to vacuum seal your bags then freeze them, the fruits and vegetables may last up to one year. Be sure to rotate your freezer stock and put the oldest fruits and veggies at the front so they’re used first.
Freezing fruits and vegetables is easy. Just be sure to take the proper steps of washing and prepping and you’ll be rewarded with a great freezer stockpile!
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