How To Freeze Fresh Broccoli Exclusive [#9 Ways To Try]

Broccoli is one of the healthiest green vegetables. It is a rich source of protein and fiber. It is often considered as a superfood, because of its low calories and high amount of antioxidants and nutrients.

For the people seeking an answer to the question, how to freeze Fresh broccoli and raw leaves, here are some techniques to do it:

How Do You Prepare Broccoli For Freezing?

Before we know all the pro techniques for freezing broccoli, let’s first learn how to prepare broccoli for freezing?

As we know Broccoli has florets and stems, they must be blanched for effective freezing (know below how to blanch broccoli then keep reading).
There are many benefits to blanching vegetables. If you want to freeze broccoli raw, you’ll end up with bitter stems.
Blanching is a method that preserves the color as well as the taste. For blanching, you can either boil broccoli stems for three minutes or for five minutes.

How To Freeze Broccoli Without Blanching?

Blanching is a technique that will help you to preserve your Broccoli for a longer period of time. But some people don’t prefer using it.

So if you also have this question in your mind about how to freeze fresh broccoli without blanching, don’t worry we got the answer for you.

Also read- How to Freeze Egg Yolks (Best 11+ Tips To Preserve Leftover)

This method is effective to freeze broccoli for a limited time. To freeze it without blanching follow these steps: –

Preparation Time = 20 minutes
Cooking Time = 5 minutes
Total Time = 25 minutes

Ingredients

Salt
Broccoli

Instructions

Take a large stockpot, place it over a high flame, and boil the water. Also add salt to the boiling water.
When the water in the pot begins to boil, reduce the flame to medium heat, and add broccoli to it.
As soon as the broccoli starts changing its color, i.e. it starts looking brighter, take it out of the boiling water.
Plunge it immediately in the normal water and allow it to soak it for around 2-3 minutes.
Now take out the broccoli and use a paper towel to dry it. Make sure Broccoli is completely dry. Use parchment paper lined baking sheets to lay down the broccoli.
Place the pieces at some distance from each other; Don’t allow them to touch each other.
Freeze the broccoli in the refrigerator.
Once you freeze it, place it in the reusable plastic bags. Also, don’t forget to squeeze as much air as you can from it and seal them.

Nutritional Value

Calories- 47kcal

How To Freeze Cauliflower?

Freezing your Broccoli will give you extra time to consume it. We have enlisted some recipes that will help you to know how to freeze broccoli.

How To Freeze Fresh Broccoli & Cauliflower

Preparation Time = 10 minutes
Cooking Time = 2 minutes
Total Time = 12 minutes

Ingredients

Cauliflower heads
Boiling Water
Ice Water

Instructions

Take a fresh cauliflower, wash it well, and cut it in half first then cut it in quarters. If you want the florets also remove them and cut them into smaller pieces.
Now start the blanching process. Use a large pot to boil water. Put your cauliflower in it. Let it simmer for around 1-2 minutes and after that remove from the pot.
As soon as you take out the cauliflower, transfer them immediately to the bowl filled with ice water. Cool it for 2 minutes.
Drain all the water from the cauliflower and pat the florets to remove extra moisture present in them.
Now take a baking sheet and spread the cauliflower on it and place it in the refrigerator.
In the last step, place the frozen cauliflower in the freezer bag. Now, this frozen cauliflower can be used for several months.

Nutritional Value

Calories- 37Kcal, Carbohydrates 8g, Protein 4g, Fiber 3g

How To Blanch Broccoli?

Blanching will give extra time to your broccoli to stay fresh. Here is the technique for how to blanch and freeze broccoli.

Preparation Time = 15 minutes
Cooking Time = 5 minutes
Total Time = 20 minutes

Ingredients

Broccoli Florets
Salt

Instructions

Take a pan and add almost 4 quarter water to it. Place it on high flame. Add salt when water starts boiling.
Take another bowl and fill it with cold water and ice cubes.
Put the broccoli florets in the boiling water and cook it for around 2-3 minutes. When they start tendering, take them out.
Place the broccoli immediately in cold water and plunge more ice into the water.
Now, use tissue paper to completely drain the broccoli and pat it gently with a paper towel to remove extra water.
Use freezer bags and place broccoli in it. Use the vacuum to take the air out and keep them in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Value

Calories-78 Kcal

How To Freeze Fresh Broccoli Leaves?

Freezing the Broccoli leaves is a little different from freezing broccoli. Most of the people just wash and freeze their leaves. But, this method is effective only for storage for a shorter duration.

To store broccoli leaves for a longer duration, blanching is the best method. It involves boiling them and plunging them in cold water immediately after this. This destroys the enzymes that cause the green color of leaves to lose it.

#1 Trimming:

Take the broccoli and remove any tough stems from the leaves of it. Chop all the leaves into half-inch pieces, and blench them separately for around 3 minutes and then you can store them for further use.

#2 Blanching:

It is the most famous method to preserve any kind of leaves, especially Broccoli leaves. Put your leaves in a pot filled with boiling water, and once they get boiled immediately place them in iced water.

In this way, the enzymes in them get killed and you can use them for a longer period of time.

#3 Drying:

In this method, lay the leaves using a baking sheet and line it either with several paper towels or a cloth towel. Take one more towel and bolt the top of the leaves.

This makes sure that no additional water is left in the broccoli leaves. After completely drying them you can freeze them.

#4 Bagging:

The clumps of dried leaves can be arranged in serving bags after soaking the water in them. Freezing them to store.

#5 Vacuum Sealing:

It is one of the most effective methods to preserve and freeze broccoli leaves. You can store them in sealed bags by using the vacuum.

Can You Freeze Cooked Broccoli

Instructions

Separate the florets from the stern of the broccoli by cutting them carefully. You need to chop them carefully into bite-sized but large pieces.
Put the florets in the washer and rinse them well.
Transfer the florets to a pan and use the lid to cover it. Fill it with water and blanch till it’s tender, not soft. You are aiming for them to get half cooked.
Remove excess water and immediately put them into cold water (Ice water if possible). This stops the cooking process immediately.
Spread the florets on a clean surface and place them separately.
Cover the baking sheet with either parchment paper or silicone pad. Put the florets on the sheets. Also, keep the florets separately.
Now you need to put them in a freezer overnight or until they get solid.
Once they are solid, transfer them into a zip bag or some container
You can use them later as per your need.

Preparation Time = 12 hours 10 minutes
Cooking Time = 5 minutes
Total Time = 12 hours 15 minutes

How To Freeze Fresh Broccoli And Cauliflower?

Broccoli and Cauliflower are of the same varieties of vegetables. They can also be frozen together. Here is a recipe on how to freeze broccoli and cauliflower.

Preparation Time = 13 minutes
Cooking Time = 3 minutes
Total Time = 16 minutes

Ingredients

Broccoli and Cauliflower
Salt

Instructions

Take the fresh broccoli and cauliflower. Wash it below a running tap to remove any dirt or impurity present on it.
Now take a pot, fill it with water and place it on high flame over the stove. When the water starts boiling add cauliflower and broccoli to it.
Also, add a large pinch of salt to the pot with boiling water.
If you also want its stems, trim and peel the stems.
After you finish plunging your vegetables in the boiling water, take them out.
As soon as you take it out, place them in ice water for around 30 seconds.
Take them out and drain every possible drop of water from cauliflower and broccoli.
Place them in freezer bags and put them in the refrigerator.
Now you can use them for around 6 months.

Nutritional value

Calories- 57 Kcal

How Long Can You Freeze Raw Broccoli?

Once you blanch fresh broccoli steams you simply need to store your broccoli in your freezer bags or containers. It will keep broccoli up to six months for your tasty meals.

When Should You Throw Out Broccoli?

If you keep Broccoli properly preserved by showing the above methods, then it can remain fresh for 6-8 months.

But if it starts to become dull, or when its florets turn yellow. It’s up to you to keep it or to use it for cooking. Otherwise, you can throw in verse conditions like brown spots on the stems.

How To Freeze Carrots

Carrots can also be preserved like other green vegetables. Here is the recipe to freeze carrots

Preparation Time = 15 minutes
Cooking Time = 5 minutes
Total Time = 20 minutes

Ingredients

Carrots
Hot Water
Ice Cubes

Instructions

The first step is to remove the green stems from the carrots and wash them thoroughly. Because carrots grow inside the ground lots of dirt gets stuck to them. Therefore, be sure you washed them properly.
Now take a knife and cut the carrots into the required size. You can slice it into round pieces or in quarters, just try to keep them consistent.
Take a large stockpot and fill it with 2/3 water. Place it on high flame over the stove to boil it. Now place your carrots in hot boiling water. Boil them for around 5 minutes before taking them out from the water.
This step will be the same as the one which we told you about how to freeze fresh broccoli. As soon as you take out the carrot from hot water, place them in icy cold water with ice cubes.
The above step will help the carrots to stop them from cooking in their own heat. Use a freezer bag to keep carrots in the refrigerator for storage. It is best to remove excess air from the bag before refrigeration.
You can use the frozen carrot for almost a year.

Nutritional Value

Calories- 78Kcal

How To Freeze Asparagus

Asparagus is a type of grass that is used in many varieties of recipes. The method of freezing asparagus is almost similar as we told you how to freeze cauliflower and broccoli. Blanching is important in this also. There are two methods to blanch Asparagus.

#1 Boiling Water Method

Boil a large pot of water and add asparagus to it (About 1 pound). Boil asparagus for about 2-5 minutes depending upon its thickness.
When you are done boiling them drain the water immediately. Transfer the blanched asparagus into cold water.
Leave them in cold water as long as you have kept them for boiling. Again drain the excess water and then freeze it.

#2 Steam Method

Use a steam basket for this process. Put some water under the steam basket and let it boil. Once it starts producing steam put the blanched asparagus on the steam basket. Let it sit for 3 to 6 minutes (depends upon the thickness).

When you are done steaming them immediately transfer them into the cold water. Make sure to spread the leaves.

Also, let them cool down in the cold water for the same amount of time you have kept them in steam. After you are done freeze them.

#2 More Easy Ways to Freeze Blanched Asparagus

1. The simplest method to freeze them is to leave them in the freezer bags or containers (They need to be blanched, chilled, and drained first). Put a date on the box or freezing bag to keep track.

2. If you don’t want your asparagus pieces to stick and if you want to use them individually on different occasions then the best way is to flash freeze them first.

To flash freeze, spread them properly at some distance from each other and then freeze for about 2 hours. Then keep them in the containers or freezer bags.

You may also like to discover below recipes.

Conclusion

In this article we talked about some of the most famous recipes related to frozen broccoli. We also taught you

how to freeze fresh broccoli rabe,
how to freeze raw broccoli,
how to blanch broccoli to freeze,
how to freeze cooked broccoli,
how to freeze fresh broccoli florets without blanching,
how to freeze dry broccoli and how to freeze beef and broccoli.

Now with this much knowledge in hand, you can surely have some fun with it. Also, make sure to give it a try with your personal touch.

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Rebecca Lewis

I’m the biggest foodie and crazy about exploring new tastes. Pleased to meet you! I love to cook all kinds of cuisine; I love to eat; I love my family, and I love to travel. My passion for food brought me here, and I started this website. I am also passionate about this site.