Other vegetables cannot be frozen, but you can freeze broccoli. Freezing it would enable you to have this delicious vegetable on the table long after the season has ended.
Clean The Broccoli There are simple and easy steps to follow when freezing broccoli. After picking the freshest broccoli you can find, rinse it under running water. To get rid of the insects hiding in the cluster of florets, soak the head in salted water for about half an hour. Then rinse it again with fresh water until all traces of salt has been removed. The squash should now be ready to cook. To prepare the florets, cut the stem off and scoop out the seeds. Then lay the florets flat on the cutting board and slice them into half-inch (1 cm) pieces. Gently shake the head to remove excess moisture. Cut off all the leaves, ends and tough parts before slicing the broccoli to your preferred size. What to do next: You can either eat the broccoli raw or steam it for a couple of minutes to make it softer. For the latter, heat up a pot or a pan and add a teaspoon of oil. Blanch The Broccoli Now, it is time to blanch the broccoli slices. Pour water in a large pot, put it under medium heat and bring it to a boil. Make sure you wait until the water is really boiling before dropping the florets inside. If you are blanching florets, scald it in water for about a minute. Stalks that has been peeled or sliced in halves must be blanched for about three minutes. Allowing it to boil longer than the allotted time would make the broccoli cooked, not blanched. It would turn mushy once you add it in dishes later on. When there is the time and other ingredients available, you can add spices to the water. Choose spices that have the same flavor profile as the dish you are making. You can add bay leaves, peppercorn, cloves, and salt to the water. Take the broccoli slices out of the pot and into a basin of cold water to discontinue the cooking process. If you don't use cold water, the remaining heat inside the broccoli would continue to cook its meat. Let the slices sit in the cold water for another three minutes. Once the three minutes is over, transfer the broccoli in a colander to get rid of the excess water. You can eat it just like this, or add it to a salad bowl or to a stir fry. By the way, the broccoli will continue to cook in the colander, so you can cut the cooking time to two or three minutes. Your Broccoli is Ready for the Freezer Now, you are ready to freeze them. You can use either a container or a freezer bag to freeze your broccoli. If you are going to use the latter, remove all excess air when packing them. Do not leave any head space-instead, fully pack the bag. Then, seal it tightly. You do not have to thaw the broccoli before cooking-just use it like it is fresh. Also take note that it has been partially cooked so make sure you do not overcook them. If you are cooking the broccoli for a long time like for 20 minutes or more, it is best to add a little bit of acidity like lemon or vinegar to the cooking water. This will keep the broccoli from turning gray when cooked for a long time. The author is a person who has a healthy regard for food and its life-sustaining properties.
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