7 Easy Steps to Blanch Vegetables Before Freezing

Too many vegetables? Want to freeze them and keep their colour and flavour? Learn how blanching vegetables for the freezer to help preserve them better.

Step 1: Prepare the Veggies

Wash veggies well, removing unwanted parts such as the tips of beans.

Step 2: Prepare the Boiling Water Bath/Steamer

In a large soup or stock pot, start boiling water for the beans to cook in. Alternatively you could also blanch your vegetables in a steamer.

Step 3: Boil/Steam Veggies

Throw in the veggies and boil or steam for the required time (click on Learn More for chart)

Step 4: Prepare to Blanch

Blanching stops the cooking process. Have a  bowl or your sink ready with cold ice water.

Step 5: Blanch quickly

Once veggies have been boiled/steamed for the required time, move quickly to ice water bath.

Step 6: Cool Down Quickly

Add ice or cold water as necessary until veggies are cool to the touch.

Step 7: Drain, pack and freeze

Drain veggies well in a colander or sieve and pack into labelled bags for freezing.

Click the link below for more info on blanching veggies.