Blanching fresh beans is an important step prior to freezing, but it is also the method professional chefs use to prepare the beans for sauteing, stir frying, or using in salads.Blanching involves boiling the beans for a short time, then quickly cooling them by putting them in water.Green beans can be frozen if there is a delay in serving them or if they have altered the flavor and color.To find out how to perform this process correctly, read on.
Step 1: You can use this method for fresh beans.
The method is the same no matter what beans are being blanched.Green beans and lima beans benefit from being blanched to preserve their flavor and nutrition.Blanching will not fully cook dried beans.
Step 2: The beans should be washed under fresh water.
You don't need to clean the beans thoroughly if the blanching removes dirt.
Step 3: Cut off the thick stem end of green beans with a knife.
It's not necessary to remove the ends of the bean.You can cut the beans in half if they are long.This may make it easier to include them in a salad or other dish.
Step 4: The pot of water needs to be boiled.
A gallon of water is used for each pound of beans.If you only blanche a few beans, you don't need to measure.Salt can be added to the water for flavor.To fit the beans, leave enough space in the pot.If the amount of water required is less than 1/3 of the pot, use a larger pot or blanche the beans in multiple batches.
Step 5: A bowl of water.
The beans will only take a few minutes to boil, so make a cold water bath while the water is boiling.If the water is 60oF or below, it will work best to quickly cool the beans before they begin to lose their flavor.The water should be kept cold by ice.If you have a lot of beans, use equal amounts of ice and beans.If the tap water is cold, you can use it.If you don't use ice, you may want to fill the water bowl at the end of the boiling process.If you are blanching more than one pot of beans, you should replace the water frequently.
Step 6: You can boil the beans using a timer.
Once the water has returned to a boil, add the beans to it and start timing them.Green beans and other beans should be boiled for 3 minutes.Depending on the size of the bean, it will take 2 to 4 minutes.When the beans are done being blanched, they will taste cooked but still crisp.If the water takes more than 60 seconds to return to a boil, you may be using too much water.Next time, reduce the amount of water.You can lower the beans into the water if you have a steaming basket.It's possible to remove the beans without draining your water, which can be used to blanche the next batches of beans or cook other foods.
Step 7: Put the beans in a container.
Remove the beans from the boiling water and place them in a cold water bath until they are cold to the touch.You can remove the beans from the hot water by draining them through a strainer or by lifting out the blanched basket."Shocking" is a term used to describe the sudden chilling process.If you don't know if the beans are cool, leave them in for 3 minutes.
Step 8: The beans need to be drained.
Remove the beans from the bath with a spoon or drain the ice water.The blanched beans are ready to be used in a salad, casserole, or stir fry.The blanched beans will preserve at a higher quality if they are frozen.
Step 9: After chilling the beans, dry them.
Once blanched and chilled, the beans are ready for freezing.If you want to avoid damaging the beans, pat them dry.You can use paper towels or a cloth.
Step 10: The beans should be placed in freezer-safe containers.
If you have a vacuum sealed freezer bag, you can use it.If you use a hard container, leave 1/2 inch of space at the top to prevent it from cracking if the beans expand or form ice crystals.If you want to remove most of the air from the bag, place a drinking straw in the sealed opening.The rest of the way can be sealed if the straw is removed.
Step 11: For highest quality, use within 10 months.
The frozen beans should retain their flavor, color, and nutrition for 10 to 12 months if blanched correctly.The best chance at high quality beans is if you use them within a few weeks.
Step 12: Wait before you use.
Take the beans out of the freezer and thaw them before adding them to stir fries.Refreezing food may cause the beans to degrade in quality, so try to avoid this.It is possible to prevent this by freezing the beans in separate containers.