Vegetable Freezing Chart
Blanching time is in boiling water.
Unless otherwise noted, chilling time (in ice water) should be the same as blanching time.
Vegetable
Preparation
Blanch/Chill Time
Asparagus
Wash and sort stalks according to size,
discarding blemished stalks. Break off ends.
Stalks may be left whole or cut into 1-1/2" to
2" long pieces.
Average diameter stalks - 3
minutes
thicker stalks - 4 minutes.
Green Beans
Snap off tips. Rinse, then cut or break into
desired sizes or freeze smaller beans whole.
3-1/2 minutes.
Lima Beans
Wash, shell and sort beans according to size.
small and medium beans - 3
minutes
large beans - 4 minutes
Italian Snap Beans
Wash, snap off ends and slice into 1" to 1-1/2"
pieces.
3-1/2 minutes.
Beets
For young, tender beetsRemove tops and cook until tender. Chill, then
remove skins. Leave small beets whole. For
medium to large beets, slice or cut into
pieces. Pack into freezer boxes or bags.
not applicable
Broccoli
Remove leaves and tough ends. Cut through
stalks lengthwise, leaving stems with 1" to 11/2" diameter heads, or cut into pieces. Soak
in salt water (2 tablespoons salt to 1 quart
water) to remove any insects and larvae.
Rinse with tap water and drain.
Pieces - 4 minutes
Stems - 5 minutes.
Brussels Sprouts
Wash and trim any tough outer leaves. Soak
in salt water (2 tablespoons salt to 1 quart
water) to remove any insects and larvae.
Rinse with tap water and drain.
medium sprouts - 4 minutes
large sprouts - 5 minutes.
Carrots
Remove tops, peel, and wash. Cut into 1/4"
thick slices.
3-1/2 minutes.
Cauliflower
Remove leaves, trim and wash. Split into
individual 1" to 1-1/2" pieces. Soak in salt
water (2 tablespoons salt to 1 quart water) to
remove any insects and larvae. Rinse with tap
water and drain.
4 minutes.
Corn-on-the-Cob
Husk, remove silk and trim off ends. Blanch in
24 small ears, under 1-1/4"
2010 SimpleOrganizedLiving.com
a large stockpot with 10 - 12 quarts of boiling
water.
diameter - 8 minutes
14 medium ears, 1-1/4" to 1-1/2"
diameter - 8 minutes
10 large ears, over 1-1/2"
diameter - 11 minutes
Chilling time in ice water should
be twice as long as blanching
time
Corn - Cut from cob
Husk, remove silk and trim off ends. Use a
corn cob cutter or a curved grapefruit knife to
remove kernels from cob.
4-1/2 minutes
Kohlrabi
Remove tops, wash, peel and cut into 1/2"
cubes.
2-1/2 minutes.
Mushrooms
Wash and remove stems. Freeze smaller
mushrooms whole
Cut medium and large mushrooms into 1/4"
slices.
To prevent browning, add 1 tablespoon lemon
juice or 1/2 teaspoon ascorbic acid per quart
of blanching water.
small whole mushrooms - 4
minutes
sliced mushrooms - 3 minutes.
Onions
Chopped onions can be packed and frozen
without blanching To freeze larger pieces of
onions or small whole onions - Peel onions,
wash, and cut into quarter sections (except
very small whole onions).
1-1/2 minutes
Green Peas, shelled
Wash and shell peas.
1-1/2 to 2 minutes
Sugar Peas or Edible
Pod Peas
Wash; Remove stems and blossom ends;
Leave whole.
2-1/2 to 3 minutes
Peppers
Chopped bell peppers can be packed and
frozen without blanching.
For pepper halves or slices...Wash, remove
stem and seeds. Cut in halves or slices
halves - 3 minutes
slices - 2 minutes.
Pumpkin
Cut; scoop out seeds; peel; and cut into
pieces. Bake or steam until tender. Cool, then
strain in a ricer, food mill or process in a food
processor until smooth. Pack into containers
and freeze.
not applicable
Spinach
Sort; remove any blemished leaves and tough
stems; Wash.
1-1/2 to 2 minutes
Zucchini
Select 5" to 7" long, tender zucchini. Wash,
peel and cut into 1/4" to 1/2" slices.
1/4" slices - 2 minutes
1/2" slices - 3 minutes
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