Freezing Broccoli?

[godfreyrob]

We are running out of ideas to use up our sprouting broccoli which has done really well this spring. I don't want to waste it so does anyone know if it freezes well and how to do it?

[Annpan]

I am pretty sure you have to blanch it first.

Or you could make it in to finished dishes ready to heatup when you are having a lazy day - hmmm home-made brocolli and cheese soup... that is my idea of a microwave meal


You do realise of course it pains me to give you any advice, my broccoli hasn't germinated yet

[godfreyrob]

Well I did sow it this time last year!

I only sowed the crop for next year yesterday afternoon - so yours could well be up first.

I sowed Red Arrow and Cardinal last year - Cardinal grew the most impressive plants with bigger 'heads' on each shoot.

[Annpan]

Do they usually take a full year???

I thought I would have broccoli around July/ August

This is my first year growing broccoli, so I haven't got a clue

[Peggy Sue]

Depend what sort of Broccoli... we got some quick broccoli from Realseed last year and its ready in 60 days, but purple sprouting takes a year.

I now have a forest of purple sprouting so I'm going to have to turn to recipes for freezing I think! Didn't realise it was quite so vigourous, 30 plants is enough for an army

[godfreyrob]

There's Calabresse - big green heads during the summer/autumn
Broccoli Raab - small tender heads in spring/autumn (very fast) actually closer to a turnip than broccoli but nice tender heads.
Perrenial 9-Start - cauli like head with lots of white shoots following - last 3/4 years too (takes a year to mature first though).
and then the standard Purple Sprouting.

[mrsflibble]

it does need blanching. made this mistake myself with a shop-bought glut of cheap brocolli.

[theabsinthefairy]

I don't blanche mine, never needed to, I just separate the heads into useable sized portions and straight into the freezer after a quick rinse. From garden to freezer in a couple of minutes.

[Annpan]

Thought another idea for your broccoli might be welcome

from the innocent smoothie book

Broccoli, Pear and Kiwi Smoothie

2 apples
1 pear
2 broccoli florets
2 kiwi fruit

juice the apples, pear and broccoli, blend the kiwi fruit and mix together and drink

[Peggy Sue]

... really must get a juicer, my only electrical applicance in the kitchen was a blender which I burnt out last month

[Annpan]

We got a juicer from Lidl last year for £10... It is the sort of thing you should ask on Freecycle for though, as loads of people buy these, then loose interest.
Our lidl one is good and when it comes to apple and pear season we will be able to do something with the glut from our trees and next door's trees too.
I think that apple juice freezes well too.

[MKG]

I'm fascinated by this blanching/non-blanching thing. I have to admit that I've always blanched before freezing (the vegetables, that is) with no thought as to its effect. But don't unblanched veggies go soggy in the freezer?

[Millymollymandy]

I don't bother blanching as I haven't found any difference. I will be freezing more veggies now I have learnt not to defrost the frozen veg first! Straight into boiling water and no more soggy beans.

[Jules]

I have calabrese and purple sprouting this year. I can't IMAGINE having too much as I eat it every day. Am addicted to the stuff. Especially the stalk. MMMmm..

[Peggy Sue]

I eat purpel sprouting everyday, as does my OH in great volumes, I also give away 10-12 bags of it a week but it is still a forest so that might be classified as a bit too much!