Can You Freeze Brussel Sprouts: Do you have tons of Brussel Sprouts with you and are worried about whether you can freeze them or not? It is a simple process and if done properly you can store the Brussels Sprouts for a long time. The taste and freshness of Brussels sprouts will stay as good as the fresh ones.
You will no longer have the question in mind Can You Freeze Brussel Sprouts after going through this article? Continue reading the entire article to learn about the Procedure on How to Freeze Brussel Sprouts, How to defrost frozen Brussel Sprouts, and the pros and cons of Freezing Brussels sprouts.
- Can You Freeze Brussel Sprouts?
- How to Freeze Brussel Sprouts?
- How to Defrost Brussel Sprouts?
- Tips to follow while Freezing Brussel Sprouts
- Health Benefits of Brussel Sprouts
- What is the best way to freeze fresh Brussel Sprouts?
- Can you freeze Brussel sprouts without blanching them first?
- Are Frozen Brussel sprouts as healthy as fresh?
Can You Freeze Brussel Sprouts?
Yes, you can Freeze Brussel Sprouts and it is absolutely a great vegetable for the freezer. When prepared properly the Brussel Sprouts can last about 6-12 months in the freezer. You don’t have to throw the excess Brussel Sprouts after cooking and freezing them retain the freshness too for a long time.
How to Freeze Brussel Sprouts?
Freezing Brussel Sprouts isn’t a difficult task and can be done quite easily. You can choose from several methods available for freezing. The procedure for freezing is listed below
- Prepping Brussel Sprouts: Based on your choice you can either blanch them or not blanch and freeze them at all. Pick the Brussel sprouts that are firm and green in color. Make sure the heads and leaves are free of insects. Clean the Brussel Sprouts to get rid of any bugs or insects inside.
- Water Blanching the Sprouts: Soak the sprouts for about 30 minutes in salt and vinegar solution. After removing the insects trim the heads and remove the outer coarse leaves. Segregate the heads into sizes like small, medium, and large. In the case of smaller sprouts blanch them for 3 minutes whereas for medium ones blanch them for about 4 minutes and 5 mins in case of large ones.
Blanching the Brussel Sprouts will enhance life for about 12-14 months. You can protect the sprouts from growing mold, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. Once you are done with the blanching process store the sprouts in a cool water bath containing ice.
Then, shift the Sprouts to a Resealable Plastic Bag and keep them in the Freezer. Make sure to maintain the temperature at 0° F to enhance the shelf life by 12 months.
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How to Defrost Brussel Sprouts?
Thawing is a process that is used to smoothen the Sprouts. Brussel Sprouts need hardly about 5 minutes to thaw them. The process is nothing but making the Brussel Sprouts warm and making them suitable for consumption. However, by thawing the vegetables you will notice a difference in the texture. They will become tender and lose their crunch capabilities.
You will also have slight discoloration in the Brussel Sprouts and they might turn light yellowish. It is not necessary that you notice them every time you freeze the Brussel Sprouts but instead depends on how you have frozen or thawed them.
Tips to follow while Freezing Brussel Sprouts
No matter whether you are freezing Brussel Sprouts for the first time or for the nth time you might make these potential mistakes. These are some of the common tips to keep in mind while freezing the Brussel sprouts. They are as under
- Avoid overcooking as it can lead to changes in the texture and becomes mushy. Thus, always keep a bowl of ice water before you remove it from the stove.
- Make sure to dry off the sprouts before keeping them in the refrigerator or else a layer of ice cubes will form on them and they stick to each other.
- Use a Vacuum Sealer so that there won’t be any air stuck inside while packing.
- Keeping the Brussel Sprouts in ice water will stop the cooking process and thus you can enjoy fresh and firm sprouts.
- Don’t thaw the Brussel Sprouts before cooking as they might turn mushy and become unsuitable for eating.
Health Benefits of Brussel Sprouts
Brussel Sprouts are a kind of vegetable that is closely related to Cauliflower and mustard greens. There are numerous health benefits associated with consuming Brussel Sprouts and we have mentioned them below. They are as follows
- Brussel Sprouts are rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
- They are known for their antioxidant content and neutralize the radical content that causes inflammation.
- Brussel Sprouts are a good source of vitamin K.
- Apart from the high nutrients Brussel Sprouts also helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- You can incorporate them into side dishes and entrees.
FAQs on Freezing Brussel Sprouts
1. What is the best way to freeze fresh Brussel Sprouts?
The best way to freeze fresh Brussel Sprouts in a Cookie sheet.
2. Can you freeze Brussel sprouts without blanching them first?
No, you should blanch Brussel sprouts. If you don’t do so they will lose their health benefits and nutrients.
3. Are Frozen Brussel sprouts as healthy as fresh?
Yes, just like fresh Brussel Sprouts Frozen Brussel Sprouts are healthy.
Final Words
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