Can you Freeze Mustard Greens With Blanching? – Tips for Freezing Mustard Greens

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Can you Freeze Mustard Greens?: Mustard greens are a popular type of vegetable that is typically used in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. It is famous for its bitter yet sharp peppery taste. If you are a fan of mustard greens, then you might be having a large stock of them at home. This might not always be the best option because they can definitely change in texture and taste, and may even get spoiled over time. If you are looking for a way to extend the shelf life of mustard greens, then freezing is a viable option!

In this article, we will not only be explaining Can you Freeze Mustard Greens, if yes how long you can freeze your mustard greens, but also the detailed procedure of freezing them. Additionally, you will learn how to defrost them, as well as whether you can refreeze them. Stick around so we can answer all your doubts!

Can you Freeze Mustard Greens

Can you Freeze Mustard Greens?

Yes, you definitely can freeze your mustard greens. But keep in mind that you should freeze them only after you blanch them. To learn why you should blanch them and for how long you should freeze your mustard greens, check out the next paragraph.

How to Freeze Mustard Greens?

Follow the steps below to successfully freeze your mustard greens.

  • Set your utensils: You must get a colander, ice water in a bowl, a saucepan for boiling water, freezer-safe bags, and a timer.
  • Wash: It is now time to wash and clean your mustard greens in cold water. While doing so, have an eye out for signs of damage or spoilage. You can discard the damaged or spoiled mustard greens and only keep the best ones.
  • Blanch: Boil some water in the saucepan, and add the mustard greens to it. Make sure to set the timer to 3 minutes. This is known as blanching, and it is done so that the mustard greens will not lose their nutrients, pigments, and taste while freezing. If you do not blanch the mustard greens beforehand, they will go bad in the freezer.
  • End the process: Once the timer rings after 3 minutes, take the mustard greens out as soon as possible and use the colander to drain the water. Next, immediately dunk the greens into the bowl of ice water and wait for several minutes for them to cool down. This will stop the mustard greens from being cooked any further.
  • Drain the water: Once again, use the colander to drain the water from the mustard greens, and wait for them to dry.
  • Put into bags: Portion your mustard green and place them into the freezer-safe bags. Then, seal the bags completely by pushing out all the air from inside. Next, write down the date on the bags.
  • Freeze: Lastly, pop these bags into the freezer to freeze them!

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Handy Tips for Freezing Mustard Greens

  • Don’t forget to blanch!: If you want to freeze your mustard greens, then blanching them is the most important part of the process. To make it easier, you may use a metal colander to lower the mustard greens into the boiling water, and then into the ice water right after. Only if you blanch them, will the freezing process turn out successful.
  • Vacuum seal your bags: If you do not have a vacuum sealer, then you can simply use a straw. All you have to do is close the bag until a small gap is left, and stick the gap into this hole. Then, suck out as much air as you can from the bag, remove the straw, and seal the remaining gap instantly.
  • Can include other greens: You are free to add in other types of greens as well, such as spinach, kale, and collar greens.

How Long Can You Freeze Mustard Greens?

As long as you store them in a freezer-safe and airtight bag, then your mustard greens can be frozen for about 8 to 12 months. It is best to toss them out after this period.

How To Thaw Mustard Greens?

Since most dishes require mustard greens to be fully cooked, you do not have to actively defrost them. You can simply throw them in while you are cooking your meal. They will automatically be defrosted with the help of heat.

Can You Refreeze Mustard Greens?

Once you thaw your mustard greens, we highly advise against refreezing them. This is because their flavor and texture change significantly after you defrost them the first time around. They become mushier than before. Also, there is a high chance that they may become spoiled because of bacteria growing on them.

Interesting Tidbits about Mustard Greens

  • Great source of Vitamin C, which strengthens your immune system responses.
  • Has a lot of Vitamin A, which contributes to a number of healthy organs such as kidneys, heart, and lungs.
  • Has phytonutrients, which are antioxidants that reduce cell damage.
  • Lowers the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases.
  • Has Vitamin K, which maintains the health of your bones, and reduces the risk of bone deficiencies and diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis.

FAQs on Can You Freeze Mustard Greens

1. Can you freeze mustard greens without blanching?

No, you are not advised to freeze mustard greens without blanching. Because blanching helps your mustard greens retain their flavor profile and texture.

2. Do you need to blanch mustard greens before freezing them?

Yes, we recommend that you blanch them because it helps vegetables to maintain their vibrant color and nutrients, and stop the enzymes that would otherwise lead to spoilage.

3. How do you put mustard greens in the freezer?

First, blanch them. Then, place them into freezer-safe bags and pop them into the freezer to freeze!

4. Can you refreeze mustard greens?

Once you thaw them for the first time, they lose their texture and taste, so if you put them back into the freezer to freeze, they will only get worse. So, we do not recommend that you refreeze your mustard greens.

In A Nutshell

We hope that we have answered all your doubts regarding freezing mustard greens. Yes, you can in fact freeze them, but only for 8 to 12 months! And no, it is not safe to refreeze them. You can freeze mustard greens but blanching them and putting them into freezer-safe bags, and then placing them into your freezer. That is all for whether you can freeze mustard greens or not, but if you are curious about whether you can freeze other foods, then do check out Canyoupreserve.com.

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