If you are wondering how to freeze Brussel sprouts you are in the right place. Freezing Brussel sprouts is incredibly quick and easy and a great way to keep them fresh all year round.
Let’s be honest! You either love the Brussel sprouts, or you don’t! There is no in-between with this vegetable. If you are looking for a way to freeze the Brussel sprouts, the chances are that you love this vegetable.
If this is the case, it is time to take advantage of the tons of vitamins and other essential nutrients present in this green vegetable.
Everyone accepts that the Brussel Sprouts as a vegetable is healthy. Still, not everyone agrees with its flavor and taste, though. But If you cook this vegetable the right way, it’s easy to come to terms with its taste.
Can you freeze Brussel sprouts?
So you love this vegetable so much that you want to freeze it? If that defines you, then I have good news for you: You can freeze the Brussel sprouts and enjoy a good source of dietary fibers, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Iron, and a megadose of Vitamin C. Did you know that 100 grams of Brussel sprouts are enough to provide you with 141% Vitamin C? (RDA).
How to freeze Brussel sprouts [Step by Step]
In appearance, the Brussels sprouts resemble another vegetable called Cabbage. But when it comes to the size and taste, these two vegetables are very different. Generally, the Brussel sprouts are much smaller in size as compared to the Cabbage.
To freeze this vegetable is a good idea because it is not available all year round compared to most other vegetables.
It only lasts a few months at max, which means you could miss the fantastic nutrients and taste it has to offer.
To ensure that you have access to the Brussel sprouts all year round, let’s look at the steps required to freeze this vegetable.
Buy Fresh Brussel Sprouts
The most crucial step in freezing any vegetable is to buy fresh and high-quality products in the first place.
For example, you can tell the difference between fresh and old Brussel sprouts through the color.
It would help if you only looked at those Brussel sprouts, which have a bright green color for freezing purposes. If you see the light green or almost yellow color, do not buy it.
Remove the Stalk
Use a knife and remove the stalk from each Brussel sprout. The stalk is usually present near the head of this vegetable and can be easily removed by using a sharp knife.
However, since the size of this vegetable is so small, it will take little time to remove the stalk from all of them.
Proper Washing
Sometimes, small insects or worms might be present inside the Brussel sprouts, which can be hard to remove with running tap water. Instead, add some cold water to a bowl and mix it with a little bit of salt.
Let the Brussel sprouts soak in that water for 30 minutes. If your vegetable has any insect, this process will get rid of it. After all, you do not want to freeze the insects along with the vegetables too.
Blanching
To prepare our precious vegetables for the freezing process, we need to pass them through the process of blanching.
First, add the Brussel sprouts in boiling water for around 5 minutes. Once the time is up, transfer them to a pot or bowl of cold water for 5 minutes.
Once the process of blanching is complete, move to the next step.
Dry & Freeze
Now our Brussel sprouts are almost ready to move to a freezer. But we need to let them dry first as any excess water can cause problems later on.
So place the sprouts on a dry towel so that they are completely dried.
Once you are sure that the Brussel sprouts are dried, place some parchment paper on a tray and place individual pieces of this vegetable on the tray.
Now transfer the tray to the freezer and let the vegetables freeze for almost 1 hour.
Finally, you can transfer the Brussel sprouts to a freezer bag and keep them stored for a whole year.
FAQs about freezing Brussel sprouts
Why is a good idea to freeze Brussel sprouts?
For starters, you cannot buy fresh Brussel sprouts from the supermarket all year round. Another benefit is that it will cost less to freeze it yourself than buy it at the supermarket’s frozen section.
How long do Brussel sprouts last?
It would be best if you used them for one year.
Implements and equipment you need to freeze Brussel sprouts
Some of the tools you need to freeze Brussels sprouts:
- Sharp knife.
- Pot for boiling water.
- Bowl for cold water.
- Dry towel.
- Parchment paper.
- Tray.
- Freezer bags.
How to thaw Brussel Sprouts
It is effortless to thaw this vegetable due to its small size. You can either place them in a dish under room temperature for 5 minutes or add them directly to your cooking pot.
What can you make with frozen Brussel Sprouts?
A highly recommended way to prepare frozen Brussel sprouts is roasted.
This way, you will have a crunchy side dish loaded with flavor, which is also very easy to prepare.
Place the unthawed Brussel sprouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Then toss with oil and your favorite seasoning and take to the oven until roasted (about 20 or 25 minutes, depends on each range)
Want to learn more about freezing other vegetables?
- Check this post about how to freeze cauliflower
- Read how to freeze asparagus easily and in no time
- Save this post about how to freeze kale easily and in no time
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