How to blanch tender stem broccoli for freezing?

Tender stems of broccoli will lose their lovely tenderness if they’re not blanched. To blanch, simply bring a pot of water to a boil, add your broccoli and a pinch of salt. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes. When the time is up, drain the broccoli, then either plunge it into ice water to stop the cooking or transfer to a strainer and run under cold water.

How to blanch tender stem broccoli for freezing pieces?

The ideal cooking time for tender broccoli is about 12 minutes, but before freezing, you can also blanch it for a few minutes. To do so, place the broccoli in a large pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Set a kitchen timer and continue boiling the broccoli until it becomes slightly tender. Remove the broccoli from the water and drain it. Transfer the broccoli to a colander to cool completely. Once cooled, place the broccoli in a sealed container or zip-top bag and freeze

How to blanch tender stem broccoli for freezing whole heads?

To blanch a bunch of tender broccoli stems, cut off the florets and spread the whole bunch of broccoli in a large pot. Add a few inches of water and a tablespoon of vinegar. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about five minutes. When the broccoli is tender and the water is boiling, drain the water. Let the broccoli cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a container and refrigerate until completely cooled.

How to freeze tender stem broccoli?

After blanching, transfer the broccoli to a colander and rinse under cool running water. Then drain the broccoli in the sink. You can also use a salad spinner to dry the broccoli, but be careful not to break the florets.

How to blanch stem broccoli for freezing?

When you buy broccoli at the grocery store, it’s likely to be quite tender. Even varieties with thick stalks can be quite tender. If you want to preserve the broccoli’s tender texture, blanching is the best option. To do this, place the broccoli florets in a pot of boiling water and cook for two to three minutes until tender. To prevent broccoli from turning green, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the water. After you