How to freeze fruit and vegetables?
When fruits and vegetables are in season, that's when they taste the best and usually cost the least. That's why it's a good idea to learn how to properly freeze fruits and vegetables so you can enjoy their flavor and freshness long after the season's over.
How to freeze fruits?
1. Choose produce that's ripe and unblemished.
2. Wash fruits
3. To freeze delicate berries like strawberries or raspberries: Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a plastic freezer bag or container.
4. For fruits that tend to brown, like apples, peaches, nectarines and apricots, treat with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).To make an ascorbic acid wash: Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of ascorbic acid powder (or finely crushed vitamin C tablets) in 3 tablespoons water. Sprinkle this mixture over the cut fruit. An acceptable substitute: Slice the fruit and dip the slices in an acidulated water bath — about one quart water plus a tablespoon of lemon juice — before drying and freezing.
How to freeze vegetables?
1. Choose produce that's ripe and unblemished.
2. Before freezing vegetables, blanch and shock vegetables by boiling them briefly, drain, then plunge into ice water.Dry thoroughly. Why blanch and shock? Blanching prevents enzymes from damaging color, flavor, and nutrients. Blanching also destroys microorganisms that might be lingering on the surface of produce.
3. Dry thoroughly on paper towel-lined sheet pans.
4. Freeze vegetables quickly by spreading them in a single layer on a rimmed sheet pan.
5. Once frozen, transfer to a plastic freezer bag or container. Be sure to date the packages.
Packing produce for the freezer
1. The key to packing fruits and vegetables for freezing is to keep moisture inside the package and air outside. Contact with air can cause changes in flavor and color. Pack fruit and vegetables in air-tight containers or moisture-proof, heavy-duty freezer bags, and force out as much air as possible.
2. Wrap freezer bags in heavy-duty foil and seal with freezer tape. Stay away from plastic sandwich bags, which are not heavy-duty enough.
