How to freeze Jerusalem artichokes ready for freezing?

kippers

I have just dug over my Jerusalem artichoke bed and re-planted a few for next year, however, I have a bucket full of them left. My DD's and my DH love them roasted.

I have read that you can freeze them by blanching them first and then boiling them from frozen when you want them...however, we don't like them boiled and i wonder if anyone freezes them and then just puts the frozen artichokes in the roasting tin with some oil and roasts them from frozen?

If so how long do you cook them for and at what gas mark?

Thank you

kinkyjinks

If you normally roast them, then I guess you could cook them as you normally would and then put them on a tray in the freezer. Transfer them to a tub or bag once they've frozen. I do it with potatoes and it works. I have mine to dig up if the soil dries out slightly so might try the same.

morganlefay

Yes, me too - good suggestion. If I don't dig mine up now they'll all start sprouting and I want to EAT them. I do a thing from one of nigel slaters books. Scrub (don't peel) halve along the long side, tip into tin in which knob of butter and slurp of oil have been heated, and roast cut side down to start with, turning half way through for 40 ish mins. They taste wonderful, look awful and I'm afraid do have a tendency to cause awful wind, but it's worth it !

OP I'd try roasting from frozen for about an hour, but am not at all sure - give it a whirl !

kippers

Thanks for your replies.

Well, i've scrubbed them and chopped into slightly smaller pieces than i normally do (approx 1 inch pieces) and i blanched and froze last night. I'm going to roast as normal today, from frozen (under my roast pots, gas 6 for 1 hour) but i'll keep an eye on them.

If they work i'll let you know, then i will be scrubing the rest of my bucket full (approx 1.9kg worth)....hope they work as it would be nice to be able to have them during the summer too.

beedeedee

I blanched and froze some a year ago.
Unfortunately they turned an unappetizing shade of grey and lost that wonderful texture/taste (similar to potato - but not)! I won't bother again - just cook and eat when fresh.

kinkyjinks

I wish I could eat all mine fresh but I've still got 4 plants worth to use :eek: I wouldn't try to freeze them just blanched though. I've just re-read the OP, I would roast them before you freeze them (think potato, would you try to freeze a blached potato?). I roast potatoes like normal then freeze them. I reheat my roast potatoes from frozen for about 25/30 mins. I'd try the same for the artichokes. I'll be going to my lottie later to check out if it's dry enough yet to dig them up.

kippers

A quick update:

We had them last night from frozen (just blanched and frozen then roasted under my roast pots straight from frozen)...and they were just the same as normal, no difference.

So i'm off to scrub the rest of my bucket full now.

Thanks for your replies

beedeedee

Great! Mine had obviously deteriorated over time...........
I'll maybe try again then and not keep them so long - they are delicious aren't they?

eandjsmum

I didnt know that you could freeze artichokes but I am def going to give it a go, Thanks