Steaming veg from frozen

ftbworried

I don't like tinned veg or frozen veg that i have to boil- but wanted to freeze fresh vegetables to steam so that they dont go off as quickly (it's impossible to meal plan with DH job as he works away a variable amount of nights a week and i never know when i have to cook or take stuff out of the freezer to defrost).

I bought some of the 'steam plastic bags' recently and I want to buy vegetables in bulk and then portion them up into these bags and freeze them. The idea is to then steam them from frozen- like you can buy from Birdseye (I think they're called 'Steamfresh'). Do I have to steam them first- or at least part steam them? Does anyone see any problem with doing this for any of the following vegetables?


Carrots,
Brocolli
Green beans
Sweetcorn
Leeks

Thanks

belfastgirl23

If it's any use I had some advice from a scientist who knows everything (really!) about cooking veg from frozen. He reckons that buying frozen veg is often much better nutritionally than buying fresh. He said the best way to cook is to defrost in the fridge overnight. If you plunge into hot water (or steam) from frozen the cells in the veg break down and this is why it goes mushy. But if you do it slowly, the cells are preserved. That said, green beans seem to be fine to cook from frozen but broccoli is (IMHO) disgusting. I think if you experiment a little you'll work out what you like and don't like.

Linda32

The frozen veg we buy are sweetcorn, peas and veg for stirfry like peppers.
All other veg, roots etc are bought or grown fresh and blanched then frozen.

In both cases I never allow the pan to boil (I don't have a steamer nor a microwave which *I think* is how you do the steamfresh)

Just to simmer away for 5 minutes or so.

carrieparkinson

i bung the harder veg lower in the steamer and the softer ones above it, and wait til its steaming then put them on, always worked fine for me without any problems. (and i put them in frozen)

Penny-Pincher!!

I recently posted on another thread about frozen veg and how are experiance with them recently has been positive. We now buy:

1kg cut green beans
1.8kg petit pois
1kg sweetcorn

We steam the above and they take about 3 mins. We always have fresh in cabbage and carrots. It is saving us loads of money and tastes lovely and we have 2-3 veg with each meal daily. Tomorrow we are going to buy some peppers and sprouts We dont like frozen carrots, cabbage, brocolli and cauliflower.

HTH

PP
xx

thriftlady_2

I simply couldn't manage without frozen veg. I love all veg, but my family are much fussier:rolleyes: OH won't eat anything in the brassica family (cabbage, broccoli etc) although he will eat it raw in coleslaw. Kids won't eat peppers, courgettes, celery, mushroms, parsnips among others. But they will all eat frozen peas and sweetcorn. Thank the Lord for frozen peas and sweetcorn :j

I cook them from frozen either in a minimal amount of water or straight in a steamer. I find the recommended cooking times too generous, and cook them until they stop looking frosty I like frozen broad beans and fine green beans too.

I keep the above veg in the freezer and I always have carrots, onions, broccoli and peppers. I've bought a lovely small cabbage this week from the farmshop, but I know I'm going to waste it, as I'm the only one who likes it and even I can't eat a whole cabbage - don't think they freeze very successfully :rolleyes: I sometimes think my mania for buying seasonal veg leads to a lot of waste. Maybe I should stick to the frozen veg plus the others we all like - it's quite a good variety after all.

Mupette

Hiya folks need some help here.

I've just had my licence revoked from DVLA, due to MS, so now my trips out for groceries are going to be cut to when someone can take me.

I'm planning a list of things for my cupboards and freezer to help ease the need for shopping.

Frozen veg is something i rarely buy now as i do prefer fresh, but saying that, it's supposed to be just as good isn't it?

So my question is, normally i would boil frozen veg, but can you defrost and steam it?

I do love my steamed veg.

Any other helpful hints and tips would be great, i do use my left overs and much as possible, my veg peelings end up in the compost bin, unfortunately cannot this year have a veggie patch as I've just moved home and its a new build, rolled turf in the garden with no topsoil just rubble, so it will take the OH when he comes round a long time to do, although talks of a raised bed for me.

hot.chick

couldn't you get a supermarket delivery???

There are often vouchers for free delivery or 'X' amount off which would help cover it...

Just a suggestion

zippychick

Hi Mupette

Sorry to hear of your recent circumstances . Sending big hugs and I hope you are able to adjust ok :A

Steaming veg from frozen should help. It is an older thread but still valid I imagine you should be able to steam from frozen but that's just guess work

Some other threads which may help -

Frozen veg - a false economy?

OS veg - what's best = fresh or frozen?

I use frozen veg for some things - I always have frozen chopped onions and peppers, peas and sweetcorn so i can allways whizz something up without involving a shop trip. You could buy fresh veg and freeze them yourself?

With careful planning, you may not need to rely on frozen? How often can you get a lift?

I'm sure there's more threads to help, I just can't think at this moment!

I'll merge this later once you have more input

thanks
Zip

Mupette

hot.chick wrote: »

couldn't you get a supermarket delivery???

There are often vouchers for free delivery or 'X' amount off which would help cover it...

Just a suggestion

Yes i could, but i'm one of those people that can't sit and plan to well a few days in advanced, i don't know if this a MS thing, although there will be times when i would find it helpful.

I don't know from one day to the other what will be for dinner, as it all depends on if i am well enough to cook or is DS cooking pasta again!

I found in a second hand shop yesterday Good food, The family meal planner - Thrifty recipes and 7 - day meal plans to help save you money and time.

I was thinking that frozen veg could be good for me as at the mo, lots of veg and salad go to ruin because they have not been used in time, depending again on how i am on the day. At least if i need veg in a meal there would be some frozen options for me without breaking the bank on 'special steam veg'

notjustlaura

I'd suggest you try steaming defrosted veg and see how it turns out as I don't see the harm in it.

As the person before me said, what about ordering your groceries online and having it delivered? mysupermarket.com will find you the cheapest option each time you shop.