To blanch or not to blanch

Hobsons_Choice

I seem to have an excess of sprouts so I aim to freeze some.
Do I blanch these or just "bag 'em up and bang 'em in"?
Thanks
Hobs x

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Put them on, they!!!8217;ll be done by Christmas!

Always blanche. Dip in boiling water till boiled again, then drain, cool, freeze.

Linda32

I expect you will get an equal amount of answer to blanch and not to blanch.

I don't bother with blanching anything. Just bag them up and pop them in the freezer. The only thing I do extra is with soft fruit to open freeze first.

If the sprouts are home grown they ought to be soaked in a pinch of salted water for 24 hours to bring out any dirt or grubs from the sprout.

Edited to add, peel the sprouts first.

Pollycat

I always blanch veg before freezing.

buildersdaughter

The point of blanching is to de-nature the enzymes that cause decay. So it depends on how long you want to keep them for. If likely to eat within a month (which I mostly do) then don't blanch. If you're batch freezing for the year (like my friend who is completely self-sufficient in veg) then yes.

[Deleted User]

I rarely blanch veg but then they are not in my freezer for long,I just bag 'em and bung 'em in

[Deleted User]

I do both. I have 2 very useful blanching bags, the veg go into boiling water while in the bags, then I lift the bags out and cool quickly in iced water

Part roasting also works with certain veg like parsnips

Hobsons_Choice

Many thanks, I doubt they'll stay in the freezer too long, but I'll blanch them just in case (after peeling).

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Have you put them on yet?

Hobsons_Choice

Lol. I swear my gran used to put the Christmas sprouts on for a whole morning! (No... they didn't suit her).
Mine have been quickly blanched and are now in the freezer.

PasturesNew

A true story ... I had a bf whose mother would put the sprouts on and bring them to the boil, then turn down to a simmer.

She'd then get her coat and bag and car keys, check the house/windows/doors, lock up and go out in the car to the nearest town, where she'd encounter daytime/rush hour traffic. She'd cross the town to the far side and get to the station where she'd sit and wait to collect her husband. Once he was in the car she'd then drive all the way home again, through the town's narrow roads and through all the traffic lights and round all the roundabouts, sitting in commuter traffic .... and once they were back home she'd start finishing the dinner off and serving up.

:O

Me .... I steam a portion for about 3 minutes max
Job done.