Have you ever bought more than enough fresh Brussels and wondering how you could store them without going bad?
Or do you ever wonder about this popular question I have come across on most platforms – can you freeze fresh Brussel sprouts?
Today I’m going to answer this question, including any other related questions to whether or not you can freeze fresh Brussel sprouts.
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Can You Freeze Fresh Brussel Sprouts?
Yes, you can freeze fresh Brussel – uncooked, blanched, or roasted before you freeze them. You can freeze Brussel with any of these methods and the best of all is that all of these methods are straightforward.
Like any other vegetables, Brussel sprouts will freeze well so that you can have them throughout the year without going bad. Now, fresher Brussel is those that are still on the stalk.
No matter what method you use to freeze your Brussel, they will always freeze well. In some cases, you could realize that there’s a different texture, making your Brussel softer.
However, there will be no change in taste. If you don’t want to lose the texture, it would be better to first roast the Brussel before freezing.
What Are Brussels Sprouts?
Brussel sprout is a cabbage family member that’s quite economical and easy to grow in your kitchen garden. Brussel sprout’s advantage is that it can yield up to three pounds of sprouts throughout the season.
You can grow a few Brussel sprouts at home if you have a kitchen garden so that you enjoy this delicacy throughout the year.
Brussel sprouts grow in the stalk. In most cases, you’ll find them being sold while still in the stalk.
If you want to buy fresh and flavorful Brussel sprouts, then purchase those still in the stalk. As long as they are still on the stalk, rest assured that they are still very fresh and flavorful.
How Do I Freeze Brussel Sprouts?
The best way you can freeze your Brussel sprout is first to blanch them. First, blanching Brussel sprouts is almost the same as freezing them while still raw.
And because they are not cooked (if you choose to blanch them first), you have the freedom to decide what to do with them in the future when you need to use them.
However, below is a step-by-step process of how you can freeze Brussel sprouts:
- Purchase some Brussel sprouts (about one to two inches) in diameter and check if any part is damaged. Now trim any of the damaged parts or sections you have spotted.
- The next step is to run the Brussel sprouts under running water. If you notice any insects in your vegetable, it is recommended that you soak them in cold water mixed with one tablespoon of salt/ gallon. The salt will help fish out any insects or worms in the Brussel sprout.
- Now top up a bowl with ice and water and set it aside. Next, boil a pot of water over high heat. And because blanching usually depends on the Brussel’s heads, you’ll need to sort out your sprouts by their sizes.
- Put the sprouts in the boiling water, ensuring that the larger sprouts go in first. Blanching the large sprouts should take about five minutes, the medium-sized ones about four minutes, while the smaller ones could take three minutes. You have the option to cook your sprouts in batches – large, medium, or small. Once that is done, continue with the boiling for about three minutes.
- Place the blanched sprouts into the ice water we set aside and hinder the cooking process. This will allow your sprouts to cool completely. Next, get a large-rimmed baking sheet and spread them to dry. The next thing is to freeze your sprouts for about an hour.
- The next step is to transfer your frozen sprouts into containers or bags, depending on what you have. Squeeze out air as much as you can. If you have a reasonable budget, you can invest in vacuum sealing, but this is better if you regularly freeze your Brussel sprouts. The last thing you now need to do is label the containers with the name and date when you froze them.
If you want to cook your sprouts, cover them with seasoned water and boil using lower heat for about 15 minutes. You can also prepare simmered Brussels using stewed tomatoes, and trust me, and they are very delicious.
What is Blanching?
Blanching is the process of putting fruits or vegetables into boiling water, where the person carrying out the activity will remove them in intervals before transferring them into cold running water to hinder the cooking process.
There is a good reason why people first blanch Brussel sprouts before freezing. Blanching helps fruits and vegetables retain their vibrant colors and nutrients. Besides, blanching drives away enzymes, which usually cause spoilage.
Can You Freeze Roasted Brussel Sprouts?
Yes, you can freeze roasted Brussel sprouts and the good news is that freezing roasted Brussel sprouts is straightforward. Below is a quick step-by-step guide on how you can freeze roasted Brussel sprouts.
How Do I Freeze Roasted Brussel Sprouts
You can enjoy roasted Brussel sprouts flavor even before freezing. However, you may still need to freeze your sprouts, so how do you go about it?
- The first step is to trim and ensure that your Brussel is clean.
- Next, heat your oven to 400 F
- For each pound of sprouts, toss two tablespoons of virgin olive oil.
- Next, arrange your sprouts in a rimmed baking pan.
- The next step is to roast for approximately forty minutes
- Transfer to a rack and let them cool. Once they have cooled, transfer to sealable freezer bags.
- And because you don’t want to confuse the sprouts, label by indicating the name and date.
If you want to prepare your sprouts, saute in olive oil until it is tender. You can then choose to toss with one tablespoon lemon juice, though it’s not mandatory.
How Long Can You Freeze Brussel Sprouts?
You can freeze Brussel sprouts for about twelve months. If you’re a huge fan of Brussel, you can buy in bulk and freeze to use up to 12 months.
However, if you first cooked your Brussel sprouts before you froze them, it’s recommended that you consume them within six to nine months.
This doesn’t mean that your sprouts won’t be safe after the ninth month. Still, they’ll be safe for consumption, but their taste and texture will be gone after nine months.
How Do You Defrost Brussel Sprouts?
While you can always defrost your sprouts before using them, the best idea is to cook them while still frozen. Sure, you can either roast or boil frozen Brussel, but ensure that you adjust the cooking times.
On the other hand, if you wish to thaw your sprouts before preparing them for your family, pop your Brussel into a bowl and refrigerate them so that they can defrost in there slowly.
Can You Refreeze Brussel Sprouts?
No, it is not recommended to refreeze Brussel sprouts because your sprouts will change in their texture as freezing takes place. Refreezing them more than once means that you’ll be making them vulnerable to more texture damage.
Additionally, refreezing Brussel could deteriorate its quality, which means that you won’t be enjoying the actual flavor of Brussel sprouts.
If you doubt whether your sprout is safe for consumption, it’s better to throw it away rather than risking your life. The bottom line is to use up your frozen Brussel within twelve months.
Related Questions
1. Can you freeze fresh Brussel sprouts without blanching them?
Yes, you can freeze fresh Brussel sprouts without blanching them. Most probably, you’ll only need to wash and dry, then bag store, then bag them for storage.
However, blanching helps keep away enzymes that can cause Brussel sprouts’ spoiling, so if you have the time, just blanch your sprouts before freezing them.
2. What is the best way to freeze Brussel sprouts?
The best way to freeze Brussel sprouts is by freezing them individually on your cookie sheet. If you need to freeze them fast, position the sheet closer to your freezer’s entry for maximum cold airflow.
Once you have frozen your sprouts, stuff them up in freezer bags, but remember to remove as much air as possible when doing this. The next thing is to seal your Brussel sprouts and label them accordingly – by the date of freezing and quantity or date.
3. Do you have to cook Brussel sprouts before freezing?
No, you don’t have to cook Brussel sprouts before freezing them. You can freeze your Brussel sprouts by simply washing and drying them.
Besides just washing and drying them, you can freeze roasted Brussel sprouts. In other words, there are a couple of methods you can use to freeze sprouts.
4. Can raw sprouts be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze raw sprouts, but you must make sure that you have washed and dried them first. Still, I recommend that you blanch your sprouts to keep away enzymes that could spoil your Brussel sprouts.
5. What happens if you do not blanch a vegetable before freezing it?
If you don’t blanch Brussel sprouts before freezing, they’ll not retain their nutrients and vibrant colors. Additionally, not blanching your sprouts exposes them to enzymes that could lead to their spoilage even before they serve you longer.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, you now have the answers to “can you freeze fresh Brussel sprouts?” and other related questions. You can freeze fresh Brussel sprouts and use some of the methods I’ve discussed in this post.
However, I recommend that you blanch your Brussel sprouts before freezing them. As you have seen, blanching has a ton of advantages – for example, blanching helps fruits and vegetables retain their vibrant color and nutrients.
Over to you: do you love Brussel sprouts and have you ever frozen them? What was your experience freezing them? Please leave a comment with your experience on freezing Brussel sprouts.
