Freezing Bountiful Fruits or Vegetables

Food 3 Minutes

From the Epicurious website:

Maybe you came across a bin of irresistibly in-season tomatoes and went overboard on buying—or maybe there was a big sale on apples and you stashed far too many into your cart for just one pie. However, you ended up with all the produce currently in your possession, a great way to keep it around for a little while longer is to freeze it.

Most fruits and vegetables can be frozen. It’s just a matter of prepping it before you stash it so that it’s ready to go when you need it. Here are a few guidelines:

How to Freeze Fruit

Most fruits freeze well: berries, cherries, peaches, plums, pears, grapes. The best way to freeze something is to think about how you’re going to want to use it. So, if you’re planning on strawberry pie, core and slice the strawberries in whatever way you’d like them to appear in your pie. Apple pie? You can go ahead and toss the whole filling together and freeze it. Your blender will be happier if you cut fruit for smoothies into chunks no bigger than an inch, though whole blackberries or blueberries are fine.

Here are the basic steps for freezing fruit:

Clean the Fruit

Rinse whole fruit under hot tap water and dry thoroughly with a dish towel. (Yes, hot water! According to food scientist Harold McGee, a quick bath in hot water helps to kill mold spores.) If you’re dealing with berries or other soft fruit, simply spread them out in a single layer, pat gently with your towel, and let them dry for a few hours so that you don’t mar them too much.

Prep the Fruit

Once dry, prepare the fruit as needed: hull and slice strawberries, pit and chop stone fruit (peel first if you want), remove the rinds and seeds of cantaloupe and cut into chunks, slice and de-seed apples or pears, peel bananas, and so on.

Freeze the Fruit

Lay everything in a single layer on a sheet pan or baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that the fruit doesn’t stick to the pan. Freeze for a few hours until the fruit is solid, then transfer it to an airtight container or a freezer bag and squeeze out as much of the air as possible.

The frozen fruit can be stored for up to 3 months—take it out to toss in smoothies, sprinkle on your morning oatmeal, or bake into pies.

How to Freeze Vegetables

When considering which vegetables to freeze, stay away from things you’d most likely only eat raw, like cucumbers and lettuce, since frozen vegetables are better off cooked.

Clean and Prep the Vegetables

Rinse your vegetables, then do whatever you need to do—trim green beans, chop zucchini, slice eggplant, core tomatoes, husk corn (but leave kernels on the cob—more on that in a minute), peel and chop squash, de-stem greens like kale and collards and tear the leaves into large pieces, etc.

Blanch Vegetables if Necessary

Most vegetables will need to be blanched before they can be frozen. Doing this stops most of the enzyme activity that might cause the vegetables to change texture and lose nutrients over time. Blanching also keeps their color vibrant. (Feel free to skip this step with winter squash, sweet potatoes, and other hearty veg.)

Tomatoes are another exception to the rule. If you want to freeze tomatoes without the skin, blanching will make peeling a breeze. Otherwise, you can leave tomatoes whole and freeze without blanching—or turn the tomatoes into a big batch of marinara before stashing in the freezer.

If you choose to blanch, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and toss the vegetables in for a few minutes. Scoop up with a strainer or spider, or drain them in a colander, then immediately transfer to a bath of ice water. This will halt the cooking process. Let the vegetables dry in a single layer on a clean paper towel or a dish towel. If you’re freezing corn you’ll now want to cut the kernels off the cob.

Freeze the Vegetables

Lay everything in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan or baking sheet and freeze until firm. Then transfer to an airtight container or a freezer bag.

Frozen vegetables will also keep for about 3 months. Toss them into soups and stews or bake or roast them.

ENJOY!

SOURCE: EPICURIOUS

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Published by pat frederick

Published

117 thoughts on “Freezing Bountiful Fruits or Vegetables”

    1. Morning, Pat! Really chilly this morning – only 53 and so foggy, I can barely see my neighbor’s house to the south. I put GT’s food out, not sure if he’s eaten yet.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Feisty Hayseed
    Feisty Hayseed
    August 27, 2023 1:49 am

    Chicago police union president: Let’s house illegal aliens at City Hall

    The Fraternal Order of Police President in Chicago proposed Thursday to use the lobbies and open hallways in City Hall to house illegal aliens. How does that sound?

    Currently, hundreds of illegal aliens are living in district police stations. As it turns out, Chicago police officers are tired of babysitting them. Catanzara said the situation is ridiculous. Migrants are using the police stations for their mailing address. How permanent is this arrangement supposed to be?

    Catanzara said it was “so ridiculous” that “there’s actually mail. Migrants are using police district addresses to receive their mail. They now have CPS out there recruiting migrant children to register for CPS just to have that number in the next two weeks to grab as much tax revenue as they possibly can. Whether these kids come to school or not, they don’t care. This is all a big game to far too many people.”

    Yes, NGOs and government agencies are making money off the Biden border crisis. Why would they want to put a halt to the gravy train? The illegal aliens are just a means for revenue, not of humanitarian concern to them. Look at the NGOs along the southern border who are receiving federal money to provide services for illegal crossers. No one seems to care.

    https://hotair.com/karen-townsend/2023/08/25/chicago-police-union-president-lets-house-illegal-aliens-at-city-hall-n573618

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Laura Loomer
    @LauraLoomer
    I just spoke with Harrison Floyd’s @hw_floyd
    wife on the phone and told her about the @GiveSendGo
    and how all of you are helping raise money for her husband who is unjustly being detained inside the #FultonCountyJail by Fani Willis.

    She is so touched, and she wanted me to let all of you know how much she appreciates all of your support! She said she loves all of the comments people are leaving on the Give Send Go for her husband and that they are uplifting her during this very hard time for herself, her toddler daughter and her family.

    You can donate to Harrison Floyd’s legal defense fund here. He’s being denied the ability to post bail inside the Fulton County Jail.

    He is a political prisoner. This is a WITCH HUNT!

    Donate here: http://givesendgo.com/Official_Harri

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Troublemaker10
    August 27, 2023 2:03 am

    Conservatives hope key legal case can bring Biden migrant parole policies ‘tumbling down’

    Excerpt:

    Arguments began Thursday in a case challenging a Homeland Security policy expanded in January to allow up to 30,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan (CHNV) nationals into the U.S. each month. Those brought in, who are not present at the border, are flown in and paroled, and allowed to apply for work permits if they meet certain conditions such as having a sponsor and passing background checks.

    Twenty GOP-led states are suing to block the policy, claiming that it represents an abuse of parole – which is set out by Congress to be used on a “case-by case” basis for “urgent humanitarian need or significant public benefit.”

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/conservatives-hope-legal-case-can-bring-biden-migrant-parole-policies-tumbling-down

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Lurker360
    August 27, 2023 6:01 am

    Perhaps I missed this yesterday, sorry if old news, but my “Kenyan 2.0” suspicions apparently have merit:

    Per Gateway Pundit (with tons of other details):

    Vivek Ramaswamy’s Voting Record Shows He is Not a Registered Republican, and Donated to Anti-Trump Democrat Candidate in 2016

    Liked by 2 people

  12. you let the snake in…time to rethink immigration period.
    entire article

    There is still that contingent of the GOP which says things like “let’s pin a diploma to every foreign graduate” and “we need more H1-B visas so talented foreigners can come to America.”

    Let’s revisit the case of Muhammad Masood, a Pakistani doctor, who came to America in 2018 to work as a researcher at the world-famous Mayo Clinic.

    Masood was named a Mayo Bronze Quality Fellow and conducted clinic trials. Then he joined ISIS.

    Now he’s going away for a long time, at taxpayer expense, where he can conduct research in prison.

    A former Mayo Clinic research coordinator was sentenced Friday to 18 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

    Masood’s attorney, Jordan Kushner, blamed his client’s action on mental illness. But Senior U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson told Masood that not withstanding those issues, “First and foremost, you are sitting in this court as a convicted terrorist. That’s the way it is.”

    Magnuson noted that before his arrest, Masood had said: “I will kill or be killed.”

    While the thrust of the case involves Masood trying to join ISIS abroad, there were mentions of terrorist attacks in America.

    On February 13,2020, MASOOD and CHS-I discussed via SMP the process by which ISIS recruits foreign fighters. During this discussion, MASOOD told CHS-I “you know fbrother]…there is so much I wanted to do here…lon wulf [sic] stuff you know…but I realizedl should be on the ground helping brothers sisters kids inshAllah.” Based on my training and experience, and the context of the conversations between MASOOD and CHS-I, I believe MASOOD is referring to wanting to conduct “lone wolf’ terrorist attacks on the United States.

    BB indicated to CHS-I that because he was currently in the United States, “sometimes i wanto [sic] attack enemy when i am behind enemy linea [sic] itself’ because “not many people cant [sic] even reach here to attack.” Discussing his travel to make Hijra, BB noted that he will lose the chance to conduct an attack in the United States: “i wonder if I will miss the opportunity of attacking the enemy when I was in the middle of it.”

    Also Masood hated smiling at Kufar or non-Muslims.

    BB explained to CHS-I that BB wanted to make Hijra because BB “hates smiling at the passing kuffarl3 just to not make them suspicios [sic] . . . I cannot tolerate it anymore.”

    Do we really need doctors from Pakistan or anyone from Pakistan?

    https://www.frontpagemag.com/pakistani-doctor-came-to-work-at-mayo-clinic-two-years-later-he-joined-isis/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not just Pakistan! There are all kinds of third-world country doctors here in the US. My a-Mom’s doctor at the hospital in Omaha was either from Nigeria or Uganda, IDR which! And he was a royal asshole!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. EXCERPT: “Jayden X helped plan the January 6 “insurrection” on “Antifa Discord servers,” according to his brother. Jayden X met up with controversial figure and suspected agent provocateur Ray Epps prior to the action at the Capitol, according to Jayden X’s brother. Leftists plotted in private messages to distribute Trump hats to fellow leftists to falsely smear Trump supporters as being violent. Ray Epps ‘Showed [Sullivan] the ropes’ on how to entrap Trump-backing patriots. James Sullivan claims that his brother John Sullivan pushed Ashli Babbitt through the window, setting the stage for her demise at the hands of officer Byrd.

    In a wide-ranging article with NATIONAL FILE’s Alicia Powe, Jayden X’s brother John Sullivan lifted the veil on the family strife between the far-left Jayden X and himself. Their family schism ended up the subject of a CAA-backed documentary, which debuted earlier this year.

    According to the conservative Sullivan, leftists plotted in private messages on burner phones and on Discord to distribute Trump hats to fellow leftists to falsely smear Trump supporters as being violent, even leading to the eventual death of Ashli Babbitt.

    Jayden X also met up with controversial figure and suspected agent provocateur Ray Epps prior to the action at the Capitol, according to Jayden X’s brother…..”

    https://nationalfile.com/exclusive-leftist-cnn-camerama-jayden-x-plotted-j6-riot-on-antifa-discord-servers-met-up-with-ray-epps-before-going-to-capitol-jayden-xs-brother-says/

    Liked by 1 person

          1. Gosh, it was way back in 2016/2017 timeframe, maybe? Soooo much has happened since then that I just can’t remember the details. But he has been trouble since way back when; I also had a threader reader link going deep into connections between him and the Flynn Judge Sullivan but it disappeared several years ago. Hell, we were talking about it way back when we were all at CTH…or maybe it wasn’t until W’s! His brother, James, is the opposite, a real conservative and, again, IIRC, a Trump supporter.

            Liked by 1 person

  23. R Green
    R Green
    August 27, 2023 9:22 am

    Ramaswamy was already millionaire when he accepted Soros award he said he needed to pay for law school
    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ramaswamy-already-millionaire-he-accepted-soros-award-he-said-he-needed-pay-law-school

    … ‘Ramaswamy defended himself last month for accepting a $90,000 award from the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which was founded by Daisy and Paul Soros…Ramaswamy said that after graduating from Harvard, he “didn’t have the money” to afford Yale Law School.’

    … “In 2011 the same year he accepted the award, Ramaswamy accepted $2,252,209 in total income, according to his tax returns, which he released in June. He reported a total of $1,173,690 in income in the three years prior.”

    … Soros has said, “DeSantis is shrewd, ruthless and ambitious. He is likely to be the Republican candidate.”
    Soros said he hoped former President Donald Trump would then mount a third-party campaign for president that would split the GOP vote and lead to a “Democratic landslide.”

    Liked by 1 person

  26. “Breaking: Trump Indicted Again For Looking Too Stunningly Handsome In Mugshot”
    POLITICS · Aug 25, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    ATLANTA, GA — Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by Fulton County for looking too stunning and handsome in his mugshot photo.

    “No man is allowed to look that attractive and fierce,” said District Attorney Fani Willis. “President Trump must be held accountable for his overpowering sexiness and raw animal magnetism.”

    According to sources at the Fulton County DA Office, President Trump will be charged with a range of crimes, including having too perfect of a bone structure. “Thousands of women became pregnant the moment the photo was released,” said Ms. Willis. “It’s an outrage. No man, no matter how beautifully made, is above the law.”

    Mr. Trump’s photo has already spread around the globe at a record pace, with heterosexual women everywhere suddenly becoming fans of the former President. “He finally earned the women’s vote,” said Republican strategist Dan Cooper. “The fundraising off of this will be incredible. I hear Mike Lindell already has pillowcases with the mugshot ready to go. Someone named Marjorie already ordered ten thousand of them.”

    At publishing time, Mr. Trump had been indicted yet again for being too debonaire when talking to the jail staff.”

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Well, my thumbs finally aren’t numb any more…I’ve been freezing all morning! It was only 69 inside!!! Brrrr…all of the fog has burned off now, however, and outside temp is up to 77. Quiet Sunday morning here….the bees/wasps/flies have taken over the jelly so I’ll be emptying that and taking it down today. Not one Oriole in days now and even the finches are avoiding it. I’ll put up another nectar feeder for the hummers instead but I can only use one with bee-guards, obviously.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. “Liberal Dies On Toilet While Awaiting CDC Guidance On How To Wipe”
    HEALTH · Aug 26, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    SEATTLE, WA — Liberal man Jonathan Seymour passed away, dying on the toilet as he awaited instructions from the Center for Disease Control on how to wipe his own butt.

    “I kept telling him to just go for it,” said housemate Ronald Mills. “Jonathan just wouldn’t take the risk.”

    Officials say Mr. Seymour became severely dehydrated as he refused to move from the toilet for either food or water. “What am I supposed to do??” cried Mr. Seymour, desperate for guidance. “I can’t do this alone! Front to back? Back to front? Folded or unfolded? How many squares? Speak to me, Fauci!”

    Sadly, bereft of instruction from the CDC, Mr. Seymour remained on the commode until his untimely passing. “It’s really tragic,” said Mr. Mills. “No one should ever die because they don’t know how to wipe. I promise you this, I will not rest until the CDC issues guidance on how a person is supposed to wipe their butt. If I can save just one person from dying on the toilet, it feels like Jonathan’s death will have meant something.”

    At publishing time, a nearby liberal woman had reportedly passed away while awaiting CDC guidance on what to do after exhaling.”

    Liked by 1 person

  34. “Dogs In Heaven Flee In Terror As Bob Barker Arrives”
    CELEBS · Aug 26, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    HEAVEN — All of the dogs living in Heaven fled in horror today upon the arrival of notorious neutering advocate Bob Barker.

    “What on earth has gotten into the dogs?” wondered St. Peter as they sprinted away from the gates in sheer terror. “Weird. Oh, hey there Mr. Barker!”

    According to Heavenly sources, Mr. Barker showed up at the pearly gates holding sharp, ominous appearing instruments. “So long as there are puppies, my mission continues,” said Mr. Barker. “I’ll go straight to work getting the citizens of Heaven on board – but I’m feeling young again and ready to take on a few myself. Here boy!”

    While the dogs of Heaven scampered away in fear, the souls in Heaven were reportedly ecstatic to welcome Mr. Barker. “I have such great memories from my past life of when I was sick, curling up with a bowl of chicken noodle soup and watching Mr. Barker,” said Heavenly resident Jared Powell. “It will be so fun to have another game show up here. I heard that Satan is actually going to let the souls in Hell watch The Price Is Right, but only the Drew Carey years. Sad!”

    At publishing time, the Lord Almighty had reportedly sat down with Mr. Barker to explain that the neutering had to stop at the pearly gates.”

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Watching an episode of Mysteries at the Museum – found out why June 12th is celebrated by blacks! It was the day when the Supreme Court ruled on a case of a black woman/white man (HS sweethearts) in VA who wanted to marry but, even after the Brown decision, there was a statute (VA Racial Integrity Act) that forbid mixed marriages in VA. In 1958, they travelled to DC to get married, where it was legal, then quietly returned to VA. Five weeks later, the local VA sheriff arrested them; at trial, they were found guilty and exiled from the town of Central Point, VA. They moved to DC but kept fighting the law in VA. Robert F. Kennedy was AG at the time and the wife wrote a letter to him about the VA law. His office answered and referred her to the ACLU, who waged a campaign that ended up at SCOTUS 3 years later. On June 12, 1967, SCOTUS voted unanimously in their favor and declared VA’s law was unconstitutional. It also made interracial marriage legal across the US. Hence, “Juneteenth.”

    Liked by 1 person

  43. j8st woke up from a nap…gotta read back…
    that easy chair is soooo easy to nap in …lol
    guess that’s how it got its name

    Like

  45. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

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