Can you freeze ...

[sherrardk]

Can you freeze uncooked, pre-prepared vegetables (bought them when the weather was rubbish but don't reckon anyone will fancy a cooked dinner now the weather is so warm). Thanks.

[Quassia]

Yes you can but you need to blanche them sherrardk ...http://www.ochef.com/617.htm

[Quassia]

Sorry .. http://www.ochef.com/617.htm

[woofgang]

You can and they won't make you ill but might not be so tasty. If you blanch them first it's better. You need a big pan of boiling water and a pan or the sink full if water and ice cubes. Put the veg in a chip basket or metal sieve and dunk them in the fast boiling water. Once the water is boiling again, heave out the sieve or Baskerville and dunk them in the iced water. Drain and freeze. Blanched veg keeps it's colour and taste better.

[woofgang]

Quassia, snap!

[Quassia]

:0)

[sherrardk]

Not sure if it is worth the trouble - just have to hope it cools down tomorrow and they can have a cooked dinner (there were complaints tonight that the food was hot on a hot day - suspect they would prefer salad and potatoes tomorrow if it is still hot).

[Maydup]

You could you whizz them all into a soup and freeze that. Might be easier than all the blanching?

What veg are they?

[sherrardk]

There's some carrots, broccoli and cauliflower (they are good at eating veg but bad at eating any soup that's not tomato).

[4getmenot]

tell them to eat it or starve. Ungrateful blighters! Some people would kill for a hot home cooked meal.

[Quassia]

lol sherrardk ...
yes it's time consuming! Got to say I buy bags of mixed frozen veg these days and either put them in my steamer or in a casserole dish and steam them in the microwave depending on quantity.

[sherrardk]

Hi 4get - they are only little (and they did eat their tea), husband wil eat anything that's put in front of him.

[welshlibranr]

I would make a soup and freeze that sher, much more appetising than blanched vegetables!........they're ok, but lots of trouble, you might as well just make a nice soup!..............

[classylady60]

You could add potatoes to the veg, make a soup and freeze that....will go down nice at a later date.

[classylady60]

Snap welshi lol...great minds?

[Quassia]

These days when time is everything, it's just as good I think to buy frozen veg. I buy a large bag for 99p!

[Quassia]

... and the quality is fantastic!

[4getmenot]

this is main reason i buy frozen veg. And i have my niece and nephew all weekend soon and the have given me a menu the 5yr old wants choc kraves for breakfast, cheese on toast and a strawberry fruit corner for dinner and saus and mash for tea with icecream for afters. I then asked the 3yr old... Cheese sandwiches

[ummmm]

You could make a califlower and broccoli cheese...and freeze that. Give the kids the carrots raw...

[sherrardk]

Thanks for all the suggestions - I bought the ready done veg as I was going to a dinner on a week day (as opposed to a proper Sunday lunch) and I was cutting corners. If the weather is nice tomorrow I will give them chicken salad and the rabbits can try the veg.

[Quassia]

Yep! No waste forget!