The Cook’s Kitchen

Even though we are enjoying all of the incredible fresh produce that summer brings, we don’t have to wait for next summer to enjoy it again.  You can freeze it now, and enjoy it throughout the cold months.  Good Housekeeping offers these suggestions when freezing fresh produce:

• When using freezer bags, leave as little air in as possible.  This will help prevent freezer burn.
• If you won’t be able to allow the food to defrost in the refrigerator and will need to use the convenience of a microwave, you should cook the food prior to refreezing.  Another way to prevent the need to refreeze the vegetables is to package them in smaller amounts that way you can take only the amount you need.
• If you do begin defrosting the produce for a recipe and find that you won’t have time to make it, you can refreeze it as long as there are still ice crystals and the center is still firm.
• When freezing vegetables it is often recommended to blanch them first.  To do this you should cook them in boiling water for the recommended time and then immediately place them in ice cold water.  This will keep them from losing important nutrients and flavor.

For a detailed list of what foods can be frozen and for how long, you can visit Good Housekeeping and download a PDF file with all the details.

Photo courtesy of USDA’s ARS Gallery.