Name: How to Freeze Broccoli
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Broccoli; Water; Ice

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Learn how to freeze broccoli at home in just a few simple steps. If frozen correctly, broccoli will last many months in the freezer!

Lady Lee’s Note…

Every year I grow more and more broccoli. I love broccoli, my kids love broccoli, and my customers love broccoli. It can be used so many different ways and is delicious just about any way you’d use it.

When it comes to preserving broccoli, freezing it is my preferred method since I usually end up cooking or roasting it later. If I take the time to do it right, or in other words, blanch it, broccoli lasts many months in the freezer. It’s packed, already cut, and so very easy to use in any recipe.

What is Blanching…

Blanching is important for almost all vegetables before freezing. It’s simple and quick. Here is a great explanation from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

“Blanching (scalding vegetables in boiling water or steam for a short time) is a must for almost all vegetables to be frozen. It stops enzyme actions which can cause loss of flavor, color and texture.

Blanching cleanses the surface of dirt and organisms, brightens the color and helps retard loss of vitamins. It also wilts or softens vegetables and makes them easier to pack.”

You can read more here.

Is Blanching Required Before Freezing?

There are different opinions about this. It’s not required, however, the quality of your food will not be great after a few months in the freezer if you don’t take the time to blanch.

I’d say, if you know that you will use your broccoli within three months, you don’t have to blanch it. If you are going to store it in the freezer for longer than that, then I think blanching is worth your time.

Ingredients…

Broccoli
Water and Ice

Tools…

Step-by-Step Instructions…

Step one – cut the broccoli. Cut off the flowers from the stem and half or quarter them. You can skip the cutting if the flowers are not too large. If you want to, you can also cut the stem into smaller pieces and freeze it as well (it’s especially good in soups or casseroles).

Step two – blanch. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and let it stay in the boiling water for 2-3 minutes.

Step three – ice bath. Use a skimmer ladle to get the broccoli out of the hot water and into a bowl filled with water and ice. This will help to stop the cooking.

setting broccoli flowers in one layer on a baking sheet

Step four – freeze. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and then a paper towel (or a kitchen towel). Scoop the broccoli from the ice water onto the paper towel and pat it dry. Remove the paper towel and set the broccoli in one layer on the baking sheet. Cover with plastic food wrap and place in the freezer for 24 hours.

Step five – pack. Remove from the freezer and pack your broccoli in a ziplock bag. Lable and return to the freezer.

How to Use Frozen Broccoli…

In casseroles – try adding frozen broccoli to this delicious Mediterranean zucchini casserole. Or any other casserole!
In stews and soups –
Main dishes – add frozen broccoli to a one-pan chicken and veggies dish, these Israeli meatballs, or turkey meatballs.
Roasted – place the frozen broccoli on a baking sheet, drizzle some olive oil on it, and sprinkle some salt. Roast in a preheated 425 degrees F oven for 10 minutes or so. I love roasting it with these garlic scapes since both broccoli and garlic scapes are ready for harvest at approximately the same time.
Steamed – steam the frozen broccoli for a few minutes and it’s ready for serving!

How Long Will Broccoli Last in the Freezer?

Blanched broccoli can last in the freezer for about a year. They’ll probably be just fine even longer than that, however, it’s recommended to try and use frozen vegetables within a year.

Kitchen Notes…

Cut – you can leave the broccoli in large flowers or you can cut them into small pieces; it’s up to you. Try to think about the way you are going to use it later and cut it accordingly.
Salt – some say that adding salt to the boiling water when blanching adds flavor to the vegetables. I’ve never tried.
Packing – you can skip freezing the broccoli on a baking sheet. Instead, dry them, place them in a food vacuum bag, and vacuum and freeze. I like the baking sheet method because they freeze separately and I can grab however many I want later. If you skip this step, they sometimes stick to each other, and it’s hard to separate them if you don’t want to use the whole bag.

I hope that this tutorial was helpful! Freezing broccoli is an easy way to preserve it, and having it frozen and ready for use in the freezer is very convenient!