John left yesterday morning to get his truck fixed so I took the opportunity to get started on blanching all the peas and beans that we have picked this week. I have a system that works for me, and not surprisingly, it works much better without any extra "help" in the kitchen.
First, fill the blancher with water and get the water boiling. Get your peas and beans out of the refrigerator and line them up next to the stove. This photo was taken after I had already done one bag of peas.
Boil the peas for five minutes. Be sure to use any spare moments while waiting to read the book that you are really anxious to finish. In my case, it was Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild, but any book can be substituted.
After five minutes, drain the peas and cool them down in an ice bath to stop the process. This takes a lot of ice because you are dumping boiling hot vegetables into your ice bath, so I just make ice in five or six plastic bowls when I know I'm going to be blanching.
Keep the process going while you fish the cooled peas out of the ice bath and put them in a colander to drain.
Keep blanching, cooling, and draining and place the drained peas in labeled freezer bags.
Place all the bags of peas and beans to the freezer and lay them out in a single layer so they freeze better. Pro tip: Be sure to seal all the bags completely. It's surprising how quickly damp peas will freeze directly to the cold freezer surface if they are accidentally spilled out of an unsealed bag. A long-handled metal spoon works well to scrape them off.
Dump out the remaining boiling water as soon as possible, wash all the pots and utensils used, put all the dish towels and pot holders in the laundry, and don't forget to pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
I don't like blanching and freezing vegetables much, but future me loves to go to the basement and get out a pack of frozen vegetables to serve with dinner. Here's hoping you have something good for dinner tonight (we're having burgers on the grill and lots of fresh string beans) and a wonderful weekend.
I think you and my Nana had roughly the same process! I can remember the year she set up a "chair walkway" so I could help... I am pretty sure she'd been happier without the chair obstacle course but being the "bagger" was the most fun! We did not ever stop to read though... sigh. My nana was not a great reader having only finished 5th grade but my grandpa made up for that in spades... he read everything! Perhaps we should have enlisted him to read to us! Ha! May future you find extra delight not only having such a great bounty, but that past you spent all the time to make sure it was there!
ReplyDeleteYou have this down to a fine science! I'm glad that you remember how much you will appreciate this in the future so you can get through it now.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a long day of work but the results are worth the effort, too! I think I'll be making pizza on the Ooni tonight, we've had burgers a lot lately and I'm ready for something different.
ReplyDeleteWell. If I ever do start a vegetable garden (and with my newly-sunny spot in my yard, that is definitely up for consideration), I will refer to this post when it comes to blanching. (Although it also may make me just plant zinnias instead.) ;-)
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing my mom do that when she had too many on hand. I used to eat so many right off the vine that they never made it into the house.
ReplyDeleteI don't enjoy vegetables quite that much!
DeleteYour process is very efficient and very like the one we used in my family. However, making ice in bowls is genius! We never thought of that, and it would have improved the process significantly. Clever, Bonny, clever. There is nothing like fresh produce from the freezer during the doldrums of winter, so you deserve a Little Red Hen prize. Have a happy 4th.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy those veggies! You've earned them!
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me peek into your process - it looks very efficient and I can tell you have a lot of experience with it. I hope there was a cold beverage after that pat on the back ... and how about the book? did you finish it, too?
ReplyDeleteI used to blanch and freeze green and yellow beans with my Grandmother - in much the same way. Your idea to freeze bigger pieces of ice is terrific. Back in the day, we used ice cube trays- remember those?😊 I also have to smile because I know just what you are talking about when you say the process proceeds more efficiently without help. It will be nice to have those veggies in the freezer this fall and winter.
ReplyDeleteI love peas and beans!! I grew them a long time ago when I was a 'healthy' person but only grew enough to eat never to freeze or can.
ReplyDeleteWe had fresh green and yellow beans from Colin's garden last night - delicious. One more serving left. We've never grown enough to freeze. Colin, as a toddler, would walk/run out to the garden and gorge on sugar snap peas off the vine and cherry tomatoes!
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