Freezing broad beans

[Learner Gardener]

I am starting to get an excellent crop of broad beans now ...

However, there will be too many to eat and give away.

How do i go about freezing them ?

[Learner Gardener]

[Lindsay]

Hello Learner Gardener!

I'm fairly new to this too, but I have frozen mine - plunge the broad beans briefly (two or three minutes) in boiling water, then drain them and rinse them in ice cold water. When cool, then you can freeze them, either on a tray to keep them separate and  easier to measure for later use, or just bag them straightaway.

They are well worth freezing - it's lovely being able to eat broad beans in winter time, and know they were home grown.  The only disadvantage is that the larger beans tend to be a bit tough-skinned - unless you skin them first of course!

Happy freezing!

[Larkspur]

Hi I suppose the best method is debateable but we just freeze ours. Out of the pod into a plastic freezer bag and there you go. Super flavour and keep for months (if we don't eat them all first :D)

[Jeannine]

Certainly, I freeze mine  every year,blanching does however kill the ripening enzyme and  extends they are at there best from the freezer so they stay  frozen better for longer. XX Jeannine

[Chloe]

Always par boil mine like Lindsay.  Then just bag them.

I think they are the best veg to freeze, great to eat with Christmas lunch, if you like broad beans that is :)

[saddad]

We don't blanch (par boil) just freeze in open trays and then bag... still eating last years Red Epicure... new crop not ready yet!
8)

[Learner Gardener]

Thanks everyone ...

Seems the split is about 50/50 for "to blanch" or not to blanch"

Will try both methods and see which I prefare.

[Rosyred]

Out of interest how many did you sow? I sowed 64 and got three dinners for 3 1/2 people. Didn't think it was much at all compared to last year.

[Learner Gardener]

I sowed the whole packet about 50 in total. Thought that it might be a bad idea but the plt was so empty that I couldn't help myself. Sowed them in November, I think, under bottle-cloches.

[Muckinfuddle]

Hi  new to this site wanted to know how long to blanch my broad beans and do Ishell them after.By the way I PUT IN 65 BEANS and I have just over 20 lbs I planted mine in OCT/NOV 2010

[chriscross1966]

Blanch by dropping into boiling water (lots of, big ring, big saucepan), let them come back to the boil for 30 seconds, take out beans and drop into water with ice in it.do it in small batches reusing the boiling water.

chrisc

[Morris]

And be prepared for black water, and black fingernails...  ;)  Only thing I don't like about broad beans.

I think they are fine frozen unblanched on trays for at least 6 months, perhaps longer. Which is by far the quickest and easiest. If you have enough that you won't eat them in that time blanching as chriscross explains is best.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I just chuck them in the freezer. Can't be bothered with all the blanching.

[grannyjanny]

I have some unblanched runner beans from 2 years ago, & they are still lovely.

[tomatoada]

I never blanch peas or broad beans. I am still using last years, and they taste as good as fresh.

[saddad]

My Crimson flower are waist high... loads of flowers and pods... and (touchwood) no blackfly yet!  ;D

[non-stick]

I just chuck them in the freezer. Can't be bothered with all the blanching.

Snap - they seem fine when we eat them and haven't killed us so far. Too much faff to blanch stuff

[Duke Ellington]

I am a blancher ;D

Duke