Do I need to boil cauliflower before freezing. How to freeze cauliflower for the winter: simple tricks

Cauliflower is an incredibly healthy and protein-rich vegetable. It contains many vitamins and mineral salts necessary for our body. From cabbage, you can easily cook many delicious and original dishes. It is she who is given to infants as the very first complementary foods and is recommended to people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The only thing that overshadows all these pluses is that the season of this vegetable is very short. Therefore, many housewives are always concerned about one question: they are interested in the question of how to freeze and preserve cauliflower. When frozen, it will perfectly keep all its beneficial features And appearance. But in order for everything to work out correctly, you need to know a few simple recommendations, which we will now tell you.

How to freeze cabbage for the winter?

So, we start by first choosing suitable strong heads of cabbage. They must be small white color and without any defects. Next, thoroughly wash the cauliflower, remove the top leaves, soak in salted water and leave for about 20 minutes to get rid of all unwanted caterpillars and bugs.

Then we take a clean plastic bag of a suitable size, put a dried head of cabbage, remove all the air, tightly tie the bag and put it in the freezer. There is another way to harvest cabbage. To do this, we wash the head of cabbage, dry it, disassemble it into inflorescences, put it in a tray at a small distance from each other and send it to the freezer. As soon as they freeze, you can transfer them to any other suitable container or simply pour them into a bag.

How to freeze cauliflower for the winter?

We take a small head of cauliflower, put it on a cutting table and remove the top dark green bad leaves. Then we carefully divide the head of cabbage into separate small inflorescences, removing excess coarse stems. Next, pour water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. After that, we lay the cauliflower in small portions and blanch it for no more than 3 minutes.

Now, using a slotted spoon, we carefully catch each portion of cabbage and transfer it to a colander so that all the water is glassed. Then lay it out on a clean kitchen towel and leave to dry. Cabbage inflorescences dried from water, sorted into portions and laid out in small bags or containers. Now we send the container to the freezer and calmly store the cabbage, thus, all winter.

Cauliflower is a seasonal vegetable and very inexpensive. Well, many people know that cauliflower is healthy and low in calories. Every season I freeze cauliflower, broccoli, green beans for the winter in the quantities that my freezer allows. It takes quite a bit of time to prepare, but the result will please. Cauliflower frozen for the winter retains its shape, taste and all useful properties.

There are two ways to freeze cauliflower for the winter: with and without blanching. I blanch cauliflower most of the time as it keeps better in my opinion. It is this freezing option - with blanching - that I offer you today.

All we need is the freshest cauliflower and special bags that are suitable for storing food in the freezer.

IMPORTANT: when buying cauliflower, pay attention to the color of the inflorescences and the freshness of the leaves of the cabbage head.

First of all, remove the stalk and leaves from the cabbage.

We disassemble each head of cabbage into inflorescences. The size of the inflorescences is up to you, I leave the inflorescences large. We spread the cabbage inflorescences in a bowl, fill the cabbage completely with water, rinse the inflorescences well, sometimes some insects can climb inside, they will fall out of the cabbage in the water.

Pour water into a large saucepan and let it boil. We put the cauliflower florets in portions in a colander and place it in boiling water for ONE minute so that the florets are completely covered with water.

Then immediately transfer the cabbage from the colander to a container of ice water (you can cold water add ice cubes). This is necessary in order to stop the process of cooking cauliflower.

Spread the cooled cauliflower on a towel. Let the cabbage dry completely and cool.

After that, we lay out the cauliflower inflorescences in portions in bags, squeeze out the air and close the bags hermetically.

Can do assorted vegetables with cauliflower in the composition, adding blanched broccoli florets and green beans.

We send the packages to the freezer for long-term storage and, as necessary, take out portioned packages.

Freezing cauliflower for the winter is completed. Cauliflower prepared in this way remains tasty, juicy. I make soups out of it. I just boil it as a side dish for the main course or cook pancakes.

Have a delicious winter with homemade timely preparations!

Cauliflower is one of the most healthy vegetables It is rich in vitamins and microelements. As part of such cabbage, a significant amount of fiber, proteins and carbohydrates, so it just needs to be consumed fresh.

Well, in order to enjoy the taste of cauliflower in winter, it is enough just to freeze it correctly!Cauliflower prepared in this way turns out to be fresh, so it will wonderfully complement any dish you cook!

Ingredients:

• cauliflower - 1 fork (700 g);
• salt - 1 tbsp. l.;
• water - 1 l.

Rinse the cauliflower thoroughly in running water, then peel the green leaves, cut out a thick base near the root of the head and disassemble into inflorescences.

Place the cabbage pieces in a bowl of water. Add salt and blanch for 2-3 minutes after boiling.

Then, remove to a colander and rinse quickly with ice water.

The final step is to place the kale florets in disposable plastic bags (or freezer bags) or in plastic freezer containers (if there is room in the fridge).

You can store packaged cauliflower in the freezer all winter long!

1. For freezing, it is better to use young cauliflower forks, with milky-white medium-sized inflorescences, without damage.
2. Sluggish heads are categorically not to be used, they will not only be not tasty, but not at all useful.
3. If you plan to freeze for a child, then choose an environmentally friendly and natural product, for example, grown at home. It is also recommended to cook such cabbage twice as long.
4. To keep the kale florets firm and crispy, be sure to stick to the recommended cooking times.

Properly frozen cauliflower will certainly please you by enriching the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals in the cold winter.

Cauliflower not only has a pleasant, and unique taste. She is also very helpful. Only 100 g of this vegetable fills 20% of the body's daily need for vitamin K, 77% of the need for vitamin C. It has been proven that this member of the cruciferous family has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties, that is, it protects us from aging and from cancer. People who regularly eat cauliflower dishes have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, stroke and diabetes. This vegetable has the ability to strengthen bone tissue, thereby preventing the development of osteoporosis. The surprisingly low calorie content of cauliflower (25 kcal per 100 g) helps in the fight against excess weight, as it allows you to cook hearty dish with a little energy value.

If you care about your health, you will certainly want to have cauliflower dishes on the table all year round. However, if in summer it is more or less affordable, in winter its prices rise, and not everyone can afford it. The problem is solved if you know how to freeze cauliflower for the winter. Therefore, we decided to tell the readers of the site "Beauty in you" about the technology of freezing this vegetable and bring 5 healthy recipes, including a multivitamin vegetable mix. After all, it is known that frozen foods, as a rule, retain all their valuable properties.

How to freeze cauliflower at home

Cauliflower can be frozen for the winter whole or divided into florets, raw or blanched, alone or with other vegetables. Knowing the technological subtleties will keep it tasty and healthy for the winter.

• The color of the inflorescences and leaves of cauliflower depends on the variety and growing conditions, this practically does not affect its composition. You can freeze vegetables of any variety. When choosing it in the market or in the store, attention should be paid to three points. First, the leaves must look fresh, pressed against the head, otherwise you cannot be sure of its freshness. Second: the presence of brown spots on the inflorescences is unacceptable, as this is a sign of a fungal disease that spreads very quickly, and diseased vegetables are not subject to winter storage in any form. Third: if a large head of cabbage seems suspiciously light to you, it was grown using accelerated technology or lay for a long time, as a result, it turned out to have little juice.
• Before freezing, the cabbage must be washed by tearing off the leaves, then soaked in a 2% saline solution to ensure that the bugs get rid of (they will float to the surface), then rinse again and be sure to dry. Next, the cabbage is frozen whole or divided into inflorescences. At the same time, the vegetable can be frozen raw or blanched. The latter option is preferable, as it better allows you to keep the inflorescences juicy and bright.
• Whole cauliflower is usually frozen for soup and used after thawing. For second courses, cabbage is cut into inflorescences. Inflorescences with a diameter of about 3 cm are considered reference. If small pieces remain after cutting the cabbage, they can be frozen separately so that they can be added to the first dishes later.
• Cabbage is frozen in containers or bags, the second method is more economical and ergonomic.
• Remember that vegetables cannot be re-frozen, so you need to freeze them in portions designed to cook one dish.
• Be sure to indicate the freezing time of the product on the package so as not to expire it.
• The shelf life of frozen cauliflower depends on the storage temperature. If your freezer can provide a temperature of only 6 degrees below zero, then, alas, it will be impossible to freeze cauliflower in it for the winter, you will have to eat it within 2-3 weeks. If the temperature in the freezer is 12 degrees below zero, you can safely store cauliflower and most vegetable mixtures in it for 6 months. In a freezer that provides temperatures below -18 ° C, cauliflower will not go bad for at least a year.

Now we suggest that you study the recipes below and freeze cauliflower for the winter in a way that suits your needs.

How to freeze whole cauliflower

Components:

• cauliflower - head of cabbage;
• water - 2 l;
• salt - 40 g.

Cooking algorithm:

1. Wash the cabbage, remove the leaves.
2. Mix water with salt.
3. Dip the head in the saline solution.
4. After 20 minutes, rinse the cabbage, put it on a napkin and wait until the vegetable dries.
5. Wrap the head with cling film so that it covers the vegetable in several layers and without any gaps.

It remains to stick notes indicating the date of freezing cabbage and hide it in the freezer.

How to freeze cauliflower without boiling

Components:

• cauliflower - 1 kg;
• salt - 60 g;
• water - 3 l;
• packages - 2-4 pcs.

Cooking algorithm:

1. Wash the head of cabbage, remove the leaves. Cut the cauliflower florets off the stems.
2. Pour brine over cabbage.
3. After 20 minutes, rinse the florets again and empty them on a kitchen towel to dry them faster.
4. Divide the cabbage into packages depending on how many eaters your family has. How more family, topics more cabbage must be included in the package.
5. Close the zipper on the bag, leaving a small gap.
6. Insert a straw for cocktails into the crack, suck air through it.
7. Close the zipper all the way.
8. Use a marker to write the freeze date on the bag.
9. Pack the remaining packages in the same way.
10. Place the bags in the freezer.

Cabbage frozen without boiling does not look as appetizing as blanched, but it does not contain salt and can be used to feed young children.

How to Freeze Blanched Cauliflower

Components:

• cauliflower - 0.5 kg;
• water - 2 liters for soaking, 4 liters for cooling and 2 liters for boiling;
• citric acid - 2 g;
• salt - 40 g for soaking and 10 g for boiling.

Cooking algorithm:

1. Wash the head. After removing the leaves, soak it for 20 minutes in saline.
2. Rinse again. Divide into inflorescences.
3. Boil 2 liters of water in a saucepan, add salt to it and citric acid. Place a bowl of cold water nearby.
4. Dip the cabbage in boiling water, pinpoint 3 minutes.
5. Drain the cabbage into a colander. Immediately transfer to a bowl of cold water.
6. Throw the florets back in a colander and let them dry.
7. On the packages, write the date of creation of the blank for the winter. Divide cabbage into bags. After releasing the air, fasten the zippers.

Send the cabbage to the freezer, use as needed.

How to freeze broccoli with cauliflower

Components:

• broccoli - 0.5 kg;
• cauliflower - 0.5 kg;
• brine - 4 l;
• water for boiling and cooling vegetables.

Cooking algorithm:

1. Wash both types of cabbage, soak in saline, rinse again, dry.
2. Divide vegetables into florets. Dip for 3 minutes in boiling water. There should be a lot of water (2 liters per 0.5 kg). If you have a small pot, you can boil the cabbage in small portions.
3. After catching the cabbage with a slotted spoon, bathe it in ice water and dry it.
4. Using a kitchen scale, measure out 250g each of cauliflower and broccoli and place them in one bag. Close the remaining vegetables in the second bag.

Many dishes are prepared with broccoli and cauliflower, where they are present in equal number. Cooked vegetable mixture is doubly useful and has many uses.

How to Freeze Multivitamin Vegetable Mix with Cauliflower

Components:

• cauliflower - 0.6 kg;
• broccoli - 0.4 kg;
• green beans - 0.3 kg;
• carrots - 0.5 kg;
• red bell pepper- 0.2 kg.

Cooking algorithm:

1. Prepare vegetables by washing and drying.
2. Divide broccoli and cauliflower into florets.
3. Peel the carrots. Use the tip of a potato peeler to cut strips along the length of the carrots. Cut the root crops into circles, which will now look more like small suns.
4. Cut the beans into 3 cm pieces.
5. Boil water. Boil carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and beans in turn. Blanch carrots for 5 minutes, other vegetables for 3-4 minutes.
6. While the vegetables are drying, cut the pepper into quarters of rings about half a centimeter thick.
7. Divide the vegetables into 5 bags using a kitchen scale. Each should contain 100 g of carrots, 120 g of cauliflower, 80 g of broccoli, 60 g of beans, 40 g of pepper. Each package will contain 400 g of vegetables.

Freeze Vegetables and Make a Winter Multivitamin vegetable stew, filling the body's need for vitamins, micro- and macroelements, which is especially acute in the cold season.

Cauliflower is considered one of the healthiest foods on our planet. Rational nutrition is impossible without the inclusion of dishes from this vegetable in the diet. The best way harvesting it for the winter - freezing. We have given 5 recipes that will allow you to save cauliflower for the winter with almost no damage to its beneficial properties.

Hello dear readers! At home, these not only tasty, but also such healthy cabbages are loved, so I always want to have them on hand. Harvesting cauliflower for the winter-freezing is, in my opinion, the most practical and allows you to preserve the properties of the vegetable to the maximum. That's what I thought how to freeze cauliflower at home so that you can use it quickly at any time. Of course, I quite often buy already frozen fruits in the winter, but then I decided to make my own preparations.

I decided to decide, but immediately questions arose about how to prepare cauliflower for freezing:

• Is it worth it to pre-hold the vegetable in salted water
• Do I need to blanch cauliflower before freezing?
• Is it necessary to dry the inflorescences before sending them to the freezer

How to prepare cauliflower for the winter / freezing

One thing was beyond doubt: harvesting cauliflower for the winter-freezing requires the selection of only high-quality forks. after removing the green leaves, it is necessary to rinse the heads of cabbage under a strong stream of water.

I hope that harvesting cauliflower for the winter-freezing will become your usual and easy way to preserve this wonderful product.

found out interesting option: each inflorescence, fully prepared for freezing (blanched and dried), is first wrapped in a beaten egg, and then rolled in breadcrumbs. After that, they are frozen on a board and laid out in a container. I think it's great. We must try to do the same.

Bon appetit!