Can Broccoli Be Frozen? Tips And Recommendations
Crucifers are one of the healthiest vegetables that exist. They contain fiber and a good amount of antioxidants and flavonoids that are beneficial to the body’s health. Specifically, we want to tell you about one of them and answer a common question: can broccoli be frozen?
Broccoli is a loved food and not so much in equal parts; there are those who find it tasty and others who find it unappetizing. It contains essential nutrients for humans, but also a strong flavor that does not please everyone. One of its advantages is the storage capacity, in addition to being a product that is available for much of the year in the supermarket.
How long does fresh broccoli last?
You may not know it yet, but regular broccoli intake has been associated with a lower risk of developing inflammation at the lung level, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology . The good news is that this food can be bought fresh in almost any supermarket and stored for a while in the refrigerator.
In particular, it is possible to keep it under refrigeration for a period of 14 days if it is stored raw. In the case of cooking it first, its shelf life is reduced to 9 days. In any case, it should be noted that it must be properly conserved; as far as possible, covered.
How to preserve broccoli properly?
To maximize the life of this vegetable, it is important to maintain simple care when keeping it in refrigerated conditions. Usually, the casing cruciferous purchased in a plastic or paper film . It is advisable not to remove it until the moment of consumption, since this would reduce its useful life.
If the container has already been opened, it is best to put the leftover broccoli in a container and cover it, to limit its contact with the air. Then, it can be put back in the fridge to continue with its conservation.
In this way, the flanovoids it contains will not oxidize. These nutrients have been shown to be effective in the prevention of various complex pathologies. They have even been associated with the decrease in cellular damage due to aging and, therefore, the slowing down of oncological development processes.
Is it possible to preserve cooked broccoli?
As we have mentioned, the broccoli can be preserved again after cooking. For this, it is important to keep the food in a closed container and in refrigerated conditions. In this way, it can last up to a maximum of 9 days, although it must be taken into account that, as time passes, its organoleptic characteristics deteriorate.
For this reason, we recommend that you consume it once it is cooked or that, instead, use the vegetable within 2 or 3 days afterwards. So you can enjoy all its flavor.
How to freeze broccoli?
To freeze broccoli properly, you need to follow a specific procedure:
- First, remove the leaves around it.
- Then, you must put the cruciferous in a container with cold water and salt.
- Later you can proceed to shred the food into the portions that you consider appropriate.
- The next thing you should do is boil it. Cook it for 3 minutes once the water has reached the boiling point. But no more, otherwise its nutrients and vitamins will be lost.
- Once the cooking process is over, it is necessary to dump the broccoli into a container with cold water to lower the temperature of the food.
- Finally, the vegetable can be placed in the freezer, either in airtight containers or in freezer bags.
Remember that when using the vegetable it will not need to go through a defrosting process. The appropriate thing is to put it directly in a pot with water or in the pan, to finish its cooking.
You should also know that broccoli lasts in the freezer for between 9 months and 1 year. From here on, its properties begin to dissipate and its flavor is affected.
Freezing broccoli to introduce it into the diet frequently
Crucifers are vegetables with nutritional properties beneficial to human health. Broccoli, in particular, stands out above the other representatives of this family. For this reason, we encourage you to introduce it regularly in the diet. There are many different ways to prepare it.
Don’t forget that broccoli can be frozen, although it does need to be cooked first. Once placed in the freezer, it will no longer need to go through a defrosting process for its use, but will instead be placed in the container where it will be cooked directly.
It is a cruciferous that you can find fresh throughout the year in the supermarket, but that when frozen lasts up to 12 more months. So much so, that you have no excuse to ensure provision at home.
