To blanch or not to blanch ??????

[Linda Tal]

that is the question.

I've got loads and loads of apples and can't bear to waste them.  So I want to freeze them so I can use them later.

Do I have to blanch them or can I just bung em in, say in quarters?

Any ideas????

Linda.

[Linda Tal]

[supersprout]

I'd toss them in a little lemon juice and a tiny bit of sugar first, to stop the cut surfaces going brown, and bung em in unblanched (you might cut them into the sort of pieces you'd use for dishes later - if I had loads, I'd probably slice them for putting straight into the pork chop tin :P) If they're cooking apples though, I'd probably cook them first and freeze the mush. Labelled! :-[ ;D

[Hyacinth]

To keep the thread tidy 8).....blanching veggies that are going to be used during the dog-days of winter? I thought it was always a 'given' that one blanched, cooled & froze, but I've read otherwise here? So...ideas for my gluts of carrots, runners, etc. that will have a shortish storage life? Have spent most of a precious free afternoon blanching a row of carrot batons & sliced beans.....anyone want to release me from my steamed-up kitchen?

[Linda Tal]

Thanks, I don't intend to keep them for long in the freezer, so I think I'll take the easy option. 

Linda.

[Mrs Ava]

I don't blanch any more.  And apples I do in different sorts of batches.  I have been known to freeze whole if in a hurry, but I peel and quarter and bag and freeze, or I peel, quarter, roast in the oven, cool and freeze, or I stew it right down and freeze, ooo the ideas go on and on!  ;D

[Toadspawn]

I haven't blanched anything for years - takes up too much time and the end product does not seem to be affected.

I have found it is a waste of time freezing kidney(runner) beans. They lose their colour and taste foul.
French and Borlotti beans are fine.

With apples I peel and puree and freeze the puree without sugar. It can be added at a later stage if required.

[triffid]

Isn't it funny how different veg behave for different people?  I got a year's supply of Galaxy runners from my 2005 harvest and literally only used the last as the first beans were developing this year.

Didn't blanch, just picked very young (before kidney beans had started to form) and froze fast.
So different from Toadspawn's experience -- they've been delish!