Broccoli has a lot of uses, so it’s a shame not to learn how to freeze it. Broccoli is easy to come by all year, but buying it in little quantities or frozen is more expensive. As a result, the greatest option is to buy in bulk and freeze what you don’t consume.

Learning how to freeze broccoli can lead to all kinds of freezing. Once you see how fast and straightforward it is, you will want to freeze every vegetable you buy.

Freeze vegetables to save time, money, and food waste

Freezing is a great way to preserve food because it slows down the decay process, but it’s worth remembering that some foods fare better frozen than others.

During freezing, the main enemies of food quality are ice crystals, which form when water within the cells expands upon freezing, rupturing the cell walls.

To minimize damage to these vegetables during the freezing process, you should freeze them quickly, so they form fewer ice crystals.

Blanching prevents cell damage and colour changes caused by enzymes released upon exposure to air. When vegetables are thawed and cooked, they will have crisper textures due to blanching before freezing.

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Broccoli Freezing Tips

You can save money and stop food from going bad by freezing broccoli. You should freeze vegetables before storing them so that they stay fresh longer.

If you’re going to freeze broccoli, don’t chop it until before putting it in the freezer. You may either break the head into florets or freeze the head as a whole. If you want small pieces, use a sharp knife rather than a food processor to chop them.

Use the Stems & Broccoli Pieces for Soups

Cut your florets into small pieces. Some people throw away everything but the florets. You can save those pieces and use them for soup. Put the pieces in separate bags so you know which one to use for soup and which one to use for side dishes or main servings. You want the pieces you cut to be about a half of an inch big. This allows for even thawing and cooking.

Remember to Label with Date

Label your freezer bags or zip-top bags with the date to extend their longevity. It will keep for 6 months but may lose flavour and nutritional value after that. You can get 12 months if you use a Food Saver or remove all the air from the freezer bag.

broccoli florets

How to Freeze Broccoli (Ways)

Broccoli is simple to freeze.

You need to prepare it ahead of time.

To prepare your broccoli, bring it inside, chop the florets, and begin freezing it.

Blanched Broccoli ( Easy & Most Popular)

All Vegetables can be blanched. The bacteria and enzymes on the vegetable are destroyed by blanching. This is something that can’t be achieved with brine or with flash freezing. Blanching is the process of immersing food in boiling water for a short time to halt the enzymatic activity, which causes deterioration.

How to Blanch the Broccoli

Method of Blanched brocolli

  • Step 1 Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat.
  • Step 2 As the water heats up, prepare the broccoli by removing leaves, stems.
  • Step 3 Carefully place the broccoli florets into the boiling water using a metal strainer or slotted spoon.
  • Step 4 allow the boiling broccoli to boil for a minute or Two until tender
  • Step 5 Immediately drain the broccoli florets and place them in a bowl of ice-cold water( Known as an ice bath)
  • Step 6 Cool for 3 minutes. Cooling stops the cooking process, so your broccoli doesn’t get soft.
  • Step 7 Drain Well
  • Put in Ziploc bags, freezer bags or mason jars. ( Remember to Label)

Flash Freeze Brocolli

Prepare your broccoli florets, lay them on a baking sheet with wax paper placed beneath them, and spread them out in a single layer. Freezing the broccoli on the sheet right away will make it easier to remove from the sheet later. Once all of the single florets are frozen, Toss all of the frozen florets into bags.

Another tip is to freeze by serving size so you know none will get wasted when you thaw the broccoli out.

Freeze Broccoli by Brining

Brining is the practice of immersing veggies, usually fruits or meats, in a saltwater solution for an extended time before cooking.

  1. To make your brine, you will need to combine a gallon of water with 4 tablespoons of salt. Adjust as needed. For example, if you have enough broccoli to need 2 gallons of water, use 8 tablespoons of salt.
  2. Submerge the broccoli in the brine for a minimum of a half-hour up to a maximum of a few hours.

Pack in rigid containers or freezer bags.


Other guides to freezing food

Can you freeze milk?

How to Freeze Eggs


What is the best way to freeze broccoli?

To keep your veggies fresh for an extended time, – blanch the broccoli before drying and packing them in bags with labels. Blanching destroys the enzymes and bacteria in broccoli while preserving its nutrients by boiling it after blanching it.


Can you freeze fresh broccoli without blanching?

Broccoli does not have to be blanched before being frozen. If you prefer, you may freeze it without blanching it first. If you desire, you can flash freeze them. People are wary of contamination if foods aren’t handled appropriately and cause food poisoning.


What happens if you don’t blanch broccoli before freezing?

If you don’t blanch fresh broccoli before freezing, enzymes and bacteria can grow, leading to food poisoning.


How do you store Frozen Broccoli?

Prepare broccoli by blanching and drying it, then put it in a freezer bag with the date written on it. If kept in a deep freeze, it can be kept for up to one year.


How do I use frozen broccoli?

You can make a big container of broccoli soup from frozen broccoli, use it for stir-fries and all kinds of recipes. You don’t have to worry about wasting money this way.

Broccoli pot

Tips for cooking broccoli from frozen

Instead of first thawing out frozen broccoli (or any other frozen vegetable), cook it with your dish. You don’t always have to thaw frozen broccoli. Thawing takes time, so cooking the veggies straight away is fine if you only need them for a short period. If you want to use the veggies right away, add them in during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Remove frozen broccoli from the freezer bag and plunge it into a large basin of water to thaw. If you only have a small container, put it in a big bowl so that all of the pieces get equally melted. When ready to eat them, cook until they’re firm but soft enough to munch on.


Broccoli – Steaming Tips from FROZEN:

Add just 1-2 inches of water into a saucepan filled with the steaming insert. Bring the water to a rolling boil—place broccoli in a steaming insert, making sure not to overcrowd. Cover with a lid and let steam for 8-12 minutes (longer if thawing larger quantities).

Broccoli – Boiling Tips from frozen

Add just 1-2 inches of water into a saucepan filled with the steaming insert. Bring the water to a rolling boil—place broccoli in a steaming insert, making sure not to overcrowd. Cover with a lid and let steam for 8-12 minutes (longer if thawing larger quantities).

*Don’t have a steaming insert? No problem! Add about an inch of water into a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring the water to a rolling boil, add broccoli and cover for up to 10 minutes (longer if thawing larger quantities).

Broccoli – Microwaving Tips from frozen

Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe dish and cover with water, fully submerging it. Allow to rest for about 7 to 10 minutes (longer if thawing larger amounts). Drain and use as usual.

* Make sure the broccoli is completely submerged in water before microwaving. This will allow it to cook evenly throughout.