How to freeze garden vegetables
(alphabetical list by vegetable)
Artichoke, Globe (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Artichoke
To freeze artichokes: Remove outer leaves of artichoke. Wash, trim stalks, and remove “chokes.” Blanch them a few at a time for 7 minutes. Cool in iced water for 7 minutes. Drain. Pack vegetables in freezer bags, remove air from bags, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Asparagus (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Asparagus
To freeze asparagus: Wash asparagus and remove woody portions and scales of spears. Cut asparagus into 6” lengths and blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes. Cool asparagus in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain. Place asparagus on trays in a single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air from bags, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Beans, Broad (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Beans
Shell beans and wash. Blanch in boiling water for 1 ½ minutes. Cool in iced water for 2 minutes. Place on a tray in a single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Beans (green or string) (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Beans
Remove any strings and remove ends. Blanch green beans for 2 minutes and cool in iced water for 2 minutes. Drain green beans. Spread on tray in single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze green beans for up to 6 months.
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Beets (back to top)
Click here for gardening instructions for Beets
Only freeze young beets, up to 3” across (older beets are too tough prepared this way). Slice or chop beets and cook until tender. Cool and pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Broccoli (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Broccoli
Choose tender broccoli heads with no flowers. Wash well and divide into sprigs. Blanch for 3 minutes in boiling water. Cool in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain broccoli and spread on a tray in a single layer. (Cover with plastic wrap so the strong broccoli smell doesn’t take over your freezer) Freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze broccoli for up to 6 months.
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Brussels Sprouts (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Brussels Sprouts
Remove outer leaves and cut across the stem end of the Brussels sprouts. Wash thoroughly. Blanch Brussels sprouts for 3 minutes. Cool in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain Brussels sprouts and spread on a tray in a single layer. (Cover with plastic wrap so the strong Brussels sprouts smell doesn’t take over your freezer) Freeze brussels sprouts for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze Brussels sprouts for up to 6 months.
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Cabbage (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Cabbage
Remove outer leaves and wash the cabbage head. Cut into thin wedges, or shred. Blanch for 1 ½ minutes (shredded) or 2 minutes (wedges). Cool cabbage for 2 minutes in iced water. Drain and pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze cabbage for up to 6 months.
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Carrots (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Carrots
Scrub carrots and cut into pieces. Blanch carrots for 3 minutes in boiling water. Cool in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain and spread on a tray in a single layer. Freeze carrots for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze carrots for up to 6 months.
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Cauliflower (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Cauliflower
Divide cauliflower into florets and wash. Blanch for 3 minutes in boiling water. Chill in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain cauliflower and spread on a tray in a single layer. (Cover with plastic wrap so the strong smell doesn’t take over your freezer) Freeze cauliflower for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze cauliflower for up to 6 months.
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Celery (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Celery
Use tender celery stalks. Remove strings, wash and cut into 1” pieces. Blanch celery for 2 minutes in boiling water. Chill in iced water for 2 minutes. Drain celery and spread on a tray in a single layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze celery for up to 6 months.
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Chilies (back to top)
Remove seeds, wash, dry and spread on a tray in a single layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Chinese Broccoli (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Chinese Broccoli
Remove any coarse leaves and thick stems. Wash and blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes. Chill in iced water for 2 minutes. Drain and spread on a tray in a single layer for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Chinese Cabbage (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Chinese Cabbage
Only freeze crisp and young cabbage. Was and shred finely. Blanch for 1 ½ minutes. Chill in iced water for 2 minutes. Drain, and place vegetables in freezer bags, remove air, label and seal. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Chinese Spinach (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Chinese Spinach
Wash and trim leaves off stalks. Blanch for 1 minute in boiling water. Chill in iced water for 1 minute. Drain, pack vegetables in freezer bags, remove air from bags, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Eggplant (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Eggplant
Cut eggplant into slices, sprinkle with salt and allow to stand for 20 minutes. Drain off excess liquid. Fry eggplant gently in a little butter/olive oil just until barely tender. Cool, then pack vegetables in plastic containers, seal and label. Freeze eggplant for up to 3 months.
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Fennel (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Fennel
Blanch fennel for 3 minutes and chill in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze fennel for up to 6 months.
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Garlic (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Garlic
Place garlic cloves, separated from bulbs in freezer bags. Remove any excess air from bag, seal and label. Freeze garlic for up to 3 months.
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Ginger (back to top)
Separate ginger into 1 portion sections. Place in freezer bags, remove excess air from bag, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Jerusalem Artichoke (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Jerusalem Artichoke
Peel and slice Jerusalem Artichokes. Place in cold water with the juice of ½ lemon to prevent discoloration. Blanch for 2 minutes in boiling water and cool in iced water for 2 minutes. Drain and spread on tray in single layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze Jerusalem Artichoke for up to 6 months.
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Kohlrabi (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Kohlrabi
Wash kohlrabi well, peel and cut into pieces. Blanch for 3 minutes. Chill kohlrabi in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain and spread on a tray in a single layer. Freeze kohlrabi for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze kohlrabi for up to 6 months.
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Leek (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Leeks
How to freeze Leeks: Remove tough outer leaves, then wash leeks. Cut away green part of stem, slice white flesh, or cut in halves lengthwise. Blanch leeks for 2 minutes and chill in iced water for 2 minutes. Freeze on trays in single layers for 30 minutes. Pack leeks in freezer bags, remove excess air, seal and label. Freeze leeks for up to 6 months.
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Mushrooms (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Mushrooms
How to freeze mushrooms: Wash mushrooms and let air dry. Pack clean, dry mushrooms in freezer bags. Remove excess air, seal and label. Freeze mushrooms for up to 6 months.
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Okra (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Okra
How to freeze okra: Wash okra well and trim off stems. Blanch okra in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Cool okra in iced water for 3-4 minutes, drain and pack in freezer bags. Remove air from bags, seal and label. Freeze okra for up to 6 months.
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Onion (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Onions
How to freeze onions: Peel, chop or cut onion into rings. Wrap onion pieces in layers of plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag or plastic container. Label and freeze for up to 3 months. Small onions can be frozen as is (right in their skins).
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Parsnip (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Parsnips
How to freeze parsnips: Peel and dice parsnips. Blanch for up to 2 minutes. Chill parsnips in iced water for 2 minutes. Spread parsnips on a single layer in a tray and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove extra air, label and seal. Freeze parsnips for up to 6 months.
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Peas (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Peas
How to freeze peas: Shell peas, wash and blanch for 1 minute. Chill peas in iced water for 1 minute. Drain peas, spread on tray in single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, label and seal. Freeze pease for up to 6 months.
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Peppers (red, yellow or green) (back to top)
How to freeze peppers: Wash peppers, remove seeds, and cut into slices or leave whole. Place peppers on a tray in a single layer. Freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, label and seal. Freeze peppers for up to 6 months.
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Potato (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Potatoes
How to freeze potatoes: Wash/scrub potatoes, and dice. Cook potatoes in boiling water until nearly fully cooked. Drain potatoes, cool and pack in freezer bags. Seal, label and freeze potatoes up to 6 months.
Or you can mash the cooked potatoes and freeze them for up to 3 months.
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Pumpkin (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Pumpkin
How to freeze pumpkin: Peel pumpkin and cook in boiling salted water until tender. Mash the pumpkin, cool, then pack into plastic containers, leaving headspace. Freeze pumpkin for up to 3 months.
Or Bake pumpkin until nearly fully cooked. Cool. Pack into freezer bags, remove the air, seal and label. Freeze pumpkin for up to 3 months.
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Rutabaga (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Rutabaga
How to freeze rutabaga: Best results if rutabaga vegetable is tender and young. Dice rutabaga and blanch for 3 minutes, then chill in iced water for 3 minutes. Drain rutabaga, place on tray in single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze rutabaga for up to 6 months.
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Shallot (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Shallots
How to freeze shallots: Separate shallot cloves from the bulb. Place in freezer bags, remove extra air, seal and label. Freeze shallots for up to 3 months.
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Snow Peas (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Peas
How to freeze snow peas: Wash snow peas well and trim leaves from stalks. Blanch snow peas in small quantities for 1 minute, then chill in iced water for 1 minute. Drain. Pack vegetabkes into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze snow peas for up to 6 months.
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Spinach (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Spinach
How to freeze spinach: Wash and trim spinach leaves. Blanch spinach for 30 seconds, and chill in iced water for 30 seconds. Drain. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze spinach for up to 6 months.
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Squash (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Squash
How to freeze squash: Cook squash in boiling salted water until almost tender. Mash squash, cool and pack into freezer containers leaving head space. Seal and label. Freeze squash up to 3 months.
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Sweet Corn (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Corn
How to freeze corn: Remove leaves and threads from ear of corn. Blanch a few corn cobs at a time for 5 minutes, then chill in iced water for 5 minutes. Drain, wrap each corn cob in plastic wrap. Pack wrapped cobs in freezer bags, remove air from bags, label and seal. Freeze corn for up to 6 months.
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Sweet Potato (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Sweet Potatoes
How to freeze sweet potatoes: After scrubbing and peeling the sweet potato, bake until mostly tender. Drain and cool. Pack vegetables into freezer bag, remove extra air, seal and label. Freeze up to 3 months.
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Swiss Chard (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Swiss Chard
How to freeze swiss chard: Wash swiss chard well and trim. Blanch in small quantities for 1 minute, then chill for 1 minute in iced water. Pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal, and label. Freeze swiss chard for up to 6 months.
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Tomato (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Tomatoes
How to freeze Tomatoes - Option 1: Wash tomatoes, remove stems, cut into halves or quarters, or leave whole. Dry and pack into freezer bags. Remove air, seal and label. Freeze tomatoes for up to 6 months.
Option 2: Dip tomatoes into boiling water for 1 minute, remove and peel (the skins should come off easily). Place whole tomatoes on tray in single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Place in plastic bags, remove air, seal, and label. Freeze tomatoes for up to 6 months.
Option 3: Simmer chopped tomatoes in a pan for 5 minutes. Push through a sieve or food mill to remove seeds and skins. Cool, the pack into containers, leaving headspace. Freeze tomatoes for up to 6 months.
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Turnip (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Turnips
How to freeze turnips: Peel and trim tender turnips. Dice and blanch for 3 minutes, then chill for 3 minutes in iced water. Drain turnips, place pieces on tray in a single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Pack vegetables into plastic bags, removing air, seal and label. Freeze turnips for up to 6 months.
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Water Chestnut (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Water Chestnuts
How to freeze water chestnuts: Bring water chestnuts to a boil. Drain and peel off shells. Pack water chestnuts in freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze for up to 6 months.
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Zucchini (back to top)
Click here to learn how to grow Zucchini
How to freeze zucchini: Slice zucchini into 1” slices, sauté gently or steam until barely tender. Cool, pack vegetables into freezer bags, remove air, seal and label. Freeze zucchini for up to 3 months.
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