Can you freeze celeriac?
Can you freeze celeriac? Yes it’s possible! But before putting your celeriac in the freezer, a few precautions are in order.
If you freeze your celeriac directly, it may oxidize and take on a brownish tint. It is therefore necessary to blanch it and treat it with lemon juice so that it stays fresh longer.
How to freeze celeriac?
- Peel the surface of the celeriac and remove the small roots and young shoots. Wash it well. Dirt can seep into all kinds of nooks and crevices.
- Then you can either grate your celeriac or cut it into chunks. Think about how you will use it later.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add lemon juice. For about 3 liters of water, count about a tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Plunge the celeriac into boiling water for about 3 minutes. Immediately after removing the celeriac from boiling water, plunge it into cold water. Cooking will thus be interrupted. Drain the celeriac and let it dry.
- Put your celeriac in one or more resealable freezer bags. You can freeze it in portions using one bag per portion.
- Seal the freezer bags, squeezing out as much air as possible, and put them in the freezer.
What is the shelf life of celeriac in the freezer?
By following the method described above, your celeriac will retain its delicious taste and freshness for about 1 month in the freezer.
How to thaw celeriac?
Thawing or defrosting celeriac is a relatively simple operation. Just take the celeriac out of the freezer and place it in the fridge. You can let it sit for a few hours or even overnight to thaw. Once it’s thawed, take it out of the fridge and leave it on the kitchen table to come to room temperature. This is how you should thaw it if you plan to use it in remoulades or coleslaw.
On the other hand, if you plan to cook your celeriac, you don’t need to thaw it. Simply put it in a casserole dish, boiling water or a steamer and cook it as you normally would, extending the cooking time just a little bit.
Can you refreeze celeriac?
It is recommended not to refreeze celeriac. Celeriac has a high water content; freezing and thawing is likely to rupture its cell membranes and cause them to break down, resulting in mushy celeriac.
Also, frozen and thawed foods tend to retain more bacteria than fresh foods. For these reasons, it is best to avoid refreezing celeriac.
Can you freeze mashed celeriac?
Yes. First you need to add some lemon juice to your mash; this will prevent it from darkening. Then place your puree in a thick freezer bag and seal it, pushing out as much air as possible.
Can you freeze celery remoulade?
Celeriac remoulade does not freeze very well, especially if it was prepared with mayonnaise. The mayonnaise tends to separate, giving the remoulade a grainy or lumpy texture.
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