Can you freeze romanesco cabbage?
Can you freeze romanesco cabbage? Yes it’s possible ! Romanesco cabbage freezes particularly well. It’s hard to tell the difference between fresh Romanesco cabbage and frozen Romanesco cabbage, as long as you cook it thoroughly after thawing.
How to freeze romanesco cabbage?
- Before freezing your romanesco cabbage, it must be cleaned. First, run it under cold water to remove visible dirt. Next, cut the cabbage into florets.
- Then fill a saucepan with tap water and add a few tablespoons of salt. This brine is ideal for ridding your romanesco cabbage of any critters that may be in it. Soak your cabbage in the solution for 30 minutes, then drain it and rinse it under tap water.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Immerse your romanesco cabbage florets in boiling water for 3 minutes then immediately immerse them in a bowl or saucepan filled with cold water to instantly stop the cooking. This step consists of blanching the cabbage so that it can withstand freezing better.
- Drain the romanesco cabbage and let it dry.
- Spread the cabbage florets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure that the florets do not touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each bouquet individually so that they don’t stick together afterwards. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the cabbage florets are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the florets to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the Romanesco cabbage to the freezer.
What is the shelf life of romanesco cabbage in the freezer?
Raw romanesco cabbage, blanched beforehand, will keep for about 12 to 18 months in the freezer.
HOW TO THAW ROMANESCO CABBAGE?
To thaw romanesco cabbage, put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw gently. This way the romanesco cabbage won’t get mushy when you cook it.
You can also cook your Romanesco cabbage directly without thawing it first by plunging it into boiling water.
Can you freeze romanesco cabbage without blanching it?
Yes, it is not essential and your Romanesco cabbage will still be perfectly frozen. However, blanching is an added safety measure that helps eliminate any bacteria present in the cabbage.
If you freeze Romanesco cabbage as is and bacteria are present, freezing will not kill them, but will numb them until you thaw it.
