Showing posts with label Food preservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food preservation. Show all posts

How to Freeze Asparagus

Freezing vegetables is a great way to save money during the winter months. This easy tutorial will have you freezing asparagus now for enjoyment this winter. With this method your asparagus will be as fresh tasting as it was the day you purchased it. 




I am a major farmers market fan. In fact, it is the thing I get the most excited about! I want to get there early and I come prepared with bags and baskets to carry home my fresh finds. In fact, it is not at all uncommon to find me standing in line on a Tuesday afternoon, patiently awaiting the bell that signals the start of the market. I have a favorite farmer and he sells out FAST! LOL. I find it to be worth the wait.


You would likely find it worth the wait too. I got a steal on asparagus and mini peppers recently. I am talking $1 a pound for the freshest asparagus in town. I bought 10 pounds of it without hesitation.

Asparagus for days is my jam. But, these gorgeous stalks are meant for a cold, blustery day, when asparagus doesn't look this good at the store, but it packs a hefty price tag of up to $6 a pound where I live. To preserve asparagus this is what you need.


I do use a foodsaver, but you can get a vaccum sealer for about $30 on amazon and big rolls of the bags. They are well worth the investment if you are going to do a lot of freezing! I know every expert will tell you food goes bad fast; but honestly I have had veggies frozen for 2 years that are still super fresh when packaged properly with a food saver... but, I guess now you know my secret. I rarely defrost my deep freezer HA!

So here is what you need:


Supplies:

A bowl of ice water

1 pound of asparagus

6 cups of water


Paper Towels


Food saver or freezer bags


Directions:

Snap the ends of the asparagus and discard the woody ends.



Boil 4 cups of water.


Place 2 cups of water and the ice into a large bowl.

When the water has come to a boil, drop the asparagus into the boiling water.



Allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the asparagus turns bright green.

Remove the asparagus from the boiling water and immediately place it in the ice water.

Remove after 30 seconds.

Place the asparagus on paper towels and allow to drain.



Pat the asparagus dry.

Place it in a food saver or freezer bag and remove as much air as possible.

Place in the freezer for up to a year.




If you are looking for more ways to save money; here are some reader's favorite posts.