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How to dry green beans, before freezing

9 years ago

After I dip my green beans for 3 minutes in boiling water, I let them drain for awhile, and then dab them with a paper towel, but they still have enough moisture on them to form ice crystals in the freezer. I've even tried putting them in my salad spinner!
Can I leave them just sitting out until they dry?
Any better ideas?
Thanks.

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Comments (6)

digdirt2
9 years ago
I assume you are going from the boiling water right into ice water, right? Blanching requires the ice water dip to stop the cooking.

Then you drain them out of the iced water and dry them. I've done the spread them out on a paper or dish towel but the salad spinner works best IME. I stick a paper towel in the spinner with them to absorb more moisture. I don't think there is anyway to prevent ALL ice crystals.

Laying out for a bit, sure. But if you leave them laying out in the air for very long you are just inviting more bacterial contamination.

Dave
malna
9 years ago
Use whatever method you prefer to partially dry them (salad spinner, paper towels, etc.) then lay them in a thin layer on a cookie sheet and pre-freeze them before you "bag 'em and tag 'em" (as we call it).

We use our frost-free freezer drawer in the fridge. Dries them nicely and they don't get all clumpy in the bag even after we vacuum seal them. BTW, thanks for the reminder! I have about 3 pounds pre-crisping right now I need to put up.
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As digdirt said, you are not blanching long enough, and I suspect you are not soaking them in ice water long enough. Get the water to a full boil, then put the beans in. Start counting your time from that point. Then lift the beans out of the blancher in the colander, drain the hot water off and then set them into a bowl filled with ice and then filled with water. The beans should be covered and there should be ice still floating in the water. Soak them for at least twice the amount of the blanching time. They should be cold all the way through. Then drain them again before bagging and freezing. I like to freeze my beans whole or only halved. At that size, they are great for oven roasting just like I do fresh beans. I did a couple of bags of over mature beans late last summer. They are not as good, and although I pulled strings, they are still stringy. A good reminder to me to pick them young. I really like Rattlesnake, Emerite, and Fortex beans frozen. They are all pole beans. They produce longer and heavier than bush beans, so trellising is well worth the effort to me. Don't give up! You'll find the right variety and you'll tweak the technique. Home frozen beans, IMO, are far superior to the ones available in the store.
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Well, you know, we've only had the beans three times so far in the last 10 days or so. We can keep up with them at that pace, but I was just looking ahead in case I do have extras that I can keep till later in the year. I had heard of blanching, but I didn't quite remember. Let's see if I have it right. Throw the beans in boiling water for 1 1/2 minutes, take out and immerse in ice water, dry, and then put them in a ziplock bag. Try to take as much of the air out of the bag (Mary, interesting idea about the straw). Alternatively, I might try 'blanching' them in the microwave and then the rest as above. Is that right? Now I almost hope I have extras just to try this procedure out! Thank-you, everyone. P.S.- Carol, how do you make oven-roasted beans? Anna
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2ajsmama
9 years ago
I just put them on paper towel with another on top and blot, don't really dry, then freeze on a cookie sheet. When they're frozen I seal about 1 lb in each FS bag. Then I can just slit the seal a bit, pop them in the MW for 5 minutes and they're done. I've never noticed any ice crystals. Of course with the FS, they're all compressed into 1 lump anyway. So maybe I can even skip the "pre-freezing" but that way I can use the FS on Dry setting instead of Moist and really get all the air out.
catherinet
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone! The towel in the salad spinner is a good idea. How about a hair dryer? Just kidding! Although.....on the "cool air" setting, it might be good. haha
Thanks again!
steve22802
9 years ago
If you have lots of beans to dry you might try spinning them in your washing machine. You'd want to put them inside something like a mesh laundry bag or clean pillow case first.
pixie_lou
9 years ago
I have a ceiling fan over my kitchen island. Just lay a heavy bath towel, dump the wet/damp produce on, blot with another bath towel, then turn the fan on.

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