Home-made frozen vegetables are an excellent tool for creating vitamin culinary masterpieces in the winter. They are much cheaper than those that can be purchased in supermarkets, while being completely natural. And cooking them is not so difficult. Let us consider in more detail how to freeze green beans and in what dishes it can be used in the future. This is best done in the summer, collecting legumes from your own beds or buying them in the market.
How to freeze green beans for the winter
The main mistake that many housewives make when harvesting this vegetable is the lack of heat treatment. That is, it is simply washed, cut and placed in the freezer. In the end, they just throw it away. The main secret of how to freeze
green beans for the winter: it must first be blanched. And it is desirable to do this in salted water. Beans must first be washed and trimmed with hard edges. Next, boil water, which is salted to taste. Then the pods are sent to it. You can cook them until cooked (about 20 minutes) or just blanch for 5 minutes. In the first case, the product will be ready for use, and after defrosting it can be added to salads or side dishes without additional processing. The second option allows you to get a semi-finished product whose properties are close to fresh vegetable. In order for the pods to remain bright green, after boiling water, they need to be transferred to cold water (you can add a little ice to it).
Next, the beans must be removed from the water and dried on a towel. Then it is Packed in special bags, removing air from them as much as possible. In their absence, you can use disposable containers, which should be tightly closed or wrapped with cling film. Some housewives, before freezing green beans for the winter, prefer to cut it into several parts. In principle, it is much more convenient to store it this way, however, in some dishes whole pods are required, so it is better to do this immediately after defrosting. In the freezer where packages or containers are sent, this semi-finished product can be stored for up to a year. Before use, the pods must be left at room temperature for several hours or dipped in boiling water. There are dishes that use frozen string beans. Recipes of some of them are listed below.
Dietary side dish
What could be better than fresh vegetables prepared for lunch or dinner? In winter, frozen ones will do. And if the house has its own supply, then such a side dish will be not only tasty and healthy, but also budget. So, for a pound of green beans, take the juice of 1 lemon, salt and spices to taste, as well as 60 g of breadcrumbs, vegetable oil.
Frozen pods must be steamed or boiled for 15-20 minutes. Then they are cooled, watered with lemon juice, crushed in breadcrumbs mixed with spices, and fried in hot oil. Served with meat, fish or as an independent dish. If the hostess, before freezing the green beans for the winter, cut it small enough, the dish will not look very impressive. Although it does not affect the taste.
Omelet with Beans and Cheese
This bright, nutritious and very tasty dish will be very handy on a rainy winter morning to cheer you up and get a serving of vitamins. For 2 eggs you will need 200 g of frozen beans, 50 ml of milk, 30 g of hard cheese, salt, vegetable oil, spices.
Beans must be thawed using hot water or a microwave. Beat eggs with milk, salt and spices, rub the cheese. The chopped pods are lightly fried in a hot pan with oil. Then the egg-milk mixture is poured, sprinkled with grated cheese and fry over low heat, covered with a lid until cooked.