With their crisp, clean flavor and mild flavors, bean sprouts are a staple in Asian and vegan dishes. Bean sprouts are a fine ingredient in soups, salads, stir-fries and stews! They are also quite nutritious.
Bean sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin C, folic acid, fiber and protein. They are also high in copper, which promotes better cardiovascular, kidney, skin, and muscle health. If there’s one type of vegetable you simply need to stock up on, you can’t go wrong with bean sprouts. But can you freeze bean sprouts?
Can you freeze bean sprouts?
Yes, bean sprouts can be frozen, but the veggies require a bit of processing to keep the sprouts from losing their crispness. When stored in the refrigerator, the bean sprout will only stay fresh for a week. But stored in the freezer, bean sprouts will last 10 months to a full year! As always, the temperature in the freezer must be kept constant at 0° Fahrenheit to extend the shelf life of the vegetables. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to freeze bean sprouts:
How do you freeze bean sprouts?
Bean sprouts can lose their crunchy texture after freezing. The crunchiness of the vegetable is attributed to its high water content. The good news is that it’s possible to preserve the crispiness of the bean sprouts by blanching the vegetables before freezing.
Start by washing the bean sprouts thoroughly, removing dirt and other debris. Boil a pot of water and prepare a large bowl of ice water nearby. Vegetables tend to cook quickly and blanching is a quick process. So make sure the chilled water is only a few inches away from where you are blanching.
Once the pot of water is boiling, submerge the spouts (use a metal colander so the sprouts are easy to collect) for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, take the blanched vegetables directly into the chilled water and submerge the sprouts completely to stop the cooking process.
After 3 minutes in the ice water bath, drain excess moisture and begin preparing seedlings for freezing. We recommend packing the sprouts in manageable portions for easier thawing. Get a resealable plastic bag or rigid plastic container and pour the seedlings into it. Do not overfill, otherwise the vegetables will bruise. Seal or close the airtight lid and write the storage date before placing the seedlings in the freezer.
For leftover bean sprouts that have been thoroughly cooked, simply transfer the veggies to a rigid plastic container. Make sure the container has an airtight lid so frost doesn’t get in and ruin the bean sprouts. Finally, write down the storage date and stick the vegetables in the freezer.
How do you thaw frozen bean sprouts?
To thaw the sprouts, move the container from the freezer to the refrigerator. Let the vegetables thaw for about 2 hours. Drain off the excess liquid and the bean sprouts are now ready to use. If you use the bean sprouts in soups or other hot dishes, you don’t need to defrost the bean sprouts at all. Simply add the frozen bean sprouts directly into the hot bowl while cooking.
REad Also: Can you freeze nectarines?
summary
Bean sprouts add a delicious crunch to soups and stews, not to mention a long list of essential nutrients! It’s nice to know that bean sprouts keep so well in the freezer. Now that you know how to freeze bean sprouts, there is absolutely no need to worry about what to do with the leftovers.