Things You'll Need
Colander
Medium saucepan
Freezer bag or container
Wire basket
Large bowl
Ice cubes
Vegetables are an essential part of a balanced diet, and they can be bought fresh, frozen or canned. For those on a budget, the least expensive option is usually canned. Instead of throwing away the uneaten portion of your canned vegetables, you can easily freeze them to use in the future.
Step 1
Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Open the canned vegetables and pour them into a wire basket.
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Step 2
Insert the wire basket into the saucepan for blanching, which is the act of submerging vegetables in boiling water for a short period of time. This will destroy the enzymes that cause the vegetables to lose valuable nutrients.
Step 3
Shake the basket a couple of times while cooking to ensure all vegetables have been exposed to the heat. Bring the water back to a boil and let the canned vegetables boil for about two minutes.
Step 4
Remove the wire basket from the saucepan and submerge it into a large bowl filled with ice water. Allow the canned vegetables to cool completely.
Step 5
Remove the vegetables from the ice water and drain the excess water. Let the vegetables drain thoroughly. This will take five minutes.
Step 6
Pour the canned vegetables into a freezer bag or container and place in the freezer.
Tip
Blanching should only take a few minutes. Do not overcook the vegetables.
Save the blanching water to make vegetable stock.
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