How to Freeze Cauliflower or Broccoli

Last Updated: March 26, 2023 Approved

From your carefully tended garden dozens of heads of healthful broccoli and cauliflower spring forth. You can't possibly eat it all but you're loathe to dump it in the compost. What to do? Freeze it. It's easy.

Steps

1
Harvest the vegetables on a day you have plenty of time to prepare them.^{[1]
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2
Wash the vegetables thoroughly in cool water while you start a pot of water to boil -- add a large pinch of salt to the water.^{[2]
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3
Trim and peel broccoli stems.
4
Cut broccoli and cauliflower into separate florets of a size that appeals to you. Many cooks prefer pieces about 2 inches (5.1 cm) long by 1 1/2 inches (5.1 cm) wide.^{[3]
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Image titled Freeze Cauliflower And_or Broccoli Step 4

1
When water is at a rolling boil, fill the strainer with veggies and plunge them into boiling water. Wait about 3 minutes at a rolling boil, then dump them in the ice bath for 30 seconds or so to stop the cooking.
2
Drain the veggies and put them into freezer bags. Zip them up and label them with a Sharpie marker with the name and date. Stow in the freezer for up to 6 months.^{[4]
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3
Finished.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can you freeze cauliflower or broccoli without blanching it first?

Markeicha Dulaney
Personal Chef
Chef Markeicha Dulaney is a Personal Chef and Founder of Sweet Monáe Personal Chef Services in 2015 in South Florida. She has over 22 years of experience in the kitchen and provides customizable menus to meet the dietary needs, taste preferences, style, and budget of each client. She also specializes in weekly in-home chef services, all-inclusive pro-chef services, boutique catering, and pantry organizing services. She was featured in The Knot's "Table for Two" YouTube episodes and has also been featured in Real Simple Magazine article on "What routines save you the most time.” Chef Markeicha Dulaney graduated with an Associate's Degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute of Culinary Arts and is a longtime member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association).

Markeicha Dulaney

Personal Chef

Expert Answer

If you're buying a whole broccoli or cauliflower, make sure you always wash your vegetables. Then thoroughly dry them and proceed to cut them down into florets. By florets, I mean smaller, individual bite-sized pieces. Lay them out on a sheet pan with parchment paper and then freeze them. You can bag them up into individual servings or however you want to store them.
Question

How can you cook cauliflower or broccoli that was frozen without blanching it first?

Markeicha Dulaney
Personal Chef
Chef Markeicha Dulaney is a Personal Chef and Founder of Sweet Monáe Personal Chef Services in 2015 in South Florida. She has over 22 years of experience in the kitchen and provides customizable menus to meet the dietary needs, taste preferences, style, and budget of each client. She also specializes in weekly in-home chef services, all-inclusive pro-chef services, boutique catering, and pantry organizing services. She was featured in The Knot's "Table for Two" YouTube episodes and has also been featured in Real Simple Magazine article on "What routines save you the most time.” Chef Markeicha Dulaney graduated with an Associate's Degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute of Culinary Arts and is a longtime member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association).

Markeicha Dulaney

Personal Chef

Expert Answer

Once you pull the cauliflower or broccoli out of the freezer, you could steam them or let them thaw a bit and then toss them with a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and some fresh herbs. Then you can proceed to roast them in the oven.
Question

Can I add sugar while branching fresh vegetables to retain color and shape longer?

Community Answer

Either salt or sugar will help keep the vegetable retain its color when it's quickly cooled and packaged.

Warnings

Caution - steam is hot and unpredictable. Exercise caution when moving the vegetables into and out of hot water.

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