Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.

Many thanks
Ros
Chichester
West Sussex, UK.

Ros Butt wrote in message
news
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.
Blanch them because the heat stops all biological processes. If just frozen
they come out as mush. Have you ever tried pickling some; not too bad in
the winter.

Ros Butt wrote in message
news
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.
Blanch them because the heat stops all biological processes. If just frozen
they come out as mush. Have you ever tried pickling some; not too bad in
the winter.

"redclay" wrote in message
news

Blanch them because the heat stops all biological processes. If just
frozen
they come out as mush. Have you ever tried pickling some; not too bad in
the winter.

Have to disagree!
Following advice from this NG we no longer blanch. We were still eating last
year's frozen beans as we started picking this years .... and not one batch
could be described as mush. We find there is absolutely no difference
whatsoever between the two methods, so are very happy to have stopped
wasting time and energy with blanching.

In article , Ros Butt
writes
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Many years ago we used to blanch vegetables to be frozen. We almost
never do that now because our methods of growing, harvesting and
freezing make it unnecessary. Commercial processors are obliged by law
to blanch food to be sold to the public, but home grown produce treated
properly should not need it.

Select only high quality fresh young produce for freezing. We grow all
ours organically and we think that is an advantage, but that doesn't
mean that non-organic fruit and veg. cannot be frozen. Prepare the beans
or whatever immediately after picking. If left, they can begin to
develop enzymes, lose vitamin C and deteriorate in other ways. Store
them packed flat in freezer bags, so that when they are taken out, they
will not be frozen together in a lump. It is better not to re-cook any
defrosted food, but surplus can be kept in the freezer compartment of a
fridge for a day or so.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

In article , Ros Butt
writes
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Many years ago we used to blanch vegetables to be frozen. We almost
never do that now because our methods of growing, harvesting and
freezing make it unnecessary. Commercial processors are obliged by law
to blanch food to be sold to the public, but home grown produce treated
properly should not need it.

Select only high quality fresh young produce for freezing. We grow all
ours organically and we think that is an advantage, but that doesn't
mean that non-organic fruit and veg. cannot be frozen. Prepare the beans
or whatever immediately after picking. If left, they can begin to
develop enzymes, lose vitamin C and deteriorate in other ways. Store
them packed flat in freezer bags, so that when they are taken out, they
will not be frozen together in a lump. It is better not to re-cook any
defrosted food, but surplus can be kept in the freezer compartment of a
fridge for a day or so.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:25:25 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"redclay" wrote in message
news

Ros Butt wrote in message
news
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess
runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no
need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched?
I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.
Blanch them because the heat stops all biological processes.

Only complete cooking stops all biological activity. (Almost all)

a good dose of gamma rays does too


--
Martin

"Ros Butt" wrote in message
news
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

I freeze huge quanities of therm as I love them and have runner or french
beans every day, yummy. I have never in my life blanched them. I also freeze
other stuff without blanching, including tomatoes.

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 14:53:11 +0100, Ros Butt
wrote:

Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.

I freeze mine straight off the plant, never had any problems.
Some people say they have had poor results freezing runners - perhaps
some varieties freeze better than others?

I've tried Red Rum and Scarlet Emperor, using Streamline this year.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

"Ros Butt" wrote in message
news
Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is no need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus unblanched? I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

I freeze huge quanities of therm as I love them and have runner or french
beans every day, yummy. I have never in my life blanched them. I also freeze
other stuff without blanching, including tomatoes.

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:25:25 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"redclay" wrote in message
news

Ros Butt wrote in message
news Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess
runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is
no
need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus
unblanched?
I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.
Blanch them because the heat stops all biological processes.

Only complete cooking stops all biological activity. (Almost all)

a good dose of gamma rays does too

True, but not many urglers have access to a Cobalt bomb.

Franz

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 21:53:12 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:25:25 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"redclay" wrote in message
news
Ros Butt wrote in message
news Once again, it's coming to the season of busily freezing excess
runners.
I've always blanched them, but I've read recently that there is
no
need to
blanch. Has anyone any experience of blanched versus
unblanched?
I'm not
even sure of the reason for blanching.

Any help would be great.
Blanch them because the heat stops all biological processes.

Only complete cooking stops all biological activity. (Almost all)

a good dose of gamma rays does too

True, but not many urglers have access to a Cobalt bomb.

Only a cobalt 60 source is needed, I am sure many urglers have one in
their garden shed :-)

The food industry has access to chambers that use gamma rays to stop
all biological processes in food.
http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/safe...e/irradfoodqa/
--
Martin

In article ,
(Stephen Howard) wrote:

I freeze mine straight off the plant

At what stage do you slice them?

Thanks!

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 11:53 +0100 (BST), (Steve
Harris) wrote:

In article ,
(Stephen Howard) wrote:

I freeze mine straight off the plant

At what stage do you slice them?

I do all the prep before freezing, such as topping and tailing.
It's vital that there's as little delay as possible in getting them
into the freezer. On a hot day 15 minutes is enough to start the beans
wilting.

I've gone off slicing - it occurred to me that there really wasn't any
need...they still fit in the pot and on the plate, and if they get too
big for either you've lost a great deal of the tenderness and flavour.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 11:53 +0100 (BST), (Steve
Harris) wrote:

In article ,
(Stephen Howard) wrote:

I freeze mine straight off the plant

At what stage do you slice them?

I do all the prep before freezing, such as topping and tailing.
It's vital that there's as little delay as possible in getting them
into the freezer. On a hot day 15 minutes is enough to start the beans
wilting.

I've gone off slicing - it occurred to me that there really wasn't any
need...they still fit in the pot and on the plate, and if they get too
big for either you've lost a great deal of the tenderness and flavour.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk