When Brussels Sprouts are in season, follow my easy steps on how to properly freeze them for deliciousness all year round!
Yeah yeah yeah I know you don’t like Brussels Sprouts. They’re green and cabbage. Your mother only made them on Thanksgiving – boiled and swimming in a gallon of butter.
They were mushy and even the dog turned it’s nose up at them when you tried sneaking them to it under the table. I heard it before because I said it before.
Just 3 ingredients needed to freeze Brussels Sprouts
I’m not sure if 2 of them can even be counted as actual ingredients but all you need is:
- Fresh Brussels Sprouts off of the stalk
- water
- ice
As I said, I’m not sure if the last 2 counts as ingredients. Your call on that one.
Confessions of a former Brussels Sprouts hater – part 1
I HAAAAAAAAAAAATED these things growing up. OMG, it was absolute torture for me when I was told “Lori, you are not allowed to leave the table until you finish everything on your plate. ”
In my whole life, the longest I sat at that table was 2 hours. And it was hell.
I had my own pity party. I whined. I then played with my food, to which I got in trouble for that. I begged them to not make me eat them. Nope.
Step in my 40 pound Maine Coon cat. Yes, 40 pounds. Folks this cat was pretty much the size of a medicine ball with legs. He was GINORMOUS but so loveable. He was, as my Dad would say, ‘lurpy’. Just very ‘do-di-doh’. lol
He waddles this cat rubbing against my legs, purring and eventually standing up on his fat ham-hock legs pawing at my arm to give him a bite of food. Yes, you know where this is going.
So I cut off a piece of that mushy, butter-laden Brussels sprouts and put it up to his mouth. He sniffed it, licked it once and then stopped. He then looked up at me, almost knowing I wasn’t going to eat it, took one for the team. That damn, beauteous cat ate all of my Brussels Sprouts! He went to TOWN!
However, to prove that I ate some and didn’t give it to the dog, I had to take the teeniest of bites as my Mom was going to check my mouth to make sure I at least ate some.
So I did this while suffering from certain pending death. Once I/the cat was done eating them I called into the living room with an angelic “I’m done”. Mom came out to the kitchen to inspect not the plate but rather she SMELLED the dog’s breath, checked the garbage and my mouth.
Now I go on my merry way thinking my bestie (my Maine Coon) just did me a solid. Yeah… that lasted oh about 20 minutes until I heard the “LORI ANN! GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE…NOW!!!” sound of my dear mother’s voice.
As I walked down to the kitchen, as angelic as I could, already working up the tears (in case I needed them) my mother stood there, hands on her hip, sternly staring at me. I walked into the kitchen she said this “Lori Ann, I will ask you this once and only once. You know the rules – no lying, EVER. Did you feed the cat your Brussels Sprouts?”.
A quick lesson on Blanching
Blanching is a cooking process wherein the food substance, usually a vegetable or fruit, is plunged into boiling water, removed after a brief, timed interval, and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water (shocking or refreshing) to halt the cooking process.
You cannot just buy Brussels Sprouts and pop them in the freezer without blanching them. Do you know why?
Blanching helps vegetables keep their vibrant colors and retain nutrients. Additionally, it stops the enzymes in their tracks. These enzymes are the things that lead to spoilage.
Freezing vegetables without blanching them first lead to faded or dull-colored veggies, as well as not-so-pleasant flavors or textures. Trust me, you must blanch them.
I highly recommend you read THIS ARTICLE about blanching on when you want to freeze your items and when you want to eat it immediately.
How to Properly Freeze Brussels Sprouts
Today’s recipe is teaching you how to buy them in bulk and then freeze them.
The process is really simple:
- Boil for 4 minutes
- Strain and then immediately give them an ice bath (this is what stops the cooking immediately but allows it to retain their color)
- Pat them dry and allow them to dry completely. They MUST be dry before freezing. You don’t want ice crystals forming.
- Once they are dry, freeze away!
So I know how your mind works “Do I thaw them out when I want to use them?” NO NO NO. They will get super mushy. Just roast them, pan sear them or wrap ’em in bacon frozen.
Confessions of a former Brussels Sprouts hater – part 2
So when Mom asked me if I fed the cat the Brussels Sprouts, immediately the tears started to flow and of course, the lip started to quiver. Man, I could turn that on in a snap (still can actually though it doesn’t work so well at my age).
I looked up at her and then she moved aside to show me the evidence my cat ‘left’ on the kitchen floor. Apparently my bestie did me a solid but tossed it all back up. Some bestie, huh?
I put my head down and very softly said ‘yes but Mommy you don’t understand they are terrible! They are all mushy and gross.” I didn’t get my butt tapped but I did get sent to bed early all week which was TORTURE for someone who didn’t sleep much.
And the worst is that my cat was ticked off at me and it took like a week before he would warm back up to me.
I am a Full-Fledged Brussels Sprouts LOVER now!
So for years, I refused to eat these things because all I knew about Brussels Sprouts is that they were boiled, butter-laden and mushy. Mama, I love you with all my heart but you seriously made these so wrong.
About 4-5 years ago I decided to buy some at the market. I was bound and determined to make these so they wouldn’t suck.
Now you all know my deep love of bacon so I figured if bacon can’t make them awesome, then nothing would. So I made my first recipe with these and OMG it made me do a complete 180 view of these.
They went from mushy and yucky to OMG these are AMAZING! And rightly so I called the recipe “Brussels Sprouts – they actually don’t suck!”
So today I’m telling you, make one of my Brussels Sprouts recipes. They honestly will transform any naysayer that says they suck into praising God for creating such an amazing vegetable! So okay, what can you make with them???
Candied Bacon Wrapped Brussels Maple Dijon
PrintHow to properly freeze Brussels Sprouts
When Brussels Sprouts are in season, follow my easy steps on how to properly freeze them for deliciousness all year round!
Ingredients
- 1–2 pounds fresh Brussel Sprouts off of the stalk
- water
- ice
Instructions
- Place 6-8 cups of water in a large pot and bring to a rolling boil.
- While the water is heating up, clean out the outside of the sprouts of any bad leaves or bad spots. Do not remove the stems
- Make an ice bath in a separate bowl – 6 cups of water and 3 cups of ice. You want lots of ice!
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with a few sheets of paper towels.
- Once the water is boiling carefully put the sprouts in the water and boil for exactly 4 minutes.
- Using a large slotted spoon, scoop out the sprouts and place them directly in the ice water bath.
- Allow the sprouts to sit in the ice bath for 1 minute.
- Drain in a colander, shake any excess water and pour the sprouts on to the paper towel line pan. Using another paper towel, pat the sprouts dry.
- Once the sprouts are completely dry, place in a freezer safe bag and store in the freezer.
- These last ~10 months frozen
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Cranberries
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a garlic butter drizzle and shaved parmesan
Meiriwyn says
Thank you for this recipe. I just found your site and am excited to try everything! I’m growing sprouts for the first time this year, and have a pretty good crop, so I’m glad to know how to freeze them properly. Can’t wait to try all the sprout recipes and perhaps convert the rest of my family. I’m a dyed in the wool sprout person – even the mushy ones! Thank you for sharing your expertise.
TKWAdmin says
Hi Meriwyn!
Welcome to the TKW Family! I literally just took out a batch of those sprouts I froze for an easy sheet pan dinner tonight. I love the little green buggers!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Danielle says
I like to cut them in half and roast them, so after I freeze them if I want to take them out and roast them do I need to cut them before I boil them originally or will I be able to cut them&toss in oil just out of the freezer to roast them?
Nicolette says
I’d love to know the answer to this as well, as I usually 1/4 mine before roasting!
TKWAdmin says
Cut them after you boil them.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Lisa says
I love them, always have, always will…you, however, have made my dreams come true! Yes, I guess I am a simple kinda gal! Just love new recipes! Thanks for the info on freezing; I care for my mom and my dad gags over BS, this will make it easier to make portions for her. BTW…love Maine Coons! Lisa West, Livonia NY
TKWAdmin says
Aw thank you so much Lisa! You so brought a huge smile to my face! Yeah freezing them like this is a huge deal for me as I’m totally in love with Brussels Sprouts now!
Best Kitchen Wishes and Happy New Year!
Pat says
Can I fully roast them with bacon then freeze them for a quick weekday meal? Just heat them up when I get home from work
Keith Hutchinson says
Thanks for that,I’ll do that merry xmas to you.!
Keith Hutchinson says
Hi, no still in freezer just had a look at them,so on xmas morning put them in cold water to separate them then boil for a couple of minutes then sauté them,does that sound ok. Cheers Keith
TKWAdmin says
Aw okay gotcha. No you don’t have to boil them – they are already partially cooked. I would just break them part from the ice ball and then saute. Or what I’ll do is pull them out of the freezer, toss them in a bowl with olive oil, salt, garlic and shallots. Roast them at 400 for 15 min or until cooked through and they are fork tender.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Keith Hutchinson says
Thanks for the reply,thought I would check to see if they would come out but alas it is one ice ball.can I put them in water to thaw them out when needed and will they be ok,or am I best to do fresh on xmas morning.merry xmas
TKWAdmin says
Oh the dreaded ice ball. Yeah that happens when they aren’t totally dry. So if I’m reading that correctly, you have them out now/thawed in water? If so then you have to cook them up tonight; they won’t last til Christmas.
When you blanch and freeze them you are to cook them up as soon as you take them out of the freezer. I fear that now they may turn to mush if you held them until Christmas morning.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Keith Hutchinson. says
Hi . I have just blanched some sprouts for 4min and frozen them,come xmas morning do I need to boil them again or sauté them and will they come out of the freezer to separate them. Thanks Keith.
TKWAdmin says
Hey Keith 🙂
Nope – just saute them up for your normal recipe. As for how they come out of the freezer, as long as they were completely dry before you put them in the freezer they will not be stuck together in some Brussels sprouts ice ball.
Merry Christmas and Best Kitchen Wishes!
Audrey says
Does the time for blanching matter depending on the size of the brussels sprouts before freezing or should all sizes be blanched for 4 minutes? I originally found your website for freezing and am hooked on all your recipes that I can’t wait to try! Thanks!!
TKWAdmin says
Hi Audrey 🙂 No it doesn’t matter too much UNLESS your sprouts are uber small or your sprouts are ridiculously ginormous (like bigger than a golf ball). I tend to go with 4 minutes straight across the board.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Platt College says
This is great advice. I always buy at Costco so I have so many brussel sprouts and I don’t want them to go bad. Thanks!