Gardening and Horticulture - blanching beans,corn, etc

Hello, I am a new gardener and would like to know how to blanch pole beans, corn,etc. I have a ton of beans going to waste and need to know how I go about blanching these vegetables in order to freese them. Please Help. A.S.A.P.. I hate to waste them or let them dry out on the plant. Like I said I have a ton of beans. Thank you very much.

Hi Jerry,

Good for you! Don't let those good beans go to waste. :)

Check this site out and scroll down to the bottom and click on "(Chart) HOW TO PREPARE VEGETABLES FOR FREEZING". You need to know how long to blanch each vegetable. Do NOT forget to cool them thoroughly before freezing. Have a bowl or sink of ice water ready to transfer them into.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/DJ0555.html

With green beans and corn, especially, you can freeze them first on a cookie sheet and then put them in a large bag. They won't stick together and you can dump out the amount needed for each meal...or determine the amount needed for your family per meal and freeze them in that size "freezer" bag. Bags take up a lot less room than plastic containers.

OK, time to start blanching. :)

Gami

Jerry and Gami,
With green beans the blanching should be about two minutes.
But if you have ever grown purple green beans you don't need to time them. They turn from purple to green as they are boiling; when green, they are blanched.
Just had to add that tidbit.
fred