How to freeze broccoli

Broccoli is such a versatile vegetable to have on hand and works a treat in pasta, soups, curries and even our cheesy bake recipe, but don't let it go to waste next time its nearing its end of life.

We've compiled our top tips to safely freeze broccoli and get the best quality and texture from it so keep reading on to learn more.

  1. Most vegetables, including broccoli keep better for longer if they're blanched before freezing. Prepare it as normal (cutting into the shape and size you require) and put in a pan of boiling water. Bring back to boil and continue to boil for 1 minute for most vegetables. Or 2 to 3min for hard vegetables such as carrots and 10 seconds for soft vegetables such as mange tout or spinach.
  2. Drain vegetables and plunge straight into a bowl of iced water to refresh. This stops vegetables from cooking further and losing their vibrant colour.
  3. Drain and thoroughly dry on kitchen paper then pack into freezer safe bags. Twist bags to remove any air then seal. Freeze as soon as possible. Always remember to clearly label and date what you’re freezing so you can keep track of what you have and use it in good time.

Frozen broccoli can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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The GH Kitchen Team

A crack team of highly skilled food content producers, the GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time.