[gavinjconway]

Hi All - I have picked loads of peas and Mangetoute today and need some advice... What is the best way to freeze... should I blanch or not??

[Yorkie]

There's a very good search facility on this forum GJC 

Here's a thread asking the same questions from only 4 days ago 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=96609.0

[Trillium]

Despite Val's knowledgeable advice, I never blanch my peas first. Mostly because they just don't last that long in the freezer. But I definitely blanch all pod items.

[mattwragg94]

Despite Val's knowledgeable advice, I never blanch my peas first. Mostly because they just don't last that long in the freezer. But I definitely blanch all pod items.

whereas i blanch nothing at all - but im lazy, so just ignore me

[shokkyy]

No, I don't either. I never seem to be in a situation where all the crop comes in at once. It always seems to be a few pods or beans a day, so if I pick them and wait until there's enough to blanch/freeze a big batch they're not fresh any more by the time they're frozen.

[gavinjconway]

There's a very good search facility on this forum GJC 

Here's a thread asking the same questions from only 4 days ago 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=96609.0

Oooops - I didn't even think of a search.... 

Thank you for the other replies..

[thelmafletcher]

On average, your frozen food will keep well, only half as long a period of time if you do not blanch.  So if recomended time is 6 months when you blanch, it would only keep 3 months if you don't blanch.
So there's no need to blanch if you are going to use it quickly.  Beware if you don't blanch, and then it gets forgotten behind a pile of other food.
Regards
Thelma

[gavinjconway]

On average, your frozen food will keep well, only half as long a period of time if you do not blanch.  So if recomended time is 6 months when you blanch, it would only keep 3 months if you don't blanch.
So there's no need to blanch if you are going to use it quickly.  Beware if you don't blanch, and then it gets forgotten behind a pile of other food.
Regards
Thelma

makes sense.. thank you

[Madame Cholet]

On average, your frozen food will keep well, only half as long a period of time if you do not blanch.  So if recomended time is 6 months when you blanch, it would only keep 3 months if you don't blanch.
So there's no need to blanch if you are going to use it quickly.  Beware if you don't blanch, and then it gets forgotten behind a pile of other food.
Regards
Thelma

makes sense.. thank you

I think its more that the flavour deteriorates over time, it won't actually harm you to eat it.