Can beans be frozen and stored

Beans can be frozen and stored, but they need to be blanched. Before freezing, remove the old tendons and blanch the beans in sections for 2-3 minutes. After cooling and draining, pack and seal the beans. They can be stored for 6-8 months. Freezing raw beans without blanching can lead to a deterioration in taste and loss of nutrients. The core of soybean cryopreservation lies in inhibiting enzyme activity and microbial reproduction. Blanching can destroy the oxidase in the beans and prevent a large loss of vitamin C and chlorophyll during the freezing process. After blanching, quickly cooling can maintain the crispy and tender texture of the beans. Discharging the air inside the bag during packaging can prevent frostbite. Suitable frozen bean varieties include green beans, cowpeas, and other types with thicker flesh. Tender pod beans are prone to softening and rotting after freezing. After thawing, frozen beans are suitable for stewing and making fillings. For cold dishes, they need to be blanched again. Some special varieties such as Dutch beans and sweet beans have a significant change in taste after freezing, making them more suitable for fresh consumption. Malted and insect infested beans should not be frozen, and beans with high moisture content should be blanched for an extended period of time. Repeated thawing will accelerate quality deterioration, it is recommended to pack as needed. It is normal for frozen beans to show slight browning. If there is a sour taste or mucus, they should be discarded.

Frozen beans can be used with carrots and corn kernels to make mixed vegetable bags, which is convenient for stewing or Fried Rice. During storage, avoid mixing with seafood and meat to prevent cross contamination. After thawing, the cooking time should be shortened to avoid excessive heating that can cause softening and rotting. In daily life, green beans can be paired with storage resistant vegetables such as onions and tomatoes for freezing, and can be directly used when making spaghetti sauce or soup. Pay attention to checking whether the temperature of the refrigerator is stable below minus 18 degrees Celsius, as temperature fluctuations can affect the storage effect.