Freezing Food Series: Green Beans

Keeping up with the Freezering Food Series next are green beans following this method. 

What's need for this method
Boiling pot of hot water

Cold water and ice cubes for the cold water bath
1 bowl for the cold water bath
knife and cutting board
small stainer or tongs depending on the size of your beans
clean dish towel
cookie sheet
freezer bags

 1.  Wash beans then cut off stems.  Next you can either leave them as they are or chop them into smaller pieces.  I chose to chop because they will be used this winter for pot pies and minestrone.

 2.  Bring a pot of water to a boil.  In the meantime prepare your station a strainer or tongs, the cold water bath (bowl with cold water and ice cubes),  lay out a clean dish cloth to dry the beans.

 3.  When the water reaches a boil drop beans into hot water for 1 minute and 30 seconds no longer.  Scoop beans out of pot and drop into cold water bath.  Do not let the beans stay in the hot water too long because I  learned from past mistakes that when they freeze, then when ready to use they will be dark and mushy.

 4.  Cool for a few minutes in the coldwater bath.

 5.  Take out of bath and lay on a clean dish cloth.  Gently pat dry to remove excess water.

 6. Transfer to a cookie sheet and freeze.

7.  After they are frozen transfer to a freezer bag and then put back in the freezer till ready to use.  I think I approximately had 1 pound of beans which filled a quart size freezer bag.

Hoping this method works well this winter and I learned from past mistakes because I'm really looking foraward to grabbing a handful of beans when needed.