Freezing veg. Help!

[Admiral]

For some unknown reason I seem to be able to grow veg - and sometimes too much of it.

I say unknown because before we came here myself and the saintly Madam Admiral didn't even grow vegetables. Hey....we lived in London. Nuff said.

Even though this year hasn't been brilliant I seem to have a glut of carrots and beetroot. We love beetroot cubed raw -yup RAW - in salads but there is a limit.

So can I freeze carrots and beetroot? And if so how do it I do it? Some feller told me to wash the carrots and freeze them whole. Surely the enzymes will carry on working and they will rot?

Should I pre-cook them? If so for how long etc etc.

All help greatly recieved.

[Fred]

Grated Beetroot and Carrot in vinaigrette is nice.

I've never frozen carrots but they are in supermarkets so it must be possible, then again they probably have a special way of doing it. I think you have to blanch them for a few minutes before freezing but I leave mine in the ground.

Never tried it myself, but i have heard you can store beetroot and carrots in sand in a cool dark box. An old freezer is good if you have a lot, but I think you have to make sure they are not touching each other.

Try pickled beetroot in a jar with vinegar, or you could try the French way of storing them in jars. Not sure exactly how it's done but I think you need to boil the jars with the carrots in.

Apart from that Carrot Whisky is nice and you could make Beetroot Crisps.

[Admiral]

I have pickled beetoot in the past only to be informed by Madame that although she likes the stuff in salads, the pickled variety is a no-no.

Ever tried eating four jars of pickled beetroot on your own throughout winter? Thought not.

Preserved carrots in a jar...yum....now there's a thought. Come on someone. How's it done?

[Willow17]

For some unknown reason I seem to be able to grow veg - and sometimes too much of it.

I say unknown because before we came here myself and the saintly Madam Admiral didn't even grow vegetables. Hey....we lived in London. Nuff said.

Even though this year hasn't been brilliant I seem to have a glut of carrots and beetroot. We love beetroot cubed raw -yup RAW - in salads but there is a limit.

So can I freeze carrots and beetroot? And if so how do it I do it? Some feller told me to wash the carrots and freeze them whole. Surely the enzymes will carry on working and they will rot?

Should I pre-cook them? If so for how long etc etc.

All help greatly recieved.

Hi there........
Blanch your vegetable for a few minutes, dip them in cold water to stop them from cooking any further, and then freeze. Failing that, if you have a glut, either swap for a veg you haven't grown, or give them to some kindly person who can make Spicy Chilli & Beetroot Chutney
Good luck, if you still have problems, don't grow as many next year!!!!!!

[Admiral]

Thanks Willow. I'm going to get started now. Any idea on blanching times? All veggies can't be the same. Or can they....?

And double thanks for the message from the Department of the Obvious not to grow so many next year.