Are you a big fan of mangetout but know you won’t eat the several bags you’ve ended up buying or the bowlful you’ve picked from the garden. Perhaps you need to consider the best way to store them for the long term?
Can You Freeze Mangetout?
Yes, you can freeze mangetout for up to 9 months. One part of freezing mangetout that is vital is blanching. This helps to lock in flavour, texture and nutrients.
Do Does Mangetout freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Mangetout? Yes
How To Freeze Mangetout
These vegetables are an excellent way to boost the nutritional value of your meals. Fresh mangetout is a rich source of folic acid and vitamin B. They are more beneficial than other peas because you eat them whole, absorbing vitamins A and C, as well as fibre.
But to retain these nutrients, you will need to blanch your mangetout so make sure you have a pot of boiling water on and a bowl of ice-cold water to hand then you can freeze mangetout with the following method:
- Blanch: Once you have gathered everything you need to blanch the mangetout, carry out the process. Boiling the mangetout for a brief period should be enough to serve your purpose. You only need to blanch them for 2 minutes.
- Drain and Cool: Drain and immediately submerge them in icy water for ninety seconds. Once you have done this, you are ready to freeze your vegetables.
- Flash Freeze: The best way to start the freezing process is to line a shallow dish with a silicone mat or baking sheet. Spread out the mangetout in one layer – they should not touch each other. Place this into the freezer and wait for them to freeze completely.
- Bag Up: Following the freezing of the mangetout peas, you can remove them from the dish and put them in a freezer bag.
- Return to the Freezer: Place this bag of frozen mangetout back into the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Mangetout
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing mangetout to have the best results:
Blanch Them
Blanching mangetout (as with any veg) will ensure flavour, texture, colour and nutrients all remain intact when the mangetout are frozen. It may take an extra few minutes but it’s well worth the effort.
Mix With Similar Vegetables
You can create ready-to-go mixed vegetable bags in the freezer by combining mangetout with similar vegetables. Try freezing with runner beans, peas, sweetcorn, kale or french beans.
Use From Frozen
You can actually cook frozen mangetout directly from the freezer. Toss them into a hot pan with other vegetables to cook up an instant stir fry.
How Long Can You Freeze Mangetout?
Freezing fruits and vegetables significantly increase their life. When it comes to mangetout, you can freeze them for up to 9 months. If you have used a typical or common ziplock bag or container, you will be good to go for nine months.
Have you used a vacuum-sealed container or bag? If so, you will be able to freeze them for about fourteen months.
Even though mangetout has a long life after you freeze it, it is always a better option to consume it within two to three months to enjoy it at its best.
Mangetout will only last for 2 to 3 days in the fridge before they begin to turn a little limp and their flavour degrades.
How Do You Defrost Mangetout?
While defrosting mangetout, you should make sure there are no sudden alterations in temperature. To do this, take out the frozen vegetables from the freezer and put them in the fridge.
It will take about twelve hours to a whole day for the mangetout to defrost.
If you do not have enough time to defrost frozen mangetout in this manner, you can opt for a quicker method. Fill a large container or bowl with warm water and submerge the frozen vegetables in it.
If you choose to thaw your mangetout in this way, you will have to use them right after the defrosting is complete.
You can also use the mangetout directly from the freezer and cook them up in meals. It is suitable if you are cooking dishes like stir-fries or vegetable curries. The heat of the pan will automatically defrost and cook the mangetout.
Can You Refreeze Mangetout?
Yes, you can refreeze mangetout. However, it is not the best approach to follow as the texture is likely to change and you’ll lose some nutrients.
If you plan on refreezing your mangetout, make sure it stays fresh and green in appearance.
Follow the same process you did when you froze it for the first time. You must consume the frozen mangetout within a total of nine months, counting refreezing in this period as well
Does Mangetout Freeze Well?
You will be glad to know that mangetout is one of those vegetables that freeze excellently.
It is simple to freeze and defrost mangetout. You will not be losing much in terms of taste, texture, or overall quality. When you thaw out the mangetout, they should still look bright green and taste crisp.
If you freeze mangetout for an extended period, it may result in a depletion of nutritional value.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing mangetout or mangetout in general, then these may help:
Like most vegetables, you can freeze mangetout without blanching but it’s not something we would condone. The problem with doing so is that you will likely lose the bright green colour and you’ll also lose some of the nutritional value. Blanching your mangetout will lock in both the colour, texture, taste and nutrients.
