Swede is a hugely underrated vegetable that can be served in various forms. But, it can take a bit of work to get it ready. So, is it possible to prep it far in advance and then keep it in the freezer?
Can You Freeze Swede?
Yes, you can freeze swede for up to 12 months. Peel and chop the swede up as you usually would before blanching it for 2 minutes. It can then be drained, cooled and packed into freezer bags.
Do Does Swede freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Swede? No
How to Freeze Swede
Below we have covered two options for freezing swede. You can either freeze it cooked or you can freeze it uncooked. Either method works well:
How to Freeze Cooked Swede
Cooked swede freezes very well regardless of how it was cooked in the first place. This process will work for boiled, sauteed, mashed, roasted or steamed swede.
Here are the simple steps you need to follow:
- Cook Your Swede: You can boil, roast or fry swede in any size you want, from wedges to small cubes. Once cooked, allow it to cool completely.
- Bag It Up: Grab yourself some Ziploc freezer bags and label them with the contents and the date. Put a portion of cooked swede into each bag. Squeeze out any excess air as you seal the bag up.
- Freeze It: Pop the bags of swede into the freezer and store for up to 12 months.
The above method is the fundamental way to go about freezing swede. If you’ve made swede chips, roasted swede cubes or even swede fritters, the method remains the same.
How to Freeze Uncooked Swede
If you would prefer to freeze swede unprepared and uncooked then opt for this method. You do need to blanch it beforehand, however:
- Peel and Chop: Peel the swede as you normally would and then dice or chop it up into useable pieces. Consider how you typically use swede and cut it up like this.
- Blanch: Bring a pot of water to the boil and blanch the swede for 2 minutes. Immediately drain and plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Dry: Pat the swede dry using kitchen towels once it has been drained.
- Bag Up: Portion the swede into good-quality freezer bags and then seal the bags up. As you seal them up, push as much excess air out as possible.
- Freeze: Finally, pop them into the freezer with a clear label for up to 12 months.
Raw swede, like most raw vegetables, will not freeze well. You’ll ruin the texture, taste and appearance of it when you come to use it. Instead, you should blanch swede in boiling water for a minute or two before bagging it up and freezing it.
How to Freeze Swede Dishes
Swede, like many root vegetables, is incredibly versatile and can be found in a range of variations. Below, we have explained whether or not it is possible to freeze different swede dishes and forms:
Yes, you can! Spoon portions of carrot and swede mash into freezer bags, seal the bags up, label them before placing them into the freezer. You can also freeze portions of mash on a baking tray before placing them into a freezer bag.
Yes, you can freeze roasted swede. Once roasted, allow it to cool then portion it into freezer bags. Make sure you only place one portion per bag. A good idea is to mix the swede with other roasted vegetables for an instant veggie mix.
If you prefer to use your swede grated to bulk up casseroles and stews then you can also freeze it. Pour grated swede into a freezer bag then place it into the freezer. After 30 minutes, give the bag a quick shake before returning it to the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Swede
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing swede to have the best results:
Blanch It
Blanching swede before freezing will help you to lock in flavour, texture and colour.
Initially Freeze on a Baking Tray
If you have cooked cubes of swede, you want to freeze then freeze them initially on a baking tray to prevent them from sticking together.
Mix With Other Vegetables
You can freeze swede with a range of other vegetables in ready-to-go packs. Consider similar root vegetables and freeze them all together including parsnips, turnips and carrots.
How Long Can You Freeze Swede?
Swede will keep for around 12 months in the freezer and can be stored in Ziploc bags or Tupperware containers.
Swede is one of those fantastic vegetables that can last in the freezer for ages. You can keep it frozen for between 9 and 12 months if you need to.
Just be aware that the longer it stays in the freezer, the more chance there is of it degrading or changing in taste. If you can use it up within the first 6 to 9 months, then this would be advisable.
The other exception here is if you have frozen swede in another dish. You need to consider the other ingredients involved.
For example, if you have frozen a pie or pasty that contains swede then, even though the swede will be fine for the longer, the pastry will only last for a few months.
Raw swede can last for 10 days or so in the fridge. Cooked swede, however, will only last for 3 to 4 days before it has to be thrown out. If you don’t think you’ll eat your leftover cooked swede within a few days, then freeze it.
How to Defrost Swede
Swede is super easy to use once it has been frozen no matter how you have chosen to store it. You can allow it to defrost slowly in the fridge overnight or you can speed up the process by popping it into the microwave.
You could even bypass all thawing methods and cook it from frozen! This works particularly well if you have frozen a bag of roasted swede.
Can You Refreeze Swede?
You shouldnāt refreeze swede once it has been frozen and thawed out. The texture will change drastically as the freezing, thawing and refreezing process breakdown the fibres of the vegetable leaving you with mushy, bland swede.
The only exception to this is if you have frozen blanched swede that hasnāt yet been fully cooked. You can thaw out and cook the swede and then freeze it again in its new cooked state.
Does Swede Freeze Well?
Raw swede doesnāt freeze well at all. The texture changes and the taste will change too. You might even find it too mushy to be usable.
However, if you blanch or cook your swede then it does freeze very well and can be kept in the freezer for a long time – perfect for having a healthy portion of veg in the freezer to use whenever you need it.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing swede or swede in general, then these may help:
Yes, mashed swede can be frozen in freezer bags. Once cooled, portion it out into bags, seal and freeze. You’ll need to defrost it fully to use then reheat it slowly in a pan.
Although swede can be frozen without blanching, the process will lock in flavour, colour and nutrients so can still be a good idea.
Thank you Shannon, I live in Spain, to buy fresh swede over here can be very difficult, and even if you find a fresh swede if will be very small and not really worth the effort. Iceland has started and so I purchased 3 very large ones. I spent hours peeling them and then cubing them. Your advice on how best to freeze them has been very helpful, so I’m off to freeze them. Thank you Shannon
This is the best feedback we can get. Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know!