
BLANCHING TIMES
Asparagus, small spears: 2 minutes
Asparagus, large spears: 4 minutes
Green, wax, or Italian beans, small: 2 minutes; large: 3 minutes
Broccoli, 1½-inch pieces: 3 minutes
Brussels sprouts, small heads: 3 minutes; large heads: 5 minutes
Cabbage, quarters: 4 minutes; wedges: 2 minutes; shredded: 1½ minutes
Carrots, sliced or diced: 2 minutes; whole: 5 minutes
Cauliflower, small pieces: 3 minutes; large pieces: 5 minutes
Corn, whole cut kernel or cream style: 4 minutes
Corn on the cob, small ears: 7 minutes; medium ears:
9 minutes; large ears: 11 minutes
Okra, small pods: 3 minutes; large pods: 5 minutes
Mushrooms: Steam whole 5 minutes, buttons or quarters 3 1/2 minutes, slices 3 minutes.
Peas, black-eyed and green, small: 1½ minutes; large: 2½ minutes
Sugar peas, small: 2 minutes; large: 3 minutes
Zucchini or summer squash, ¼- to ½-inch slices: 3 minutes
Chopped onions and peppers usually don’t need blanching.
Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spaghetti squash, and tomatoes should be cooked before freezing. Steam blanching normally requires 50 percent more time than water blanching. Steam blanching is less likely to cause water-soaked vegetables and is ideal for broccoli and other delicate vegetables.
If you don’t have a blancher, substitute a colander, sieve, or deep-fryer basket.