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Home » Vegetable

Published: Jan 23, 2023 · Modified: Nov 7, 2024 by Kathy

Blanching Broccoli

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A skimmer filled with cooked broccoli.

Need to know how to blanch broccoli and why you should blanch broccoli? I’ve got everything you need to know.

Broccoli on a strainer over a pot of water.

I blanch a variety of foods, including green beans, peaches, tomatoes, and broccoli. While the basic process is the same for each, there are a few important details to keep in mind, such as when to add salt.

Parboiled broccoli

Blanching broccoli involves briefly boiling the vegetable and then immediately plunging it into ice water to stop the cooking process.

This technique helps to preserve the vibrant green color, crisp texture, and nutritional value of the broccoli. Blanching is a simple and effective method that prepares broccoli for various culinary uses, such as salads, stir-fries, or as a healthy side dish.

I often blanch my broccoli before adding it to casseroles like my Broccoli Chicken Alfredo or my Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole.

My husband likes to blanch broccoli and then add a little garlic butter for a perfect vegetable side dish.

If you have a surplus of broccoli and want to preserve it, blanching the broccoli is necessary before freezing it.

Blanching Broccoli

Blanching is a method that parboils vegetables for just a few minutes until they are tender and crisp and then quickly plunges them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process.

This helps lock in the color and flavor of green vegetables like broccoli. Some other veggies to blanch include green beans or asparagus.

Blanching can also be used to easily remove the skin from tomatoes or peaches. I use this method when canning tomatoes and canning peaches.

Blanched Broccoli Recipe Ingredients

Heads of broccoli on a cutting board.

This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.

  • Broccoli - Choose tight fresh broccoli heads that are dark green and have firm stems.
  • Salt - When blanching broccoli for a recipe, use salt. When blanching broccoli for freezing, no salt is used.

How To Blanch Broccoli

In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.

  1. Cut broccoli into small florets
  2. Remove leaves and any excess stem
  3. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt, if using
  4. Plunge broccoli into boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes
  5. Remove broccoli with a slotted spoon or skimmer and place into a large bowl filled with ice water
  6. Stir broccoli so it cools quickly. Keep in ice water until fully cool
  7. Remove and drain off any excess water

To freeze broccoli

  • Remove any excess water
  • Place broccoli on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  • Place in freezer until fully frozen
  • Remove broccoli from the baking sheet and place it in a freezer-safe bag or vacuum-seal bag
  • Return to freezer and use within one year
Cut broccoli on a cutting board.
Broccoli in a bowl filled with ice water.

Tips to Blanch Broccoli

  • Try to cut broccoli into fairly uniform pieces
  • If freezing the broccoli, omit salt
  • Blanched broccoli can be covered and refrigerated for up to four days

Blanched Broccoli FAQs

Why blanch broccoli?

Blanching par cooks the broccoli just slightly making it tender but still crisp. Blanching preserves the bright green color of the broccoli.

Do I add salt when blanching broccoli?

Adding salt to the boiling water is optional. If you will be freezing the broccoli, do not add salt.

Do you have to blanch broccoli before freezing?

Yes, broccoli should be blanched before freezing. This helps preserve the color, flavor and texture of the broccoli.

Should you blanch broccoli before roasting?

No, broccoli does not have to be blanched before roasting it. This recipe for roasted broccoli does not call for blanching it prior to roasting.

Parboil vs blanch

Both techniques involve boiling food briefly, but they serve different purposes.
Parboiling is used to partially cook food, so it can be finished quickly later, such as when preparing carrots to be used in a stir-fry.
Blanching is used to loosen skins from foods like tomatoes or peaches, or to lock in color and texture for foods like broccoli or green beans before freezing or further cooking.
Blanching includes cooling the food quickly in ice water immediately after boiling. Parboiling does not include an ice bath.

More delicious vegetable recipes

  • Roasted carrots
  • Balsamic glazed brussels sprouts
  • Green beans with bacon
  • Oven roasted broccoli
A bowl filled with blanched broccoli.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my delicious vegetable recipes!

  • A broccoli casserole topped with toasted breadcrumbs.
    Broccoli Gratin
  • Green beans in a white bowl.
    Garlic Green Beans
  • Roasted broccoli on a white plate.
    Oven Roasted Broccoli
  • A large pot filled with baked beans.
    Old Fashioned Baked Beans
Broccoli on a strainer over a pot of water.

Blanched Broccoli Recipe

Kathy Berget
Everything you need to know about parboiling broccoli.
5 from 36 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Ice Bath 3 minutes mins
Total Time 16 minutes mins
Course Vegetable
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 77 kcal

Equipment

  • Chef Knife
  • Stainless Steel Pot
  • Skimmer Spoon
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds broccoli (about 2 heads)
  • 1 gallon water
  • 1 teaspoon salt (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Cut broccoli into small florets
    2 pounds broccoli
  • Remove leaves and any excess stem
  • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add salt, if using
    1 teaspoon salt
  • Plunge broccoli into boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes
  • Remove broccoli with a slotted spoon or skimmer and place into a large bowl filled with ice water
  • Stir broccoli so it cools quickly. Keep in ice water until fully cool
  • Remove and drain off any excess water

Notes

  • Try to cut broccoli into fairly uniform pieces
  • If freezing the broccoli, omit salt
  • Blanched broccoli can be covered and refrigerated for up to four days
 
To Freeze Broccoli
  • Remove any excess water
  • Place broccoli on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  • Place in freezer until fully frozen
  • Remove broccoli from baking sheet and place in a freezer safe bag or vacuum seal bag
  • Return to freezer and use within one year

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 6gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 75mgPotassium: 717mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1413IUVitamin C: 202mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 2mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David @ Spiced says

    January 27, 2023 at 5:00 am

    5 stars
    This is an excellent guide for how to blanch broccoli! Sometimes you just end up with too much of something (in this broccoli) and the freezer becomes your best friend. Blanching is a must for freezing broccoli!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 27, 2023 at 5:55 am

      Yes! Not only are you not wasting any food, blanched broccoli is easy to add to recipes or use for dinner as a vegetable.

      Reply
5 from 36 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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