Freezing runner beans

[pelmetman]

We have so many runner beans this year I'm going to have to freeze some.

In the past I have always blanched them first but wondered if anyone has not bothered blanching and just froze them down?

Sue

[pumpy]

Hi Sue, we never blanche ours, we just pick 'em, slice 'em, (but don't wash 'em, as you don't want to freeze them whilst wet), then we put ours into sandwich bags, per portion for us 2. Alternatively, freeze them in an old ice-cream container.

[elfcurry]

I agree: don't blanch. (funny word)

I'm sure I used to blanch them years ago but they were always disappointing (soft) when thawed.
Now I don't wash them, just slice and put them in bags or plastic boxes and they're much better.

[julie_lanteri]

I don't blanch them either, simply cut to the size I want and freeze. I just add them frozen to casseroles and they're lovely even after hours in the slow cooker!

[Zech]

That's interesting. I read that the point of blanching is to kill the enzymes that will otherwise cause the frozen beans to deteriorate, so I did blanch mine this year (first time freezing them). I only blanched them very briefly - probably about a minute, at most - and they're pretty good when thawed. Did I not need to bother blanching, then? How long do they keep? Maybe the enzyme deterioration is just so slow that it doesn't have a noticeable effect.

[pumpy]

i always thought the enzyme thingy was more to do with the effects on colour. we don't blanche any veg prior to freezing, and have had no detrimental results.