• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Easy Wholesome

Easy wholesome recipes

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
    • Brownies
    • Cakes
    • Cheesecake
    • Cookies
    • Frozen Treats
  • Drinks
    • Cold Drinks/Smoothies
    • Hot Drinks
  • Kid-friendly
  • Main
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Salads
Home » How to Blanch Broccoli (super quick, easy!)

Dinner

How to Blanch Broccoli (super quick, easy!)

Created On: March 21, 2021  |  Updated: January 29, 2023  |   20 Comments

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Pin
Yum
Share
WhatsApp
Email
Tweet
Share

Wondering how to blanch broccoli? You’re in the right place! Blanched broccoli is easy to make and ensures that your broccoli has the best color, texture and taste. Let this be your guide to everything you need to know about cutting broccoli, blanching broccoli, and freezing it!

What is blanching?

Blanching is a simple cooking method often used with a variety of fruits or vegetables which plunges them into scalding water to cook briefly. 

It’s typically followed by shocking which is to submerge the fruits or vegetables into an ice bath to stop the cooking process.

blanched broccoli in ice bath

Blanching helps tenderize hard vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, or broccoli and eliminates the bitterness in vegetables before a second cooking method like sauteing is used.

How long does it take to blanch broccoli?

The process takes about 10 minutes, and you can even blanch a week’s worth of chopped vegetables to save time during your hectic week. 

What to do with blanched broccoli

You can do so many things with blanched vegetables! You can add broccoli florets to salads or soups, serve as an amazing side dish or add it into a quick stir-fry.

These recipes can get you started:

  • Simple Broccoli Stir Fry – skip the broccoli cooking step because you’ll have already done that! Just add it in.
  • Cheddar Broccoli Soup – toss in the blanched broccoli at the end of cooking.
  • Cheesy Spaghetti Squash and Broccoli – step the whole first part where you cook the broccoli and use your blanched broccoli instead.
  • Broccoli Cauliflower Salad from Recipe Pocket – this would be a great use of your prepared broccoli!

How to cut broccoli

Let’s start from the beginning. When cutting broccoli, start from the bottom. Trim about an inch off the trunk.

If the trunk appears dried, woody, hollow or appears tough, keep trimming until you reach the tender green center.

The trunk and the florets are both edible, but the trunk will take longer to cook so it’s ideal to peel the fibrous trunk with a vegetable peeler to get rid of the outer skin.

After it’s peeled, cut the stem away from the head or “crown” and cut away the individual florets.

To cut broccoli florets, slice straight through the trunk at the top where the branches meet. If the florets are too big, slice down the middle and pull the florets apart into smaller bite-sized pieces.

Don’t forget about the stems! You can cut them into round discs or cubes, julienne them into small thin strips, spiralize them and even shred them.

There are several ways you can use them from stir-frys and soups to amazing frittatas. You might even find they’re sweeter than florets and as tasty!

How to blanch broccoli

Blanching broccoli is super easy. First, you boil a pot of salted water over high heat.

Then gently place the broccoli into the rapidly boiling water. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes depending on the size of the florets.

While the broccoli is cooking, set aside a large bowl of cold water with ice cubes nearby.

The broccoli should be bright green and somewhat tender when you carefully remove it with a slotted spoon.

Then immediately plunge it into the ice bath.

This stops the cooking process and keeps your broccoli from getting overcooked, which could leave it looking mushy and tasteless.

When the broccoli is completely cooled, drain the water and pat dry with a paper towel before storing.

Blanched broccoli can be stored in an air-tight container for several days in the fridge before adding to salads, veggie bowls, or served in your favorite healthy soup.

Can I freeze broccoli?

Absolutely! When freezing vegetables, blanch them first to slow the natural enzymes that cause a loss of flavor, texture and color.

After the broccoli has been cooled and dried, you can transfer the broccoli into an air-tight plastic bag and toss it into the freezer.

I recommend taking it one step further to flash freeze it to retain nutrients, and avoid the formation of ice crystals, not to mention having better tasting broccoli.

Frozen broccoli can be stored for up to one year before use. Be sure to wrap it tightly, and date it before storing it in the freezer.

What is flash freezing?

Flash freezing simply is a process used to rapidly freeze small items individually and store them quickly once they are frozen. It helps retain nutrients by stopping cell deformation.

Flash freezing is all the rage on the cooking shows with fancy machines that freeze at extremely low temperatures with circulating air.

But for the home cook, flash freezing is a practice of freezing individual pieces separately by spreading them out on a baking sheet and freezing them for a couple of hours before transferring them into an airtight container to be stored for longer periods.

Just make sure that whatever pan or baking sheet you use will easily fit into your freezer.


This freezing method keeps individual pieces from fusing together during the freezing process and allows you to easily portion out the amount you want to cook rather than having to cook the entire lot.

To thaw your flash-frozen broccoli, place it at room temperature, or if in a freezer bag, add it to cool water. Don’t thaw food in warm water, as it will start the cooking process leaving your broccoli tough and easier to overcook.


I know it’s not the most exciting recipe, but we all have to eat our veggies. 😉 I’ll be back next week with something more fun.

If you have any other questions about how to blanch broccoli, I’d be glad to answer them below. Enjoy!

blanched broccoli in water bath
5 from 53 votes

How to Blanch Broccoli

Course Side
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 3 mins
Total Time 20 mins

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 pounds broccoli florets about 3 large heads
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons salt

Instructions

  • Cut off about an inch off the bottom of the trunk of the broccoli. If it's hollow or woody keep cutting until you get to the tender part.
  • Remove any leaves and using a vegetable peeler, peel away the tough outer skin.
  • Cut the trunk into 1/2" pieces.
  • Cut off florets into 1 1/2" pieces.
  • Bring a large pot of water (with the salt added) to a rapid boil.
  • While waiting for it to boil when you think it'll start boiling in the next 2 minutes, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water.
  • Gently lower the florets into the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes. The time depends on the size of the florets. The broccoli should be a bright green and just barely tender.
  • Remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge it into the ice water.
  • Once it's cooled completely don't let it sit longer than needed, remove the broccoli from the bowl of water and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Place the broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for 2 hours and then transfer to containers or freezer bags. Label with the date.

Video

 
Tried this recipe?Tag me today! Mention @easywholesome or tag #easywholesome!

posted in: Dinner

Previous
Banana Carrot Muffins
Next
Air Fryer Ham

Reader Interactions

    Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

    Share your thoughts!
    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Comments & Reviews

  1. wilhelmina says

    Blanching really is a game changer, it preserves so much flavor. I feel like my cooking really took a step a forward when I started using this technique.

    Reply
  2. Jessica says

    I am SO glad you shared how to do this. I’ve never done this and have always wanted to but wasn’t sure what it meant. Haha! Now I do! Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Matt Taylor says

    Thank you, this recipe for blanched broccoli is awesome. Fun story, when I was in my early 20s (years ago) I grew a ton of broccoli in the backyard. The fresh was amazing. Then I froze the rest (didn’t blanch it) completely ruined the rest of the crop doing that, lol. Live and learn! So yes, definitely blanch it before freezing haha.

    Reply
  4. Jennifer Fisher says

    Thanks for all the great broccoli tips! I really just thought blanching was only for helped to preserve the color — I didn’t realized it helped take away some of the bitterness. I’m going to definitely add back this step to my broccoli prep! Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Yang says

    So much detailed information, this is great! Blanched broccoli is my kids’ favourite vegetables. I make them over and over.

    Reply
  6. Donny says

    This is so handy! You answered so many questions I have.

    Reply
  7. Kelly says

    Thank you for this! So easy to make beautiful blanched broccoli!

    Reply
  8. ChihYu says

    Absolutely the best way to make broccoli! Delicious and keeps a nice crunch!

    Reply
  9. Jean Choi says

    This is the only way I eat broccoli! Cooks perfectly every time.

    Reply
  10. tina says

    Love blanching my broccoli before my stir fries! This is a great guide!

    Reply
  11. Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says

    Loved all the step-by-step pictures! This post on blanching broccoli is very helpful and informative. A great way to have vegetables ready for later use, in pasta, stir-fries, etc. Thank you!

    Reply
  12. Kushigalu says

    5 stars
    Love broccoli in any form . Thanks for all the tips and info shared here. Pinned this post.

    Reply
  13. Tristin @ Home Cooked Harvest says

    My kids absolutely love broccoli so I make a lot of it. Love all of your tips for making blanched broccoli.

    Reply
  14. Ksenia says

    Such an absolutely easy breakdown of how to blanch broccoli! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to Google it when I was first starting out in the kitchen

    Reply
  15. amycaseycooks says

    Such a basic cooking skill everyone should have. I always buy too much broccoli and this is the perfect way to store some in the freezer.

    Reply
  16. Amy Liu Dong says

    It is so easy. I will definitely be doing this with my other broccolis.

    Reply
  17. Farrukh Aziz says

    Blanched broccoli in chicken stir-fry was so good! I used this method to blanch my broccoli florets, and it was just perfect!

    Reply
  18. Linda says

    Love the idea of this blanched broccoli and freezing them. But first, make a stir-fry for a quick weeknight dinner

    Reply
  19. veenaazmanov says

    Thanks. Very informative and helpful too.

    Reply
  20. susie says

    A very informative read about broccoli. Thank you!!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Erin - Author of Easy Wholesome.

Hey, I'm Erin!

My aim is to create simple, healthier recipes that – most importantly – taste just as yummy as the original not-so-healthy versions! No cardboard-y or grain-y taste here.

More About Me
Subscribe

Easy + Wholesome Newsletter

Subscribe to get all the latest recipes in your inbox!

Featured Recipes

  • slice of healthy chocolate cake
    Healthy Chocolate Cake
  • blanched broccoli in water bath
    How to Blanch Broccoli (super quick, easy!)
  • You only need 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to put these chicken leg quarters together. This recipe is ridiculously easy and the result is way more flavorful and delicious than you would imagine.
    Chicken Leg Quarters Recipe
  • frozen chicken breasts in air fryer basket
    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
  • air fryer turkey burgers on parchment paper
    Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
  • Healthy Cinnamon Apple Muffins

Featured on:

Buzzfeed logo.
Huffpost Logo.
Kitchn logo.
LC Lauren Conrad logo.
msn logo.
serious eats logo.
shape logo.
womens health logo.

Easy + Wholesome Newsletter

Subscribe to get all the latest recipes in your inbox!

Easy Wholesome Logo

My aim is to create simple, healthier recipes that – most importantly – taste just as yummy as the original not-so-healthy versions! No cardboard-y or grain-y taste here.

Browse

  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
  • Drinks
  • Kid-friendly
  • Lunch
  • Salads
  • Sides

Diets

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Grain-free
  • Paleo
  • Keto
  • Whole Wheat

Texanerin Baking

Want even more? Visit my other site for all your baking favorites!

Visit Texanerin Baking
©2023, Easy Wholesome. All Rights Reserved. Press About Contact Disclosure & Privacy Statement
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Easy + Wholesome Newsletter

Subscribe to get all the latest recipes in your inbox!

Pin
Yum
Share
WhatsApp
Email