How to Freeze Cauliflower For Easy Cooking At A Later Time
Have you ever had too much cauliflower and didn’t know what to do with it all? Well, I have the perfect solution for you. You can freeze cauliflower so that at a later time when your family is craving something new or just want some comfort food, you can easily defrost your cauliflower and cook it up in minutes! This post will give you step-by-step directions on how to freeze cauliflower in a way that will preserve its nutrients and taste great when reheated.
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Is Cauliflower A Superfood?
Whether putting in meals or eating as a side dish cuisine, cauliflower is often referred to as a superfood because it contains all the vitamins and minerals needed for human growth. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help fight off diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, etc. Cauliflower even helps promote weight loss!
Which Cauliflower Is Healthiest?
There are several types of cauliflower from regular white cauliflower to purple cauliflower and orange cauliflower. These colorful varieties of cauliflowers tend to have greater nutritional value than the white variety because they contain more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds like anthocyanin, which give them their color.
Regular white cauliflower is super healthy and has plenty of nutrition from the vitamin C and vitamin K it contains.
Cauliflower Nutrition Facts
If you are looking for what cauliflower has to offer, I’m happy to tell you that it is very nutritious. One cup of cauliflower contains 77% of your daily vitamin C requirement and only has about 25 calories! One cup of cauliflower also has 63% vitamin K, which is an important nutrient for blood clotting and bone health. It’s also high in folate and fiber and has about 0.25g of saturated fat.
Does Cauliflower Raise Blood Sugar Levels?
Cauliflower has a very low glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar levels. It’s a great vegetable for diabetics and those on a low-carb diet. Cauliflower is great for those doing Keto and for bariatric patients.
Does cauliflower freeze well?
Yes, cauliflower freezes well as long as you do not cook it first as place it in a freezer safe container or air tight freezer bags.
How long will frozen cauliflower stay good?
Frozen cauliflower will stay good in the freezer for about three to six months. Using frozen cauliflower can save time during meal prep and frozen veggies are a great way to add extra goodness in your meals when your fridge is getting low.
How To Freeze Cauliflower?
To freeze cauliflower, you will need a freezer bag and some water. Here are the simple steps for you to follow:
- Use a colander to wash your cauliflower head. Wash this well under cold running water until there is no dirt, debris or garden bugs on it.
- Drain the cauliflower and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Cut off any brown spots from the florets with a sharp chopping knife.
- Next, cut up the cauliflower head into smaller pieces that will fit in your freezer bag with ease and place them inside of a 2 gallon-sized plastic freezer bag along with about two inches of water.
- Seal the freezer bag shut as tightly as you can so no air can escape from the bag during freezing or thawing.
How long will frozen cauliflower stay good?
Frozen cauliflower will stay good in the freezer for about three to six months.
When ready to eat, take the ziploc bag out of freezer.
You can defrost your cauliflower florets and cook it on a baking sheet, in the oven or saute your frozen vegetables with olive oil and salt!
Can I Freeze Cooked Cauliflower?
You CANNOT freeze cooked cauliflower!
If you chose to cook the cauliflower before freezing it, it will not last for three to six months and can spoil in a few days instead. You can however blanch cauliflower before freezing.
The blanching process is optional when it comes to this versatile vegetable. Blanching time for cauliflower florets is about two minutes.
Blanched cauliflower is a great way to preserve the color and flavor of cauliflower florets while also killing off any bacteria that can spoil it in few days if not frozen!
Can You Freeze A Whole Raw Cauliflower?
Yes, you can freeze a whole raw cauliflower without blanching it. It will last for three to six months in the freezer and be perfect when thawed out at a later time.
It’s that easy! Freezing your fresh vegetables couldn’t be simpler or more convenient for those times when you have an excess veggies lying around and want to save them for later.
How To Freeze Cauliflower Rice?
To freeze cauliflower rice, you will need a freezer bag and some water. Here are the simple steps for you to follow:
- Clean and wash your cauliflower.
- Cut Up Your Entire Head Of Cauliflower Into Florets using a sharp knife.
Making Cauliflower Rice
- Place the florets into a food processor or blender and pulse them until they resemble small grains of rice (or cauliflower “couscous”).
- Place the cauliflower ground up into a gallon-sized plastic freezer bag along with about two inches of water.
Freeze ready for future meal prep
- Seal the freezer bag shut as tightly.
- Finally label the bag and don’t forget to add the date.
These 2 Gallon Freezer bags are reusable and a great size for freezing cauliflower florets and cauliflower rice.
How To Blanch Cauliflower Before Freezing
My favorite way to freeze cauliflower is by blanching it in boiling water for 2 minutes and then transferring the florets into a bowl of ice water. This process seals all the nutrients from cooking, which makes them last longer when frozen.
Can you freeze fresh cauliflower without blanching?
You don’t have to blanch cauliflower to freeze it, however, if you have a high-powered blender or food processor, it will break down the cauliflower faster and more finely once blanched.
Best Ways To Prevent Freezer burn
Freezer burn occurs when the surface of your frozen food is dehydrated and does not contain enough water for it to maintain its moisture.
Make sure that you do not overfill your heavy duty freezer bag or plastic container, when putting your frozen veggies into the freezer. You can also use a FoodSaver vacuum sealer if you want a sure fire way to freeze cauliflower without any burn at all.
Using A Nutri Chef Vacuum Food Sealer
This Nutri Chef Vacuum food sealer is a great one and is a fantastic tool to help you fill your vacuum packed bag with healthy vegetables.
Most vegetables can be frozen. For more frozen veggie ideas and advice, check out our frozen foods section here on The Instant Pot Table!
How To Thaw Cauliflower After Freezing?
You have a few options for thawing your frozen cauliflower:
- Transfer the frozen cauliflower from the freezer section to your refrigerator.
- You can thaw your cauliflower in the microwave on a low power setting for about two to three minutes.
- Alternatively, you can place it into a bowl of lukewarm water and let it sit until soft enough to eat or cook with. You may have to change out the water once or twice during this process if it feels too cold to thaw.
- Finally, you can defrost it in the fridge overnight.
What to Make With Frozen Cauliflower
You can use frozen cauliflower in any way that you would normally eat it. Frozen cauliflower only lasts for 3-6 months, so be sure to thaw and cook or incorporate it into your favorite healthy recipes before then!
Cauliflower Meal Ideas
Here are some great recipes to add cauliflower.
- Easy Cauliflower Rice
- Cauliflower Pizza Base
- Cauliflower And Parmesan Soup
- Cauliflower Gratin
- Cauliflower Tacos
- Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Salad
More Cauliflower Recipes and Ideas
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini Sauce
- Maple Roast Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Mac And Cheese
- Roasted Cauliflower Dip With Goat Cheese, Parmesan & Chives
Other Guides to Freezing Food
Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable and can be used in a variety of dishes. It also freezes beautifully to keep on hand for those busy weeks when you don’t have time to cook! Enjoy using your frozen florets and be sure to sign up for our Newsletter for more free recipes!
About Angela Milnes
Angela Milnes is a Qualified Early Years Teacher who has specialised in teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and adults. Angela has also taught cooking classes and loves to share both family recipes and easy instant pot recipes here on The Instant Pot Table. Follow her on Pinterest!
