Grandmother's secret: The ultimate guide to freezing fava beans

Fava beans are a vegetable that enjoys enormous popularity in kitchens during their season. It's no surprise that many of us also want to enjoy their taste outside of the season. Are frozen fava beans as good as fresh ones? The answer is yes, but only if they are adequately prepared for freezing. My grandmother's reliable method always guaranteed delicious, firm fava beans—the secret lies in proper preparation.

Blanching, quick cooling, thorough drying, and proper packaging are crucial to preserving the firmness and flavour of fava beans. My grandmother always emphasized that the secret is in the details and adequate preparation. Thanks to her proven method, we can enjoy delicious fava beans all year round, no matter the season.

How to freeze fava beans - Step by step

The first step is to choose the right fava beans. The best ones are young, fresh fava beans that are not too large. Older fava beans can have tougher skins, which may affect their texture after freezing. After purchase, the fava beans should be thoroughly washed with running water to remove impurities.

Washed fava beans need to be blanched. This is a crucial step that helps maintain the structure of the beans. It involves briefly boiling the vegetables in water and then quickly cooling them in cold water. Here's how to do it:

• Boiling: In a pot, bring a large amount of salted water to a boil. Add the fava beans to the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remember not to cook them too long, as they can become soft.
• Cooling: Immediately after cooking, transfer the fava beans to a bowl of icy water (preferably with ice). Leave them there for a few minutes until completely cooled. Cooling in cold water stops the cooking process and helps preserve the firmness of the beans.

After blanching and cooling, the fava beans should be thoroughly dried. It's best to spread them on a clean kitchen or paper towel and gently dry them to remove excess water. Moisture can lead to ice crystal formation during freezing, affecting the fava beans' texture.

Once the fava beans are dry, they can be packed for freezing. You can use unique freezing bags or vacuum-sealed containers. Removing as much air as possible from the bags before sealing is essential, as air can cause ice crystals to form and lead to a loss of quality in the beans.

• Freezing bags: Lay the fava beans flat in the bags to prevent them from sticking together. The bags can be sealed with a zipper or a special vacuum-packing device.
• Vacuum containers: If using containers, ensure they are tightly sealed and do not contain excess air.

Place the prepared bags or containers with fava beans in the freezer. It is best to lay them in a single layer to freeze them faster. After a few hours, when the fava beans are entirely frozen, they can be arranged in any way.