Not everyone knows how to freeze peppers for the winter. In this regard, we decided to devote this article to this topic.
General information
Unfortunately, in our country it is impossible to grow vegetables, berries and fruits all year round. That is why many summer residents are trying to preserve their crops with the help of conservation or ordinary freezing. It should be noted that the two presented methods of storage of products are significantly different. After all, salted or, for example, pickled vegetables are suitable for use only as a snack or as a supplement to the main dish. But the frozen ingredients can not only be consumed after full thawing, but also used to prepare side dishes, goulash, soups, and even baking. In this regard, a huge number of people are interested in the question of how to freeze bell pepper. Indeed, in the winter period it will be possible to make various second and first dishes from it.
The method of freezing vegetables
Before freezing peppers for the winter, you should think about what exactly such a vegetable is useful for. After all, someone uses it for cooking goulash or soup, and someone uses it for stuffing. In this regard, we offer you two ways to freeze:
Preparations for the winter: whole bell peppers
Surely none of your family members are indifferent to stuffed peppers. After all, such a dish with a fragrant broth turns out to be so tasty and satisfying that it is impossible to leave the table without additives.
So, before you freeze the pepper for the winter, you should prepare the following products and equipment in advance:
- bulgarian pepper large - any quantity;
- sharp knife;
- bags for freezing food.
And now you can start the process.
Vegetable preparation
How to make frozen billets for the winter? Bulgarian pepper for this should be purchased only in large sizes. Indeed, such a vegetable has thick walls, which means that after thawing it will completely retain its shape, and it will be very convenient for you to stuff it.
So, after you get a large bell pepper, it must be thoroughly washed, and then cut the stem and carefully clean the inside of the seeds and light partitions. It is advisable to do this not with a knife, but with your fingers.
After cleaning the product from the insides, it should be completely rid of moisture. To do this, it is recommended to wipe each pepper thoroughly with a paper towel or towel. If this is not done, then during thawing the vegetable may lose its shape.
Freezing process
How to freeze whole bell pepper whole? To do this, peeled and dried vegetables should be inserted into each other. As a result, this should form a kind of "turret". Its dimensions should be such that in the end it fits not only in the freezer, but also in special bags for freezing. By the way, the latter can be purchased at almost any hardware store. Such bags differ in that they are not destroyed under the influence of low temperatures.
Thus, packaged "towers" should be placed in the freezer and stored as much as you need. By the way, after a few hours after freezing, it is recommended to shake them a little, so that in the end the "towers" of peppers do not stick to each other or to the bag.
Features of Frozen Food
According to experts, deep-frozen foods retain almost all of the same vitamins and beneficial elements that are present in fresh vegetables and berries. That is why it is recommended not to preserve them, but to place them in the freezer. Of course, not everyone has a large freezer. And in order to fit all the vegetables and berries into it, you must try. So, a whole pepper takes up much less space if it is invested in each other. Moreover, the presented method of freezing allows you to quickly take out the required number of vegetables, thaw them and stuff.
Cooking Frozen Peppers
It should be noted that some housewives recommend using stuffed frozen peppers to prepare a delicious dish. How to cook them on the stove? You do not need to wait until the product is fully defrosted, otherwise you will get an unpleasant porridge mass. Thus, frozen stuffed peppers should be removed from the freezer, put in a large pan, add grated carrots, chopped onions and tomatoes, and then seasoned with any spices and mayonnaise. In conclusion, all the ingredients must be poured with water and put on a strong fire. After boiling the liquid, the pan must be closed and the fire reduced to a minimum. It is advisable to cook stuffed peppers in this way for about 1 hour.
How to freeze pepper for the winter slices?
If in the winter you plan to make not only stuffed peppers, but also delicious goulash or rich soup, then such a vegetable should be frozen in pieces. Moreover, they can have different sizes and shapes.
So, before freezing bell peppers for goulash or soup, you should prepare:
- bell pepper of any size;
- sharp knife;
- bags for freezing food.
Vegetable processing
As in the previous case, for such freezing we will need special bags for food. But before you put vegetables in them , the pepper should be carefully processed. To do this, you need to purchase a product of any size, and then wash it well, use a cloth if necessary. Next, remove the stem from the bell pepper, and then clean the entire inner part of the seeds and partitions.
To understand how to properly freeze pepper slices, you should think about what you will use it for. So, if the vegetable is useful to you for goulash, then it must be chopped into small cubes. Similarly, you need to process it if you plan to add it to the soup. If you want to cook stewed vegetables, then bell pepper can be cut into circles or simply divided into 4 or 8 slices.
Freezing process
Almost any vegetables, berries and even some fruits can be frozen for the winter. The main thing is that the products are as devoid of water as possible. For example, processed and chopped peppers should be laid out on paper napkins and held on them for about half an hour, periodically mixing the product with your hands. This is necessary so that in the process of freezing you do not form excess ice, which during defrosting will turn vegetables into an unpleasant mass.
After the sweet pepper is chopped and as dry as possible, it should be laid out in a special bag and tied well. To such vegetables fit in the freezer, it is recommended to bring them into a thick layer. However, it is recommended to do this after several hours of exposure in the cold. So, the frozen pieces of pepper will not stick to each other, but will remain in a friable state, which will significantly improve the process of their extraction from the freezer.
How to use in cooking?
Now you know how to freeze vegetables in the form of large and small pieces. But how to use such a product in the process of preparing various dishes? To do this, sweet pepper should be removed from the bag in the amount in which you need it, and put the rest in the freezer. After this, the frozen vegetable must be added to the stew and mixed thoroughly. It is advisable to carry out this procedure 15-18 minutes before the complete preparation of the dish. Indeed, it will take so much time to ensure that the frozen pepper is well stewed or roasted.
If you are preparing soup, then such a product must be added to the boiling broth 10-15 minutes before it is removed from the stove. If you need a frozen vegetable in order to make puff stew, then it is recommended to initially put it in a pan along with other components.
It should be noted that there is no need to pre-thaw slices of pepper. As for the whole vegetable, it is still recommended to do this to stuff it. Indeed, for dense stuffing of the product you will need the softest vegetable possible. After all, it is not for nothing that during the preparation of such a dish of fresh pepper it is blanched first.
Assortment freezing
If you gathered a rich harvest from your own beds, then you can freeze not only sweet peppers, but also other vegetables. As a result of this, you can get ready-made stew, which is not cheap in stores, especially in winter.
So, to make such a semi-finished product, we need (1 time):
- Bulgarian pepper of any size - 4 pcs.;
- young eggplant - 2 pcs.;
- tomatoes - 3 pcs.;
- young zucchini - 1 pc.;
- green peas - 1 cup.
Ingredient Processing
In order to independently make frozen assorted stews, you should purchase all of the above ingredients and wash them thoroughly. Further it is necessary to fulfill the following requirements.
- Bulgarian pepper needs to be washed, cleaned of the stalks and internal seeds, and then cut into rings.
- Young eggplant must be peeled and chopped into circles 1 cm thick.
- Tomatoes should be washed and cut into circles. There is no need to peel them.
- Green peas need to be sorted out and washed in a colander.
- Young zucchini must be peeled and cut into thin circles.
Proper freezing
After all vegetables are sliced, they should be separately placed in special bags for freezing and sent to the freezer. After a few hours, when the products become solid, they need to be poured into a common container, mixed and put in one big bag. Keep such an assortment as much as you need.
Cooking frozen assorted stew
To make such a dish, you should boil any meat product in a pan using a small amount of water. Next, you need to place frozen assorted vegetables in the dishes, season them with spices and simmer over low heat for about an hour. In conclusion, it may be necessary to add mayonnaise, herbs and grated garlic. As a result of such actions, you will get aromatic and delicious stew, which can be served as a hearty and healthy dish. By the way, if desired, it should additionally lay out onion rings, as well as circles of carrots and potato tubers.
To summarize
You now know how to properly freeze Bulgarian peppers. At the same time, I would like to note that such a product after stewing, boiling or frying remains as tasty and nutritious as if you were using fresh ingredients.
It is impossible to ignore the fact that in the same way you can freeze absolutely any vegetables and berries. By the way, from the last product in the winter it is good to cook fresh and very tasty jam or mousse.