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VEGETABLES | 
Freezing vegetables to retain their garden-fresh flavor and 
texture for winter use is being done successfully by increas- 
ing tens of thousands of homemakers each year. Varieties 
suitable for freezing are indicated by “fr” in the vegetable 
seed listings of our Garden Annual. Plan your garden to in- 
clude them. 
Select your vegetables as to family likes and dislikes and 
the number of meals you plan to serve. Each package should 
contain a “one meal portion’’ for the whole family. Balance 
your freezer space accordingly to assure a variety of choices 
AT-A-GLANCE QUICK FREEZING GUIDE 
VEGETABLE PREPARATION SCALDING TIME 
ASPARAGUS Freeze within 2 hrs. after picking. Cut in 6’’ spears for quart packages or 1” 3 min. 
pieces. Wash well. Iron utensils should be avoided. 
BEANS, Green Sort for tenderness, crispness medium size and quality. Wash in cold water, snip 2emins 
and Wax 
off ends. Break into 1" pieces or slice lengthwise. Leave small beans whole. 
Young beans 1 
to 22 min. Ma- 
ture white 214 to 
BEANS, Lima Use green tender easily opened pods. Shell, wash, sort for size and color. Keep 
picking to freezing time within 2 hrs. 
Suetaadials 
BEETS Sane tender, medium size, young 2” beets. Top thoroughly, peel. Dice or 4" 2Y2 min. 
slices. 
BROCCOLI Select for compactness, dark green color and tenderness. Let stand in salt water Small stalks 3 min. 
¥Y2 hour to kill insects, Wash well, trim off waste, split stalks and heads long Large stalks 4 min. 
way in 1” pieces. 
CARROTS Coreless, medium length carrots are best. Top, wash, scrape, Dice or 1/4"’ slices, 3 min. 
: leave small ones whole. 
CAULIFLOWER Use smooth, firm heads. Trim off waste. Break into 1’ pieces, 3 min. 
EGG PLANT Wash, peel, slice ¥3"’ thick. Prepare one scalding at a time to avoid discoloring. 4 min, 
Cool in 3 teaspoons citric acid powder crystals to one quart of cold water. 
After blanching use freezer paper between slices. ‘ 
PEAS Select tender firm pods. Avoid using immature, wrinkled and bleached pods. 45 to 60 sec. 
Wash, shell, sort for quality, removing large starchy peas. Wash. Keep picking 
to freezing time within two hours. 
Use firm flesh squash, acorn, green hubbard or other hard rind variety. Cut, None 
remove seeds. Bake or steam until done. Scoop from shell. Mash, Set pan in ice 
water to cool quickly. Do not season. 
Best type is young with small seeds, tender skin. Cut into table use sized cubes None 
after washing well. Cook as though for table use without seasoning and 
minimum of water. Set pan in ice water. Freeze quickly. 
SQUASH, Winter 
SQUASH, Summer — 
SWEET CORN Select as though for immediate table use eliminating flavorless immature and | Scald according to 
on Cob over mature tough kerneled ears. Remove silk and husk, trim waste. Use 6 ears ear diameter 
per quart in scalding. Set rack in ice water. Drain corn completely. Wrap 14" ear—7 min. 
individually, seal ends of wrapper. Freeze promptly. 2" ear—9 min. 
Bigger—ll min. 
SWEET CORN After scalding, slice corn from cob. Rinse well in cold water to remove inedible See above 
Cut Kernels cob hulls. Drain quickly and thoroughly, Freeze promptly. 
TURNIPS Medium size, tender, perfect, non-pithy turnips are best. Top, wash well and 2Y2 min. 
peel. Wash and dice in 4" cubes. 
SCALDING and COOLING 
Because the scalding period is so 
short it is best to handle only 
one pound at a time. Use one 
gallon of water per pound. Scald- 
ing time counts the second you 
have immersed your collander, 
wire basket, or cheesecloth in 
HINTS ON VEGETABLE FREEZING 
1. Rapid handling of your pack from 
your garden to package, prompt 
freezing and storing at a constant 
zero temperature will give your fam- 
ily some wonderful garden-fresh 
treats during the winter-months 
ahead. 
2. Select and freeze only those veg- 
etables that are high in quality. 
Freezing does not improve quality, it 
protects original appearance and 
flavor. 
packing when they are ready for 
immediate table use. 
4. Prepare your vegetables just as 
though they were to be cooked and 
served, removing all excessive and 
waste material, slicing or cubing as 
desired. Wash thoroughly in cold 
Tunning water. 
the boiling water. If the steam 
method is used, increase scald- 
ing time one-half, 
5S. Date your packages at time of 
sealing and use those foods stored 
longest, first, Keeping an ‘‘inventory” 
Cool in a pan of iced or very of your frozen food, its location in 
3. Process your vegetables as soon as 
cold water for the same time as 
the scalding period and drain 
well. 
possible after early morning picking, 
that's the way ‘'professionals” do it. 
Select and pick your vegetables for 
the freezer and the date of freezing 
is an invaluable reminder and labor 
saver. 
ALL 
