Artichokes can be frozen after cooking,
but not raw. Uncooked, they will turn brown upon
thawing and taste pretty awful.
METHOD #1
To prepare large artichokes for freezing one problem
must be overcome. That is to penetrate the center
so they need not be cooked completely, but rather
blanched.
To accomplish this, cut the stem off, cut off
the top 1 inch or so, hollow out the center by
smashing the thorny end against a counter top
and scoop out the flower portions with a sturdy
sharp spoon. Pour on lemon juice to help prevent
browning. Make a small hole through the base
to help heat penetration.
Bring your water to a boil and along with your
artichokes add more lemon juice, which is essential
to prevent any bad discoloration. Hold the water
temperature to just under a boil for 20 minutes.
Remove and place in cool water to lower temperature.
Drain and freeze. Place in plastic freezer bags
to reduce freezer burn.
Hopefully, this will be enough cooking to arrest
the enzyme system but not enough to cause the
artichokes to come apart.
Upon thawing, the artichokes should be cooked
an additional 25 minutes or so.
METHOD #2
Trim tops from artichokes. Rub cut surfaces with
lemon.
Cook artichoke "al dente" in water
flavored with lemon juice.
Drain upside down thoroughly. Place upside down
on tray and freeze quickly in coldest part of
the freezer. When frozen, place in plastic bags
for storage.
To thaw and cook: Wrap each artichoke in aluminum
foil, sealed tightly. Place on rack above boiling
water. Cover and steam until hot and cooked through.
METHOD #3
Freezing Baby Artichokes
The secret here is to trim the baby artichokes
(or small artichokes) to hearts, as shown in
the basic preparation section. Make sure all
the dark green is trimmed off. As you trim each
artichoke, place it in water with lemon juice
to help prevent browning. Once you have trimmed
all the artichokes, place them in boiling water
for about 10 minutes. Drain well, cool and cut
each in half. Place them on a cookie sheet and
freeze. Once they are frozen, put in a plastic
bag and keep frozen. This system enables you
to remove as many as you want and keep the rest
frozen.
Good luck!
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