When you expand your cooking horizons, you are sure to come across some ingredients that you have never heard of before. Take the kohlrabi, for example.
Kohlrabi is part of the cabbage family but sits somewhere between a turnip and water chestnut. The crunchy sweetness can be used in a range of recipes though it can be expensive to buy outside of its harvesting seasons, especially as it only survives up to 2 weeks in your fridge.
The next time you want to experiment with kohlrabi, stock up on the vegetable when it is in season and try freezing the rest!
To freeze kohlrabi, you can blanch it beforehand or simply prepare it as you usually would before bagging it up, sealing the bags tight and freezing it.
How to Freeze Kohlrabi
There are 2 methods you can use to freeze kohlrabi. You can either freeze the kohlrabi completely raw or you can blanch it beforehand. Which method you follow should be dictated by how long you plan to freeze the kohlrabi for:
How to Freeze Raw Kohlrabi
The quickest way to freeze kohlrabi is to freeze it raw. You will not be able to keep the kohlrabi frozen for longer than a month if you freeze it raw as it will start losing its texture and flavour quality.
However, this is a good method to use if you only have a handful of kohlrabi left in your fridge about to go bad, letting you prolong its life. Here is how:
- Prep
Before freezing your kohlrabi, wash, dry, peel and chop the kohlrabi however you wish. You don’t have to prep the kohlrabi before freezing but it will make defrosting the vegetable much easier. - Bag Up
Place the prepared kohlrabi in a large freezer-safe bag. - Secure
Push as much air out of the freezer bag as possible. Close the bag and ensure it is as airtight as possible. - Double Bag
Place that secured freezer bag in another plastic bag for double protection. Secure that bag shut too. - Freeze
Take your double-bagged kohlrabi and store it at the back of your freezer. You can freeze raw kohlrabi for up to 1 month.
When you are ready to use your raw kohlrabi, leave it in your fridge to defrost naturally. Or, if you have peeled and prepped the raw kohlrabi before you froze it, add it directly to your pan from the freezer.
How to Freeze Blanched Kohlrabi
When you have larger batches of kohlrabi you want to freeze for longer periods of time, the best way to ensure a long freezer life is to blanch the vegetable and then freeze it:
- Boil Water
Start by putting a pot of water on a high heat to boil. - Prep The Veg
Clean, peel, and chop up the kohlrabi into your desired size. Roughly 1/2-inch cubes work best for this method. - Blanch
Dunk the kohlrabi into your boiled water for 1 minute and then quickly remove it, setting it in an ice-cold bath of water. - Cool
Leave the kohlrabi to cool completely in the cold water. - Dry
Remove the kohlrabi from the water and use a paper towel to dry the kohlrabi as thoroughly as possible. - Portion Out
Now you can separate your kohlrabi into an air-tight container, portioning the kohlrabi as you wish. Only fill the containers 1/2 inch from the top. - Secure Shut
Push all of the air out of the freezer bag if you have used one. Then seal the bag or the container shut to make it airtight. - Label
Use a marker and masking tape to make a label detailing the contents of your container. Also, make a note of how many portions are stored. - Freeze
Place the kohlrabi directly into the freezer and leave it to freeze. You can freeze blanched kohlrabi for up to 8 months.
The best way to defrost blanched kohlrabi is to add the frozen kohlrabi directly to your pan. It will take a little longer to cook, but the veg is robust enough to defrost okay with the heat with little texture change.
How to Freeze Kohlrabi Successfully
Though there are 2 ways you can freeze kohlrabi, it is not a very fussy vegetable. It does not require much preparation to retain its taste and texture once frozen.
That being said, there are a few tips you can keep in mind to ensure that your kohlrabi freezes as best as it possibly can:
- Pick The Right Veg – Kohlrabi is best brought between July and mid-November, which is when the kohlrabi is at its peak harvest season. Buying kohlrabi outside of this season will not only be far more expensive, but the kohlrabi itself will not be the best quality, giving the veg a low quality once it freezes.
- Be Prepared – When blanching your kohlrabi, have your bowl and water ready, as blanching is a speedy process. It will make preparing the kohlrabi for freezing significantly easier.
- Don’t Refreeze – We have detailed above how long you can keep kohlrabi frozen depending on which method you use to freeze the veg. However, what you cannot do is refreeze the kohlrabi once it is defrosted, no matter how long it was previously frozen. Once you have defrosted the kohlrabi, you either need to use it up or throw it away.
- Portion Before Freezing – No matter if you are freezing raw or blanched kohlrabi, consider the portion sizes you are likely to defrost at one time when prepping and separating the kohlrabi. This way, you can easily defrost the perfect amount of the veg without wasting any.
Does Kohlrabi Freeze Well?
Kohlrabi is very similar to turnip in its texture and consistency. As such, kohlrabi is robust enough to freeze very well without losing its crispy texture or sweetness.
It will freeze better blanched as the moisture in the veg is less likely to expand and alter the texture in the freezer, but raw kohlrabi can also be frozen successfully.
Freezing Kohlrabi FAQs
Do you need to know more about freezing kohlrabi with success? Then check these FAQs out:
Fully cooked kohlrabi can be frozen but you may find it becomes mushy once it has been thawed and reheated. It will be perfectly fine to eat, though.
Yes, kohlrabi slaw that has been dressed with oil can be frozen. However, if the dressing is mayonnaise-based, you’ll want to avoid doing so.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
