Can You Freeze Fava Beans – How To Freeze Fava Beans

Fava Beans or broad beans, are at least in my family, a relatively new addition to our diet.  I’m not sure how I missed these little guys growing up, but I’m determined to incorporate them in me and my kids’ diet now on a regular basis.  They are such an amazing vegetable.  Just packed full of nutrition from manganese to protein and everything in between, these little beans are a powerhouse food.

Fava beans can be purchased year round as a dried product and used in a variety of ways.  However, from March to May, fava beans are in season and can be found fresh in specialty stores or larger grocery stores.  If you happen upon fresh fava beans, snatch them up.  They are a delicious bean with a nutty bite and chewy texture.

Can You Freeze Fava Beans?

If you find fresh fava beans, do not hesitate to grab several pounds or more.  They are a cinch to freeze for later use.

How To Freeze Fava Beans

Fava beans are found in a pod similar to garden peas – just larger.  Look for a green pod but not bulging as this means the beans are older and perhaps not as flavorful.

The beans will need to be removed from the pod.  Do so in the same way that you would shell a pea.  Run your finger up the seam and scoop out the beans.  The beans still have a whitish shell at this point that will need to be removed.

The easiest way to remove this “second shell” is to blanch the beans.  Simply toss the beans into a pot of boiling salted water for 30 seconds.  Quickly remove the beans from the hot water and plunge them into a bowl of ice water.  This will stop the cooking process.  At this point the outer shell will be softer and the beans will pop right out.

Allow the fava beans to dry thoroughly and then package them into freezer safe bags.  Freeze in amounts that you will use per serving.

Label and date the freezer bags and pop into your freezer for later use.

Enjoy these yummy and healthful beans throughout the year raw or in a variety of dishes.

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