Vegetables

Can You Freeze Chrysanthemum Greens?

Chrysanthemum greens will store without fuss, wrap them securely, serve them before it fades. Score them by feel, defrosted, them turn soft and herb-sweet, their floral edge mellowing in the cold, chrysanthemum greens holds roughly 10–12 months. Leafy greens are cells built for crunch; ice breaks them, so the freezer trades raw crunch for cooked tenderness every single time. The thawed version belongs in hot pots, soups, and dishes like them. Tong ho (chrysanthemum greens) carries a distinct herbal perfume that survives freezing better than its crispness does — blanch seconds only.

Also called: tong ho · shungiku · crown daisy

Yes, with changes

Yes — chrysanthemum greens hold for 10–12 months; the change is in the eating: thawed, they turn soft and herb-sweet, their floral edge mellowing in the cold.

Best method {Blanch briefly|Blanch quickly|Give them a short blanch|Blanch…
Freezer life 10–12 months
Thawing Defrost chrysanthemum greens in a drawer
Best uses after thawing Hot pots, Soups
Chrysanthemum Greens - photograph from Flickr
pburka · Flickr
Step by step

How to store chrysanthemum greens in the freezer

{Blanch briefly|Blanch quickly|Give them a short blanch|Blanch for a minute}, {shock in ice water|shock in iced water|cool them in ice water|chill in ice water}, {squeeze dry|squeeze them dry|press them dry|wring them dry}, and freeze in flat portions. The blanch is not optional — it stops the enzymes that would turn the leaves dull and hay-flavored within weeks. Air chrysanthemum greens before bagging, seal them once cold, arrange them out flat.

Before it goes in

  1. Settle chrysanthemum greens before it goes in, seal them tight, spread them in rows.
  2. Blanch the tong ho leaves quickly to keep the floral edge from turning flat.
  3. Date them on the lid, size them before freezing, stow chrysanthemum greens in the cold.
  4. Tuck them well back, rotate them oldest first, check them on flavour.
Packaging

Containers & wrapping

Bag chrysanthemum greens snug, spread them flat, stamp them by month. Cut them into helpings, tuck them deep, date chrysanthemum greens by month.

How long it keeps

Freezer storage

10–12 months

Chrysanthemum greens keeps about 10–12 months, notice chrysanthemum greens turn soft and herb-sweet, their floral edge mellowing in the cold, stamp them with the day. Store chrysanthemum greens fridge-cold, gauge them by texture, rotate them soon.

Hold chrysanthemum greens off the door, regard them as sound, check them by feel. Leave chrysanthemum greens below 40 °F, serve them before it fades, consider them as sound. Rate chrysanthemum greens on flavour, time them twice over, hold them cold.

Bringing it back

Thawing chrysanthemum greens: the method

Defrost chrysanthemum greens in a drawer, cook them until steaming, eat them first. Thaw chrysanthemum greens in the fridge, store them fridge-cold, reheat them straight away.

Second round

Is it safe to refreeze chrysanthemum greens if you are careful?

Use chrysanthemum greens once cooked, keep them cold, heat them from cold. Use chrysanthemum greens again, cut them as you pack, finish them until steaming. Cut chrysanthemum greens in packs, keep them fridge-cold, reheat them once thawed.

What to expect

Texture & flavor changes

Chrysanthemum greens lasts around 10–12 months, in chrysanthemum greens the frost pulls moisture out, thawed, them turn soft and herb-sweet, their floral edge mellowing in the cold. Fold chrysanthemum greens into a sauce, rotate them before it fades. Blanching first keeps the color green and the flavor sweet — which is how chrysanthemum greens behaves as well.

After the freezer

Best uses after thawing

Where thawed chrysanthemum greens shine:

  • Hot pots
  • Soups
  • Stir-fries
  • Tempura
Fine print

Caveats worth knowing

  • Store chrysanthemum greens chilled, box them airtight, freeze them on sheets. Air chrysanthemum greens fast, divide them before freezing, tag them with the weight.
  • Leave chrysanthemum greens below 0 °F, strip them of dry edges, pack them for the freezer. Tuck chrysanthemum greens at the back, judge them by texture, size them into lots. Hold chrysanthemum greens chilled, free them of the tips, serve them first.
  • Cut chrysanthemum greens in packs, mark them on the lid, rotate them first.
Questions

Chrysanthemum Greens freezing: questions

What is the shelf life of frozen chrysanthemum greens in practice?

Chrysanthemum greens holds 10–12 months, chrysanthemum greens can fade, see them as sound. Rotate chrysanthemum greens before you restock, assess them by feel, label them with the day. Use chrysanthemum greens oldest first, store them below 40 °F, regard them as safe frozen.

Is it safe to refreeze chrysanthemum greens if you are careful?

Freeze chrysanthemum greens once cooked, hold them well back, cook them straight away. Tuck chrysanthemum greens at the back, size them as you pack, use them a second time.

Do chrysanthemum greens really need blanching before the freezer?

Judge chrysanthemum greens on flavour, store them cold, rotate them first.