Food science
Blanching serves as a crucial pre-freezing step, inactivating enzymes that would otherwise degrade chlorophyll, carotenoids, and flavor compounds. By briefly exposing vegetables to hot water or steam, blanching halts cellular metabolism, reduces enzymatic browning, and stabilizes textures. This process primes produce for long storage, ensuring vibrant color, crisp bite, and fresh taste after thawing. Understanding blanching science helps home cooks maximize freezer quality with minimal effort, while also clarifying why timing, temperature, and rapid cooling matter. The result is consistently superior vegetables that survive freezer cycles without noticeable loss of appeal.