How To Freeze Dandelion Flowers
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Want to freeze dandelion flowers for later? Learn how to preserve dandelion blooms to keep the best flavor and make your favorite dandelion recipes any time of the year.
Every year, I look forward to when dandelions start to bloom. This pretty herb is often thought of as a pesky weed but it’s a tasty addition to many flower recipes like dandelion jelly, dandelion syrup, and dandelion iced tea.
But right when the dandelions start to flower is also our busiest time, yup right when we are trying to get our gardens planted. But we only have a few weeks to harvest dandelion flowers before they turn to seed.
Thankfully, freezing is a great way to preserve dandelion blooms.
How To Freeze Dandelion Flowers
Prepare The Flowers
To freeze dandelion flowers, it’s best to remove the green parts from the yellow flower petals. This green part can sometimes make your recipe bitter but it also turns mushy after it’s been frozen.
To separate the flowers, either rub the base of the flower back and forth between your fingers, then hold the flower petals and pull them out of the base of the flower.
Alternatively, you can also use scissors and cut the base of the flower and then pull it apart.
I’ve done it both ways. Just pick the one you find the most comfortable for your hands.
Freeze
Measure out the dandelion petals into amounts you normally use when cooking. This will make them easier to use later. Then, place the measured flowers into your freezer bag.
Press out as much air as possible and seal the bag closed. Make sure to label the freezer bag with the contents and amount before freezing.
Do You Need To Wash The Dandelion Flowers?
It’s a good idea to give the dandelion flowers a rinse under cool water after you pick them. This helps to remove any little bugs or dirt but it is an optional step. Another way is to lay the flowers out on a towel or tray for a few hours and give the bugs a chance to leave.
If you rinse the flowers, just make sure they are dry before you freeze the petals, or they can stick together.
Give them a quick spin in your salad spinner to get most of the water out, and then pat dry.
How To Use Frozen Dandelion Flowers
You can use frozen dandelion petals the same way you would use fresh ones! They are great for making jellies, syrups, iced teas, and adding to baked dishes. It’s easiest if you have frozen the flowers in measurements you commonly use so you can just open the bag and add them to your recipe.
How To Freeze Dandelion Flowers
Equipment
- Freezer bags
Ingredients
- dandelion flowers
Instructions
- Pick dandelions flowers from a clean, safe area away from where pets or sprays have been.
- Rinse the flowers under cool water to remove any dirt or small bugs and pat dry. (optional)
- Separate the yellow flower petals from the green part of the flower.
- Measure the petals into amounts you commonly use in your recipes and place them into freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag. Label and freeze until your are ready to use them.
Notes
These values are from a nutritional database and automatically calculated, and should only be used as an approximation.
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Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.
