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Blanching (also spelled blenching) is a cooking term that describes a process of food
Food

Food is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be Eating or Drinking by an animal or human for nutrition or pleasure....
 preparation wherein the food substance, usually a vegetable or fruit, is plunged into boiling water, removed after a brief, timed interval and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water (shocked) to halt the cooking process.

Uses of blanching


Blanching can also describe deep frying
Deep frying

Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot oil or fat. This is normally performed with a deep fryer or chip pan; industrially, a pressure fryer or vacuum fryer may be used....
 in oil at a lower temperature as with the initial cooking of chips.

Blanching also weakens the structure of vegetables, rendering them softer than fresh.






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Blanching
Blanching (also spelled blenching) is a cooking term that describes a process of food
Food

Food is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be Eating or Drinking by an animal or human for nutrition or pleasure....
 preparation wherein the food substance, usually a vegetable or fruit, is plunged into boiling water, removed after a brief, timed interval and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water (shocked) to halt the cooking process.

Uses of blanching


  • Peeling Blanching loosens the skin on some fruits or nuts, such as onions, tomatoes, plums, peaches, or almonds.
  • Flavor Blanching enhances the flavor of some vegetables, such as broccoli, by releasing bitter acids stored in the food.
  • Appearance Blanching enhances the color of some (particularly green) vegetables by releasing gases trapped in the food that obscure the greenness of the chlorophyll. Since blanching is done quickly, the heat does not have time to break down chlorophyll as well.
  • Shelf life
    Shelf life

    Shelf life is that length of time that food, drink, medicine and other decomposition items are given before they are considered unsuitable for sale or Eating....
     Blanching neutralizes bacteria and enzymes present in foods, thus delaying spoilage. This is often done as a preparatory step for freezing and refrigerating vegetables.


Blanching can also describe deep frying
Deep frying

Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot oil or fat. This is normally performed with a deep fryer or chip pan; industrially, a pressure fryer or vacuum fryer may be used....
 in oil at a lower temperature as with the initial cooking of chips.

Blanching also weakens the structure of vegetables, rendering them softer than fresh. This is beneficial for canning
Canning

File:Berthold Weiss Canned Foods.jpgFile:Canned food factory .jpgCanning is a method of food preservation in which the food is processed and sealed in an airtight container....
 vegetables, a process wherein the air in vegetables needs to be minimal.

External links

  • A podcast discussing the importance of blanching and the science behind the technique.


See also

  • Parboil
    Parboil

    Parboiling is the partial boiling of food in order to later finish cooking it.The word is often used when referring to parboiled rice. Parboiling can also be used for removing poisonous or foul-tasting substances from foodstuffs, such as removing gyromitrin from false morels....