Soy beans are a healthy meat substitute.
Soy beans are a protein-rich legume, commonly found in milk and tofu. Soy beans also serve as a substitute for meat in soups and stews. Dried soy beans are sold in stores, but freezing freshly harvested soy beans is one alternative for those who do not like using dried beans. Before freezing soy beans, you must first prepare them for long-term storage. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Check the fresh soy beans to make sure they are not overripe. Mature soy bean pods are bright green, while overly mature soy bean pods are yellow. Once soy beans have turned yellow, they cannot be frozen. Only select bright green soy beans for freezing.
2. Wash the soy bean pods thoroughly. Gently wipe the pods to remove any remaining dirt. Set the soy beans aside.
3. Fill a large pot with water, and bring the water to a rolling boil. Put your clean soy beans into the pot. Cook the soy beans in the water for no more than five minutes.
4. Remove the soy beans from the pot, and submerge them in a large bowl of ice water for five minutes. Add more cold water if necessary. Leave the soy beans in the water until they cool completely. Drain the water from the soy beans after they have cooled, and pat them dry with a clean towel.
5. Take the soy beans out of their pods. The fastest way to get the beans out of their hulls is to squeeze them gently. Pick through the soy beans and dispose of any spoiled beans. Spoiled soy beans usually are dark brown, black, wafer-thin or wrinkled.
6. Place the soy beans in freezer bags for storage. Do not pack freezer bags too tightly -- leave some room in the bag to ensure secure closure.
Tags: bean pods, beans their, beans water, bright green, five minutes, freezer bags