Broccoli has two parts that dry at different speeds: the airy florets and the dense stem. Cutting florets small with only a short stem, and dicing the thick stems separately, keeps the whole tray finishing at the same time.
Dried broccoli is surprisingly good as a crunchy snack with a sprinkle of salt, and it rehydrates well in soups and casseroles.
Prep and loading
- Cut into 1 inch florets; split thick stems lengthwise. Dice the main stalk ⅜ inch.
- Blanch florets for 3 minutes, chill and drain thoroughly.
- Spread loosely; broccoli is bulky and light.
- Frozen florets work straight from the bag; halve big ones.
How to tell it’s done
- Stems snap rather than bend.
- Florets crumble when crushed.
Not sure? The weight check compares two weighings and the expected dry weight for broccoli.
Problems and fixes
Stems still bendy
Pieces with thick stems. Add a few hours and trim stems shorter next time.
Strong smell in the bag
Brassicas smell sulfurous when concentrated. Blanching reduces it.
Rehydrating and storing
Rehydrate: Steam or simmer 5 minutes. By weight, 100 g of dried broccoli takes back about 782 g of water to return to fresh weight; the rehydration calculator does any amount.
Store: Mylar or jar with an oxygen absorber. Florets crush; a rigid container keeps them whole.
Ways to use it
- Broccoli cheddar soup
- Casseroles
- Salted snack
- Pasta dishes
How much fits per batch
At a normal single layer, broccoli load at roughly 1.6 lb of fresh food per square foot of tray. That works out to:
| Machine | Fresh per batch | Dried per batch |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest Right Countertop 360 | 4.0 lb | 7.2 oz |
| Harvest Right Small | 4.8 lb | 8.7 oz |
| Harvest Right Medium | 7.5 lb | 13.6 oz |
| Harvest Right Large | 12.3 lb | 1.39 lb |
| Harvest Right X-Large | 25.0 lb | 2.84 lb |
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: broccoli, raw (water content)
- Utah State University Extension: Can I Freeze-Dry That? (2026)
- Penn State Extension: Let’s Preserve: Freeze-Drying
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: freezing (blanching times)
- Iowa State University Extension AnswerLine: Preserving by home freeze drying
Water content rounded from USDA FoodData Central (broccoli, raw). Cycle times are typical ranges at default settings; thickness, load and your room change them. How we put these together.