Can You Freeze Zucchini?
Yes, you can freeze zucchini. For best texture, though, you’ll need to take extra steps to prepare it before freezing.
How To Freeze Zucchini Slices
How To Freeze Shredded Zucchini
How To Freeze Zucchini Noodles
Storage Methods
There are a few different ways to store your frozen veggies, each with their pros and cons:
Sliced – This method is the least effort to cut. Freezing sliced zucchini is ideal for stir fry, soups, or casseroles. It tends to be too mushy as a side dish on its own, though. Shredded – Unlike other methods, this one doesn’t require blanching and can be frozen raw. However, the texture will change more than other methods, so it works best for baking. Noodles – Frozen zucchini noodles or “zoodles” are spiralized zucchini, and yes, you can freeze them! You can serve them with a sauce as a side dish, or toss them in casseroles, soups, or stir fry, much like sliced zucchini.
With any of these methods, avoid using frozen zucchini for salads or other raw dishes, because the texture will change. Freezing whole zucchini is also not recommended, because it’s difficult to blanch and is more prone to getting mushy. Freezing zucchini is quote easy, but here are a few key tips to ensure that it maintains its taste and texture:
Smaller zucchini freezes better. This is because they have less water content. You can still freeze any size, though. Wash first. Since frozen zucchini is already cut and typically used immediately in recipes, wash before cutting it. Blanching is crucial. This deactivates the enzymes that cause the zucchini to break down, preserving its texture, color, and flavor. However, if you plan to use the zucchini in a baked recipe where the veggie’s texture is not important, blanching may not be necessary — this is why we don’t need to blanch shredded zucchini. Dry well. To prevent freezer burn, drain and dry zucchini well before freezing. Flash freeze first. Freezing zucchini in a single layer first prevents it from sticking together. Once it’s solid, you can transfer to containers or freezer bags. Remove extra air, but don’t pack together. Once you transfer to freezer bags, remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. However, don’t jam the zucchini into the bags, as some air circulation helps preserve the quality. Use portion size containers. To make thawing and reheating a snap, freeze zucchini in portion-sized containers for easy use in recipes. (See ideas below!)
Freezer Bags: The most popular choice for freezing zucchini, since they are easy to use, inexpensive, and don’t take up much freezer space. However, they don’t provide the sturdiest protection against freezer burn. Vacuum Sealed Bags: The best way to remove as much air as possible and minimize freezer burn. I’m obsessed with this one and use it literally every day (not only for the freezer but also using their included glass containers for making fridge leftovers last longer!). The downside of freezing zucchini in vacuum sealed bags is it gets packed more tightly, which can affect the texture a bit. Glass Containers: I like these and also use them for meal prep. They are sturdy and protect against freezer burn, but they can take up a lot of freezer space and may be harder to stack and organize. Portioned Silicone Trays: This is actually my favorite method, because I can store just the right portions for different recipes. Here is my favorite set, which comes with different sizes.
There are a few ways to thaw frozen zucchini, but the easiest method is to place it in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, you can also thaw it by placing it in a bowl of cold water for a few hours or using the defrost setting on your microwave. The squash will typically release extra water when thawing, so you’ll usually need to drain it.
Ways To Use Frozen Zucchini
You can use frozen zucchini in many kinds of recipes! Whether you freeze zucchini in slices, shreds, or noodles, there are lots of options to use it:
Baked Goods – Use shredded zucchini to make chocolate chip zucchini muffins, healthy almond flour zucchini bread (or even keto zucchini bread), or zucchini brownies. Casseroles – Add it to ratatouille, a cheesy zucchini casserole, or my favorite everything-but-the-kitchen-sink recipe, chicken bacon ranch casserole. Eggs – Fold sliced or shredded zucchini into an omelette or your favorite breakfast casserole. If you have a lot of it, make a zucchini quiche! Soups & Stews – Of course, you can make zucchini soup with it! This is perfect for zucchini cut in any way, since it will be blended. Frozen shredded zucchini also adds flavor and texture to other pureed soups, like butternut squash soup or pea soup. Or, add frozen zucchini noodles to a hearty vegetable soup, leftover healthy turkey soup, or in place of pasta in any noodle soup. Noodles – Freeze zoodles, thaw them, and serve with your favorite sauce, like marinara, pesto, or alfredo. Fritters – Cheesy zucchini fritters are one of my favorite ways to use shredded zucchini from the freezer. Stir Fry – Throw some sliced frozen zucchini right into a chicken stir fry or vegetable stir fry. You don’t even have to thaw it first! Smoothies – Add it to a green detox smoothie or strawberry avocado smoothie for a delicious and nutritious way to start your day. Dessert – Use frozen zucchini when you make healthy zucchini brownies for a quick and easy dessert.
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