Zucchini is a summer squash used in a variety of dishes. Freezing zucchini is a simple and effective way to preserve its freshness and flavor throughout the year.
At times you may have lots of zucchini from your garden or find it in bulk at grocery store at a discount, you can easily freeze them without blanching as it can be a tedious task for a large quantity of zucchini.
Instructions
- Sliced Zucchini: This method is ideal for stir-fries, soups, and casseroles. Simply slice the zucchini into ¼-inch rounds and then freeze them in Ziplock bags or airtight containers.
Pros: Quick and easy to prepare; retains texture and flavor well.
Cons: May lose some firmness upon thawing.
- Shredded Zucchini: Perfect for baking and breads, shredded zucchini adds moisture and a subtle sweetness to your creations. Shred the zucchini using a food processor or a grater, squeeze out excess moisture, and then freeze in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags.
Pros: Easy to incorporate into recipes; no need to defrost before using.
Cons: Becomes slightly mushy upon thawing.
- Blanching Zucchini: This method preserves the texture and color compared to slicing and freezing directly. Bring a pot of water to boil and then cook the zucchini slices for a minute and put it in ice cold water. Freeze it in freezer safe containers.
Pros: Preserves texture and color.
Cons: Requires more prep time especially for bigger batches.
How to freeze zucchini
- Choose firm zucchini squash which is fresh and avoid the soft or squishy ones.
- Rinse it thoroughly well and get rid of any dirt.
- Cut the zucchini to ¼ inch thickness or grate them using a grater or a food processor.
- Portion them by weight like 10 oz, 12 oz. and 32 oz. for the rounds 1 cup size for the grated zucchini. Frozen zucchini is available in these quantities and recipes would likely use this amount.
- Package them in Ziplock bags or freezer safe containers.
- Label them with item name and date and freeze them for up to 1 year.
Cut zucchini rounds.
Grated zucchini.
Storage choices
- Freezer-Safe Bags: Ziplock bags are affordable option, allowing for easy storage and space-saving flexibility.
- Airtight Containers: These provide superior protection against freezer burn and maintain the zucchini's freshness.
- Mason Jars: Glass jars offer a durable and eco-friendly option, ensuring your zucchini stays fresh and flavorful.
How to use frozen zucchini?
There is no need to thaw frozen zucchini before using it. You can use it as is in soups, stews, or roast it in the oven or an air fryer. Grated zucchini can be added without thawing for making quick bread and muffins.
Depending on the recipe, if you do need to defrost the frozen zucchini squash then you can place it at room temperature for 1-2 hours or in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours or overnight.
Frozen zucchini rounds.
Frozen zucchini rounds.
Duration
Frozen zucchini can be frozen for up to a year. Upon freezing for such a long time, you will see ice crystals, you can remove it with a fork or a spoon.
More freezing hacks
Looking for other ideas like this? Try these:
JoAnne Painter says
I love the idea of zucchini, I have some frozen, was ready to trough it out ! I am glad I can still use it for bread. thank you, alpa !!😄🙏
alpajain says
Hi JoAnne,
Glad to hear that 🙂
Cheers,
Alpa