Freezing zucchini is easy once you know the steps. Whether it’s chopped, sliced or shredded, we’ll give you the directions you need to save your zucchini for the long term.
Can You Freeze Zucchini?
You can absolutely freeze zucchini. In fact, frozen zucchini can last up to a year in some cases.
Consequently, it’s a great way to make sure you have zucchini to add to your meals throughout the entire year.
How to Freeze Zucchini
Before you get started, think about what you want to do with the zucchini later. Then, chop, shred or slice it based on what you’ll need for future recipes.
Next, you’ll need to blanch the zucchini. This includes placing the zucchini in boiling water for about a minute, then immediately introducing it to ice water.
This is known as pre-freezing. Basically, that just helps to keep the zucchini in good shape.
After it’s all cooled, you can remove the zucchini and pack it up into the container of your choice and put it in the freezer.
Sliced
Sliced zucchini is a perfect choice when you want something you can easily add into sauces, smoothies or soups later on.
It’s easier and quicker to prepare for freezing as well, with or without blanching.
Chopped
In some cases, you may want chunks that are a little bit larger.
When you’re planning to use zucchini in things like stir-fries or smoothies, or just want to roast it up with some summer squash and other vegetables, this is the way to go.
Shredded
When you plan to cook something that only requires a touch of zucchini, shredding can be a great choice.
Shredded zucchini fits perfectly into sautés, fritters and even cheesy zucchini bread!
Shredding zucchini is also easy to do in a pinch with a food processor.
Whole
While it may not be impossible, freezing a whole zucchini isn’t highly recommended.
It’s harder to blanch and difficult to store when compared to zucchini that is shredded, chopped or sliced.
Cooked
Cooked zucchini is by far the easiest to store.
You don’t need to worry about blanching it, just let the zucchini cool all the way down to room temperature, place it in your ideal container and pop it into the freezer.
What to Use for Freezing Zucchini?
A number of tools can be used to store your zucchini while you’re freezing it.
Baking Sheets
Baking sheets can be an easy way to keep zucchini slices from sticking to one another. It also keeps the whole container flat for easy storage.
If you choose to go with this method, make sure to use some wax paper or plastic wrap to keep the frozen zucchini from sticking to the pan.
Containers
Many prefer tried-and-true containers like Tupperware.
Generally, these can be an acceptable option but there are a couple of things worth keeping in mind if you want to use this option.
To begin with, the zucchini pieces are going to stick together while freezing.
Unless you use some wax paper, it’s best to try to separate the zucchini into one whole serving per container.
Secondly, make sure that the containers you use are air-tight. Otherwise, it could result in lower-quality zucchini when you thaw it.
Bags
Regular bags can also be a decent way to store frozen zucchini. That said, it can be tougher to make sure the bag it air-tight if it doesn’t have some kind of seal.
For this, you can use things like rubber bands or even tape to seal the bag tightly.
Just make sure to remove all the air from them before placing them in the freezer.
Zip Lock
Zip Lock bags are a prime choice for freezer storage. The results are even better with freezer bags.
They close up well and allow you to get quite a bit of air out before locking them up. Once these bags are locked, they no longer let any air in.
If you’re extremely concerned about air in your packaging, you can also opt to use vacuum-sealed packs.
**Freezing other vegetables? See if you can freeze celery in this guide here!!!**
Other Ways to Store Zucchini
If you don’t want to freeze zucchini, you can also try out these methods for storing it.
Fridge
When you want to save some food for later, what do you usually do? Most of us put our food into the fridge.
This isn’t the ideal if you want your zucchini to last for months, but it can work if you just need it to stay fresh for 4 or 5 days.
Controlled Temperature
Keeping zucchini in a cool place can be a good option while you’re working to freeze all the zucchini you have.
You can leave a whole zucchini in a cool, dry place for up to a week without problems.
Because of that, it’s not a long-term option but it’s a good way to keep an abundance of zucchini fresh while you prepare them for longer-term storage.
If neither of those is an option, you can also dehydrate the zucchini. This is an ideal choice when you want to re-introduce it to water later on, such as with pasta or in a soup.
Related Questions
Can you freeze zucchini without first blanching it?
You can freeze zucchini without blanching it first, but the quality could be lower.
If you plan to use the zucchini more quickly, you can use this option. It’s also worthwhile if mushy zucchini won’t be a problem in the recipe you want to use it for.
Cooked zucchini also doesn’t need to be blanched.
How do you freeze fresh zucchini?
Fresh zucchini can be frozen by cutting it up as desired, blanching it, and then placing it into storage in a freezer.
It’s best to blanch and freeze it while fresh to preserve it in the most delicious state possible.
Can you freeze cooked zucchini?
You can freeze cooked zucchini, and it’s actually easier to freeze than raw zucchini. Just let it cool, contain it and you’re ready to freeze it.
Can fresh, shredded zucchini be frozen?
You can freeze zucchini that is fresh and shredded. Just make sure the container is air-tight and that you blanch it beforehand.
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Conclusion
With a chopping tool, a pot, a bowl of ice water and some handy containers, you can freeze zucchini in no time at all.
As a result, you’ll have plenty of zucchini for all of your recipes for the entire year.
