Zucchini are relatively tasteless and healthy - these properties make them the perfect ingredient for a wide variety of dishes. Whether potatoes, rice, quinoa, lentils or pasta: the green vegetables harmonize with almost any base. It also gets along well with many other vegetables. These are all good reasons to always have zucchini in stock at home. To extend the shelf life of vegetables, simply freeze them raw. Our guide tells you how to do this.

Zucchini can be frozen raw or blanched

General tips for freezing zucchini

Zucchini is a so-called seasonal vegetable. That means it's always available at a certain time of the year. In the case of zucchini, you'll find what you're looking for in summer (that's why the vegetable is sometimes called summer squash). In order to enjoy high quality, it is advisable to always buy organic courgettes from regional cultivation (if possible small and dark) for freezing - and only during the summer season.

tips

If you freeze high-quality courgettes in the summer, you can then enjoy the vegetables all year round.

Incidentally, the word "zucchini" comes from Italian and is already the plural form, which is also used as a singular in German-speaking countries, although this is actually "zucchino". We stick to the German “colloquial language” here.

How to freeze your zucchini raw

Zucchini will keep in the freezer the longest if you don't cook the vegetables first, but freeze them raw. Here is our practical step-by-step guide:

  1. Wash the zucchini thoroughly under warm running water.
  2. Dry the vegetables carefully - for example with kitchen paper.
  3. Using a sharp kitchen knife, cut the zucchini into smaller pieces, such as cubes or slices.
  4. Sprinkle the cut zucchini pieces with a little salt. That way, you'll make sure they stay nice and crisp when you thaw them later. Salt has the property of removing moisture from zucchini (and other vegetables). This is a huge benefit when it comes to freezing zucchini.
  5. Wait a few minutes. During this time, water forms under the vegetables (due to the salt).
  6. After about ten minutes, pour off the "zucchini water" - ideally into a container to use as the basis for a delicious zucchini soup if necessary.
  7. Place the prepared zucchini cubes or slices in a suitable glass jar with walls that are as thick as possible. Alternatively, you can also use a plastic or aluminum container. However, make sure that the can is suitable for the freezer.
  8. Seal the jar airtight.
  9. Place the container in the freezer.

Zucchini can be frozen raw for at least 12 months.

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  • To protect the environment, you should avoid plastic freezer bags.
  • If you don't just want to freeze one zucchini, you need several containers. Our tip: Use a separate container for each zucchini so that the individual pieces have enough space in the freezer to unfold.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden