Zucchinis are summer squashes and are harvested between July and October. Well cared for and fertilized, these plants will yield plenty of tasty zucchinis that can't be eaten all at once. Freezing is an alternative.
Zucchini freezes well raw
General information about frozen zucchinis
Unprocessed zucchini can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. Since it contains a lot of water, the best freezing results are achieved with small specimens. Nevertheless, it can always happen that the courgettes become soft and mushy after defrosting. They are now unsightly, but not inedible. It is advisable to puree the vegetables or boil them in a soup.
Ready-cooked zucchini dishes are suitable for freezing
Courgettes that have already been cooked can easily be frozen in suitable freezer containers. However, the shelf life here is only up to five months. Frozen zucchini dishes should always be thawed slowly at room temperature before reheating. Zucchini and a zucchini dish are not suitable for heating up in the microwave. Both become mushy and lose a lot of flavor.
What is the best way to freeze zucchini?
It is best to freeze zucchini raw. In addition to conventional freezer boxes, screw-top jars are also suitable as freezer containers. Here's how to freeze zucchini:
- Wash the vegetables under running water and then dry them well.
- Cut it into cubes or slices.
- To remove some of the water from the zucchini before freezing, place them in a colander and sprinkle the vegetables with a little salt.
- Catch the escaping water. With a lower water content, the zucchini stays crunchy when defrosted.
- After about five minutes, the vegetables can be filled into thick-walled glass jars or conventional freezer boxes.
- Use the water that escaped in a soup.
- Be sure to label the frozen food with an expiration date.
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