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How to Freeze Zucchini for the Winter? 3 Simple and Delicious Methods
09.08.2024 02:10
Zucchini is fried, baked, used for soups, preserves, salads, and even sweet jam is made from them.
So, in the middle of the season, you may feel like there is even a little too much of this vegetable.
But what if there was a way to preserve all this wealth for the winter? Good news: zucchini is very easy to freeze!
The only thing is, it is important to know a few nuances so that the vegetables turn out juicy and elastic.
Frozen zucchini can be used to make stews, soups, pancakes, smoothies, stir-fries and many other dishes.
How to Freeze Zucchini (Blanching Method)
Blanching before freezing will help preserve the color and texture of your zucchini. Although this step is a little more work, it's best not to skip it, or your veggies will become soft and rubbery after defrosting. Not all vegetables need to be blanched, by the way.
Wash the zucchini and cut them into 2 cm thick slices or cubes. Fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil (do not add salt, it can soften the zucchini). Also prepare a bowl of ice water.
Place the zucchini in boiling water and cook for 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes, quickly remove the zucchini from the pan and place it in a bowl of ice water – this will stop the cooking process.
Place the zucchini on a towel and pat dry, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once the zucchini slices or cubes are firm to the touch, place them in a zip-lock bag and store in the freezer.
How to Freeze Grated Zucchini
Grated zucchini is convenient to use for zucchini pancakes.
Wash the vegetables and grate them on a coarse grater. Boil a small pan of water and also prepare a bowl of ice water.
Place the grated zucchini in a sieve and lower it into boiling water. Hold it there for 1.5-2 minutes, then pull it out and immediately plunge it into ice water. After the ice water, place the zucchini on a clean towel and lightly blot off excess water.
Place the zucchini mixture in a thin layer in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer.
How to Freeze Zucchini Spaghetti
Wash and dry the zucchini, grate them on a Korean carrot grater or cut them into thin strips with a knife.
Prepare a pan of boiling water and a bowl of ice water. Place the zucchini spaghetti in a sieve, dip it into the boiling water and hold for 2-3 minutes.
After this, dip the zucchini into a bowl of ice water, place the noodles on a clean towel and gently pat off excess water.
Place the vegetable on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Then you can place the zucchini spaghetti in a zip-lock bag and store in the freezer.
