Freezing your zucchini harvest is an excellent, time-proven way to maintain an abundant supply of it throughout the year.
However, a lot of people tend to get the freezing part wrong and end up with wet deformed zucchinis in their freezers. So, let’s talk about it.
In this article, we’ll be going over the step-by-step process of freezing zucchini and what mistakes you should avoid if you want long-term preservation.
Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Freezing Zucchini Guide: Preserve Your Summer Harvest All Year
Step 1: Start With The Right Zucchini
Starting with the right kind of zucchini is very important.
Ensure the ones you select to preserve from the harvest are unblemished, free of rot, and not too mushy. Firm medium-sized zucchini are preferable as they are much more tender.
Before we begin processing the zucchini, give them a quick wash and chop them according to how you desire to use them in the future.
Simply cutting them into smaller pieces is easier and saves a lot of time but you can also grate them if you want.
Step 2: Blanching
Once you’ve cut down your zucchini to a desirable size, it’s time to blanch them. This step helps preserve the flavor and texture of the fruit.
- Place a large pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil;
- While that’s happening, prepare a bowl of ice-cold water either by filling it with cold water from the fridge or melting some ice;
- When the water comes to a rolling boil, add your zucchini to it and keep it in there for no more than 1-2 minutes. We’re not looking to turn the zucchini into a mushy mess; just a brief dip and that’s it;
- Then, immediately transfer the zucchini from the boiling water to the bowl of ice water you just prepared and let it cool.
Step 3: Dry Zucchini Properly
Because the zucchini will be wet from all the submerging, drying it thoroughly is crucial.
Once you take the zucchini out of the ice-cold bath, place it on some paper towels or kitchen towel and pat it dry.
Remove as much excess moisture as you can without squeezing the zucchini hard since that will make it weirdly soft and mushy.
Step 4: Packaging
Take your dried zucchini and divide it evenly into suitable portions.
You can either preserve the fruit in freezer bags or airtight containers but make sure whatever you use is tight and doesn’t allow air to come in.
If you want, you can label the containers or bags with a permanent marker to keep track of how long the zucchini was stored.
Step 5: Store
Store your zucchini bags in the freezer and allow them to freeze evenly. Now, you can enjoy them all year round and not worry about the next harvest.
Whenever you need the zucchini, simply take a bag or two out of the freezer, let it thaw, and enjoy!
Some dishes like stews and casseroles don’t even require thawing and you can simply just add frozen zucchini directly to the pot or mixture.
Final Words
There are other ways to preserve zucchini like canning or dehydration but freezing is definitely a simpler and much more reliable method.
In most cases, the things that you need to preserve your zucchini through freezing will be available at home.
So, what are you waiting for? Go preserve your summer harvest and enjoy it all year round!
