How to Freeze Zucchini (3 Ways!)

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Ever had too much zucchini in the summer?study How to Freeze Zucchini is an easy and effective way to keep it fresh so you can enjoy it and keep cooking Zucchini Recipes – long after the growing season is over. While frozen zucchini isn’t exactly the same as fresh thawed zucchini, it’s still delicious and versatile!

Can you freeze zucchini?

Yes, you can freeze zucchini. For the best texture, though, you’ll need to take extra steps to prepare it before freezing.

3 Ways to Freeze Zucchini

You can freeze zucchini in 3 different shapes, depending on how you want to use it:

slice – This method cuts with the least effort.Frozen zucchini slices are great for stir fry, Soupor casserole. It’s often too mushy as a side dish by itself, though.
Shredded – Unlike other methods, this method does not require blanching and can be frozen raw. The texture will change more than other methods, though, so it’s best for baking.
Noodle – frozen Zucchini Noodles Or “zoodles” are spiralized zucchini, and yes, you can freeze them!you can eat them with sauce side dishor add them to casseroles, soups, or stir-fries just like sliced zucchini.

When using any of these methods, avoid using frozen zucchini for salads or other lettuces, as the texture will change. Freezing whole zucchini is also not recommended as it is difficult to blanch and becomes mushy more easily.

Three ways how to freeze zucchini in freezer bags.

How to Freeze Zucchini Slices

piece. Using a sharp knife, slice zucchini into slices.
Blanche. Bring a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Prepare an ice bath (just put water and ice cubes in a large bowl). When the water boils, add the zucchini slices and cook for a while.
Shock. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer the zucchini to the ice bath. (This “shocks” it and prevents further cooking.)

Place the zucchini slices in the ice bath.

dry. Pat the zucchini dry with paper towels.
flash freeze. Spread zucchini in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze zucchini slices until solid.
Long-term preservation. Transfer to freezer bags and return to freezer.

Pat the zucchini slices dry with paper towels.

Transfer zucchini slices to freezer bags.

How to Freeze Shredded Zucchini

grate. Shred the zucchini with a knife food processor or a box grater.
squeeze. Transfer the chopped zucchini to cheesecloth and squeeze out excess water.

dry. Pat the zucchini dry with paper towels.
flash freeze. Transfer to a freezer bag, remove excess air, and freeze shredded zucchini.

Pat the chopped zucchini dry with paper towels.

Freeze chopped zucchini in zip lock bags.

How to Freeze Zucchini Noodles

Spiralize. Make zoodles using a Spiralizer. (For more tips on spiralizing zucchini and how to make zucchini with other tools, check out my guide Here are the zucchini noodles.)
Blanche. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Prepare an ice bath. Briefly blanch the zucchini noodles in the pot.

Shock. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer the zucchini to the ice bath. (Same as above, this prevents overcooking.)
dry. Pat the zucchini dry with paper towels.

Pat dry zucchini noodles with paper towels.

flash freeze. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze zucchini noodles until solid.
Long-term preservation. Transfer frozen zoodles to zip lock bags and return to freezer.

Arrange zucchini spirals on a baking sheet.

Tips for Freezing Zucchini

Freezing zucchini is easy, but here are some key tips to ensure it retains its flavor and texture:

Smaller zucchini freeze better. This is because they have less water content. However, you can still freeze any size.
wash first. Since frozen zucchini are already cut and are often used immediately in recipes, wash them before cutting.
Bleach is crucial. This inactivates the enzymes that cause the zucchini to break down, preserving its texture, color and flavor. However, if you plan to use zucchini in a baking recipe and the texture of the vegetable is not important, blanching may not be necessary – which is why we don’t need to blanch shredded zucchini.
Dry well. To prevent frostbite, drain and dry zucchini before freezing.
Flash freeze first. Freeze the zucchini in a single layer first to prevent them from sticking together. Once set, you can transfer to containers or freezer bags.
Remove excess air, but do not crowd together. Once transferred to the freezer bag, remove as much air as possible to prevent frostbite. However, don’t stuff the zucchini into a bag, as some air circulation will help preserve the quality.
Use serving size containers. For quick thawing and reheating, freeze zucchini in portion-size containers for easy use in recipes. (See ideas below!)

storage method

There are several different ways to store frozen vegetables, each with its pros and cons:

Freezer bags: Frozen zucchini are the most popular choice because they are easy to use, inexpensive, and don’t take up much freezer space. However, they don’t offer the strongest protection against freezer burn.
Vacuum sealed bags: The best way to get out as much air as possible and minimize freezer burn.i’m obsessed with this And use it every day (not just for the fridge, use its included glass container to keep fridge leftovers longer!). The downside to freezing zucchini in vacuum-sealed bags is that they are packed more tightly, which affects the texture slightly.
glass container: i like these and use them to prepare meals. They’re strong enough to prevent freezer burn, but they take up a lot of freezer space and can be more difficult to stack and organize.
Portion Silicone Trays: This is actually my favorite method because I can store the correct portion for different recipes. this is my favorite setcome in different sizes.

There are several ways to thaw frozen zucchini, but the easiest way is to put it in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you can thaw it by placing it in a bowl of cold water for a few hours or using the microwave’s defrost setting. Squash usually releases extra water as it thaws, so you’ll usually want to drain it.

Ways to Use Frozen Zucchini

You can use frozen zucchini in a variety of recipes! Whether you slice, shred or freeze your zucchini for noodles, there are many ways to use it:

baked goods – Chocolate Chips with Shredded Zucchini Zucchini Muffinshealthy Almond Flour Zucchini Bread (even Keto Zucchini Bread), or Zucchini Brownies.
casserole – add it to Ratatouille,cheesy Zucchini Casseroleor my favorite recipe for everything but the kitchen sink, Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole.
Egg – Fold sliced or shredded zucchini into Omelet Or your favorite breakfast casserole.If you have many, make a Zucchini Quiche!
soups and stews – Of course, you can Zucchini Soup use it! This is great for zucchini cut any way as it will be blended.Frozen shredded zucchini can also add flavor and texture to other pureed soups, such as Butternut Squash Soup or split pea soup.Or, add frozen zucchini noodles vegetable soupthe rest turkey soupor as a substitute for pasta in any noodle soup.
Noodle – Freeze zoodles, defrost them, and serve with your favorite sauces, such as Marinara, Pestoor alfredo.
fritters – tacky Zucchini Fritters is one of my favorite ways to use shredded zucchini in the fridge.
stir fry – Throw some sliced frozen zucchini straight into the Chicken Stir Fry or vegetable stir fry. You don’t even have to thaw it first!
smoothie – add it to green Detox Smoothie or Strawberry Avocado Smoothie A delicious and nutritious way to start your day.

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instruct

Click on the time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while cooking.

How to Freeze Shredded Zucchini:

Shred the zucchini with a knife food processor or a box grater.
Transfer the zucchini to cheesecloth and squeeze out excess water.
Pat the zucchini dry with paper towels.
Transfer the chopped zucchini to a freezer bag and freeze.

How to Freeze Sliced or Diced Zucchini:

use one sharp knifeslice the zucchini into 1/4-inch (or 1/2-inch) slices.
bring one pot Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a bowl of water with ice.
Add the zucchini slices to the pot and bring to a boil 1 minute. (Do not add salt.)
use one colander Immediately transfer the zucchini to the ice water bath.let it sit 3 minutes.
Drain zucchini and pat dry with paper towels.
Spread the sliced zucchini on a board bakeware in a single layer.Freeze until solid, approx. 1-3 hours.
Once the zucchini has set, transfer it to a freezer bag and return to the freezer.

How to Freeze Zucchini Noodles:

use one Spiralizerspiralize zucchini to make zoodles.
Put a pot of water in a bowl and heat over medium heat. Meanwhile, prepare a bowl of water with ice.
Add the zucchini noodles to the pot and bring to a boil 1 minute. (Do not add salt.)
Immediately transfer the zucchini to the ice water bath with a slotted spoon.let it sit 3 minutes.
Drain zucchini and pat dry with paper towels.
Spread the zoodles in a single layer on a baking sheet.Freeze until solid, approx. 1-3 hours.
Once the zoodles have solidified, transfer them to a freezer bag and return to the freezer.

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recipe notes

Serving Size: 1 cup

nutrient content

Amount per serving. Serving sizes in recipe instructions above.

calories 33

fat 0.6 grams

protein 2.4 grams

total carbohydrates 6.1 grams

net carbs 4.1 grams

fiber 2 grams

sugar 4.9 grams

Nutrition Facts are provided as a courtesy. Questions about calculations or why do I get different results?Please view our nutrition policy.

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