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Here’s how to freeze zucchini! It’s the best way to preserve this vegetable if you’re not sure how to use it.
Got a zucchini to use up and not sure what to do with it? Sure, you can make zucchini bread. But for the most versatile method, try popping it in the freezer! Yes, frozen zucchini works well and you can cook it like you would a fresh zucchini. Even better: it takes just minutes to prepare it for the freezer. Here are the tricks to how to freeze zucchini, and a few recipes for using it!
How to freeze zucchini
How to use up extra zucchini? Zucchini bread, zucchini muffins, and zucchini cake are often the answer. But sometimes, there’s not time for baking. (Or maybe you’ve already baked all the things!) That’s where freezing comes in!
For many vegetables, you have to blanch them before freezing: a quick dip in boiling water to help lock in the bright color and texture of the vegetable. But this isn’t required for zucchini, since cooking starts to bread down its delicate texture. This makes it even simpler to prepare than other veggies! Here’s how to freeze zucchini:
- Slice the zucchini into 3/8-inch thick rounds.
- Place the rounds on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for 1 hour.
- Transfer to a sealable freezer-proof bag. Freeze for 6 to 8 months.
Ways to use frozen zucchini
Frozen zucchini works in recipes that call for fresh zucchini. Keep in mind, you may need to cook the zucchini a minute or two less time than the recipe calls for since the freezing process can slightly soften the vegetable. Here are a few great zucchini recipes to use it:
- Sauteed: Try Perfect Sauteed Zucchini
- Baked: Opt for Baked Zucchini
- Pasta: Make Creamy Zucchini Pasta
- Lasagna: Bake a pan of Perfect Zucchini Lasagna (freeze the zucchini in the long noodle shape)
- Casserole: Bake up a Squash and Zucchini Casserole
- Ratatouille: Make a pot of Classic Ratatouille
Can you use frozen zucchini in baked goods?
In theory, you could defrost the zucchini, chop it in a food processor, and then use it as shredded zucchini in a baked recipe. Just make sure to save all the liquid that comes out of the zucchini as it is integral to baking recipes. Full disclosure: we have not tried this, so proceed at your own risk. Test it out in:
- Bread: Try Best Zucchini Bread or Vegan Zucchini Bread
- Muffins: Go for Zucchini Muffins, Healthy Zucchini Muffins or Apple Zucchini Muffins
- Cake: Bake up Chocolate Zucchini Cake
More freezing methods
Want to freeze more fruits and vegetables? Here are a few more methods for preserving fresh food for months:
- Learn how to freeze veggies like Corn, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Zucchini, Potatoes, or Green Beans
- Opt for How to Freeze Pizza Dough or How to Freeze Bread
- Extend the life of fruit with How to Freeze Peaches, How to Freeze Blueberries or How to Freeze Bananas
How to Freeze Zucchini
Here’s how to freeze zucchini! It’s the best way to preserve this vegetable if you’re not sure how to use it.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: N/A
- Category: Frozen
- Method: Frozen
- Cuisine: N/A
Ingredients
- Zucchini
Instructions
- Slice the zucchini into 3/8-inch thick rounds.
- Place the rounds on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for 1 hour.
- Transfer to a sealable freezer-proof bag. Freeze for 6 to 8 months.
Let us know if you have any questions!