Freeze zucchini - raw or cooked?
That's the best way
Created: 08/03/2022, 16:20
By: Maria Wendel
Love zucchini but bought or harvested too many?
No problem: Zucchini can be easily frozen with our tips.
Even if zucchini can be bought in supermarkets all year round: the green vegetable is actually only in season in Germany in summer.
Garden owners will have noticed that there is a veritable zucchini flood at the moment.
You don't even know what to do with it anymore?
Have you tried all the recipes with zucchini - from zucchini salad with feta to fried zucchini snacks?
Then the solution is quite clear: make it durable.
Freezing is great for this.
This has the positive side effect that vitamins and minerals are retained.
But what is the best way to freeze zucchini?
Whether green, yellow, bought or harvested yourself: Zucchini can be preserved by freezing.
© Fascinadora/Imago
Freeze zucchini raw or cooked?
That's the best way
If you have leftovers from a delicious zucchini dish, the question is superfluous: you can then freeze the dish with the cooked zucchini.
This works, for example, for stuffed zucchini or for one-pot zucchini noodles.
The best way to do this is to pack the cooled leftovers in a storage jar, seal them airtight and put them in the freezer.
After defrosting, the zucchini may be a little mushy than before, but it still tastes good.
However, if you have too many uncooked zucchini at home, it is best to freeze them raw.
Freeze zucchini: Here's how
Wash the courgettes well, dry them and cut them into the shape of your choice: for example slices, cubes or zoodles.
Put all the pieces of zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt, mix, leave for 10 minutes.
Then shake the sieve a little so that the liquid can drain off.
If necessary, you can also dab the zucchini with a kitchen towel.
Wrap the zucchini in a tin or freezer bag and freeze.
Tip: why sprinkle zucchini with salt?
The salt pulls the water out of the vegetables, so they stay crisp after defrosting.
You can also freeze zucchini without the intermediate salt step, but they will be very soft later.
Stock: This is how long frozen zucchini will keep
Raw frozen zucchini will keep in the freezer for about 12 months.
Cooked zucchini in dishes should be consumed within six months.
It is best to write the date of the freezing day on the storage jars or freezer bags so that you do not lose track.
Take a quick look in your fridge: these foods have to go
View photo gallery
Defrost and prepare frozen zucchini
You can simply put raw frozen zucchini – still frozen – in a pot or pan and cook as usual.
Defrosting is not necessary, otherwise the zucchini will become mushy.
Put a lid on at first, later you can continue cooking the zucchini uncovered.
Turn regularly and season to taste.
If you are going to eat a frozen zucchini dish that has already been cooked, you should let it thaw first, at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.
Then heat it up, for example in the microwave.