Storing a bumper crop of garden zucchini in the freezer is a great way to preserve it for cooking in the cold winter months. This is a guide about freezing zucchini.
When you've shredded zucchini to freeze, use your muffin tins! Simply lightly pack each hole with the shredded zukes. Cover with plastic wrap if desired (I didn't), and put your muffin tins into the freezer until solid. When they're frozen, take the tins out, and use a table knife to gently loosen the zukes from the tin. They should pop right out. Put the frozen mounds into a Ziploc freezer bag.
Each mound will be 1/3 to 1/2 cups (measure your tin size with water and a measuring cup to make sure). They will thaw quickly. No more breaking off a hunk of zucchini, and not knowing how much is there!
Source: I think I thought of this, but I could be mistaken!
By Kim from Crawford, CO
What to do with all the zucchini that your neighbors and friends give to you.
I usually take a Sunday, or if I really have a lot to cook, what I do is break it up to a half day frying and another half day frying. Make sure you use a good skillet for this. I like to use my cast iron skillet. It is a the largest one I could find and it helps to get the zucchini done faster. But I have used my copper skillets and they work just as well. I just don't have a skillet as big as the cast iron one.
The idea is after it is breaded, fry until the outside is not brown but still very pale but has a hard coating on it. Drain on paper towels and after cooled enough wrap in foil or freezer wrap, putting wax paper between the layers. This way you can take the amount you need off without disturbing the rest of the zucchini and it keeps it from freezing together. Wrap tight so you do not get freezer burn. And when you take it out of the freezer, you will just have to finish frying it untill golden brown. Which takes about 10-15 minutes depending on how high or low the heat is. Remember to cover but keep a check as it usually cooks fast the second time because you have pretty much done the cooking and everything before.
After zucchini is sliced, dip it in eggs. Depending on how much zucchini you are making helps you to decide how many eggs you use. Also bear in mind, you dip it in eggs and flour once and repeat.
If you are not really sure, try a small amount for dinner.
I would use:
Now after you have tried this, you should have a Idea about what amounts of oil, eggs, and flour, salt, pepper or anything else you usually use.
Also it is a good time to shred your zucchini for bread, cakes, muffins or cookie recipes you have and there is half the work done. Believe me it saves a lot of time. I measure out what I need for the recipes, put the zucchini in freezer bags and label them and freeze.
It is so nice to just grab a bag and make my recipe and the shredding is all done and I love it!
P.S don't forget to drain the water off after it is defrosted. Just stick in a pan of warm water and it will defrost quickly. I have frozen zucchini for 4 months and it has been great as long as it is wrapped well. It is just so good I have not had the chance to freeze longer. You usually end up using it when company comes. Cookies for school and you can ice the cookies also.
Well I hope if you try this, all will go well. It has worked for me and it makes it nice if you are out of vegies, just use these. I have been thinking about trying zucchini sticks and using ranch dressing for a dipping sauce next. Bye, Good Luck and enjoy.
By Darlene from Fairview, PA
Can I freeze zucchini whole?
By Christel from Cleveland, SC
By lynnt
10/30/2010
I wonder if you could freeze this whole if you freeze with dry ice? Alton Brown once did that with whole strawberries on his show and he said they froze so fast that they didn't get all mushy like regular freezing. I have no idea what dry ice costs, but it might be worth trying out. Same goes for whole peaches, blueberries. You could buy a little of several things and while you have the dry ice, freeze a variety of things. It only takes a couple of minutes. Then thaw the next day and see how they come out.
Is it possible to freeze courgettes?
By Geoff
By lori104
08/29/2011
I grate all my zucchini and measure out by the cup, then bag it and freeze it. When I want to make zucchini bread its all ready to use, I just defrost it.
When freezing zucchini, do l shredded it after I cook it and then freeze it?
By Susan from lN
By mom-from-missouri
06/29/2010
I, too, just shred and freeze in a freezer bag. For fried or baked zucchini, I slice it and bread it, freeze on a cookie sheet then put into a bag and put into the freezer. I do the same with my okra.
How do I dry zucchini after blanching and before freezing? I've tried blotting and air drying. After freezing, the zucchini gets icy from all the moisture.
Hardiness Zone: 7b
By Sumac from Arlington,WA
By mgw10146
08/28/2010
Try just slicing and freezing straight from the garden. After 60 yr of freezing foods, I was told just this summer (too late for me to try) to avoid all the water in squash, do not blanch. Wash the whole squash, slice and freeze.
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