I specifically want to know how to preserve fresh squash and green beans I do not like what freezing does to them they have no taste when cooked.If any one can help please answer. Thanks.
Squash once it hardens does pretty well just keeping it in a cool, dry place. It will keep for a long time that way. If you choose to freeze green beans it's best if you blanch them first, then lay them out on a cookie sheet in the freezer till they are frozen and bag. They retain the best flavor that way.
- Susan
I have had pretty good sucess with freezing squash by, wasing them good and allow to dry. Then cut them up however you wish. Place in freezer bags and freeze. I do not blanch them as it seems to make them mushy when thawed. I hope this will be some help to you
I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to squash. However. I raise improved pinto beans and pick and snap them when they are young and just start to plump. I then blanch them, let them dry a little, freeze them on cookie sheets and package them in vaccum seal bags.
thank u for the information on squash. freezing squash it was really helpful.but would like to know if u just use freezer bags or the vaccuum pack bags
I would to freeze fresh summer squash and green beans
WHAT DOES BLANCH MEAN
My neighbor sliced her squash, dipped it in flour , layed it out in single pieces on a large tray , put in to the freezer until frozen then into ziplock bags for ever how many you wish to fry at a time. It works!
Almost every method of freezing summer squash says to blanch it. My wife (she grew up on a farm) ignores this advice. She washes it, slices it, and puts it in zip-close freezer bags. Nothing more. Saves energy and doesn't unnecessarily heat up the kitchen. My guess is that blanching the squash is what takes the flavor out of it. Ours is always tasty just as if it had come straight out of the garden.
what if you just freeze fresh green beans without blanching first. Will they be ok?
What if you don't blanch the squash first? We have our first garden and we didn't know it had to be blanched before freezing and we have just been washing it, cutting it up, and freezing it. Will it still be edible?? :-(
Thank you
I tried freezing yellow squash a new way. I sliced and spread in a single layer in microwave and cooked for 45 seconds. Remove and cool. Place in freezer on cookie sheet in single layer until frozen - then bag. This way you can take out the amount you want to cook.
I do not freeze green beans. I can them in the pressure cooker.
My friend told me to put sliced squash on a cookie sheet and let heat through. Take the squash out of the oven and immediately put squash and cookie sheet in the freezer. Take out after about 15 minutes an bag the squash. she says the squash are not as soggy. She frys them in winter months.
I make up my squash ahead of time in whatever recipe I am using and just thaw and heat and serve later on.
You don't need to blanch it- they say it is done just to save the flavor.
-check out pick-your-own.org. It will tell you how to do just about any type of preserving.
I cook green beans, and cool completely, then freeze in zip lock bags. Months later they taste fresh from the garden.
Re: freezing green beans, I have been freezing green beans for years. cook them , without any seasoning untill they are completly cooked, cool put in freezer containers,and freeze, When you get ready to eat , put in water with your seasoning, cook untill the water is almost gone, serve.
Well I wish I would have found this web site an hour ago. I Would have followed Elaine's directions for freezing squash. (next year) Insted I cut, cleaned, cut into smaller slices and it's now boiling. When cooked I'll rine and put into freezer containers and freeze. Hope it works.
Yea can it
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Can yellow squash be frozen to fry later?
By Tina S.
Not really - it becomes mushy and watery, but you can dice it up and freeze it and throw 2 cups in every stew, soup and chili that you make all winter. It is great for that. Hope this helps.
Yes, it absolutely can! I have frozen squash in my freezer right now that I did earlier this summer. What I did was to slice it, then I put it in a zip lock bag and added plain yellow cornmeal and shook it to coat the squash.
Take a sheet pan and layer it with wax paper, put down a layer of the breaded squash, another layer of wax paper add another layer of squash till you have as many layers as the pan can handle. Cover with wax paper and freeze.
After it is frozen, you can place it in a bag, (I use a Food Saver machine), and return to the freezer. I fry it up while still frozen on my deep fryer, remove when it floats. It taste delicious and it's never been soggy at all!
Thank you, Shelyn! I've been reading how to freeze squash for later use and your comment was just what I was looking for. We like to eat our squash fried, lol. I assume this would work for pattypan and zucchini as well. Great find right here!!
How do you freeze squash so that it can be battered and fried later?
By Darlene from Laurel, MS
For freezing, I just cut it in slices, lay it on baking sheets, cover it with foil and let it freeze. After frozen, I put it in zip lock freezer bags. No blanching needed!
Go ahead and fry your squash and then drain and freeze. We especially like the sliced squash done this way. You can also cook okra ahead of time and then freeze.
My family also breads our squash and fries till lighty brown. Scoop out of skillet and put on cookie sheet and cool in freezer. Put in quart size bags and freeze.
Can I freeze squash raw?
By Robert
The short answer is yes, you can. I freeze zucchini and yellow squash every year. The squash will be watery and soft when thawed, but is still good for casseroles and breads, just drain off the excess water. This year I froze both shredded and cubed squash(es), to use in several of my favorite recipes.
Yes, slice it.
How do I freeze squash?
By Thelma
There are two ways to freeze squash. Peel and cube it and put in freezer bags or containers. When you are ready to use it, simply put it in an oven safe dish and bake or microwave it until tender. The second way is to do the cooking first and then freeze it in containers so when you want to use it you simply have to thaw and reheat. This is for the winter squash variety. Summer squash has a lot more liquid in it & does not freeze as well but I do slice zucchini and parboil it for a couple of minutes and freeze it in ziplock bags. I then add it to vegetable soups the last 15 minutes of cooking or use it in casseroles that call for sliced zucchini.
Click the paperclip link just above your question and you'll find oodles of answers in the archives. :-)
How do you freeze fresh zuchinni and summer squash?
By Sharon M.
It's easy to do. Wash your squash and cut off the stem and the blossom end on the bottom. Slice into wheels about a half inch thick and blanch in boiling water for just a few minutes. The squash turns a slightly different color when blanched. Carefully dip out into an ice/cold water bath. When cool enough to handle, pack in freezer bags.
How do you blanch squash for freezing to be used later?
By Glenn from Grand Prairie, TX
If it's summer squash, like crookneck or zucchini, blanching is not necessary. Just slice or shred the squash and package. It will be somewhat watery when it's thawed, but you can drain off the excess water and use the squash in casseroles or breads, and it's still delicious!
Can you freeze squash?
By Clevie H from Ft. Worth, TX
I cook our squash like I am going to serve it, and then freeze that, after cooling, in 'family size' servings. I never did try to blanch and freeze it.
I learned this way from my mom-in-law, who raised 7 kids, that had to be fed, and she says she didn't have time 'to cook food twice'!
This has worked better for me, even though I don't have near that size family, to just cook any vegetables as if I were going to serve them, and then freeze it that way.
How do I freeze squash?
By Shirley from Magna, UT
My husband and I wash & cut our squash, then you must blanch it for three to five minutes in boiling water (get the boil going first). We then lay it flat on a cookie sheet and put in freezer. After it freezes, I put it in bag I made with my Foodsaver sealer or a Ziplock bag (make sure you get the air out), date it and place it back in the freezer. I have used it in soups and fried it.
Now when you fry it, it may be a bit soggy from thawing, so what I do is after I batter them I fry them in layers, side by side like you would fry green tomatoes, so that it will be ''fried'' and not limp.
How do you freeze fresh yellow squash?
By carrottopp88 from Millerton, NY
Slice and batter if desired, lay on a cookie sheet and freeze, then place in baggies in freezer to store.
How do I freeze fresh squash? Do I need to blanch it first?
By Linda W.
How do I freeze squash to fry later?
By Jeanne from Holly Springs, MS
Summer squash is plentiful when in season. Whether you have a home garden, buy your squash at the market, or farmer's market, freezing is an easy way to preserve some for later. This is a page about freezing summer squash.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Looking ahead to the end-of-summer bounty of winter squashes, here's an easy way to store squash that will be immediately ready for soups, casseroles and appetizer dips.
Can someone tell me how to freeze fresh squash? I think you just cut it up and freeze it but not sure. Thanks.
