How to Freeze & Preserve Zucchini

Freeze and preserve zucchini to enjoy it once the growing season ends.

When you have a fresh supply of zucchini, you can freeze it to enjoy the vegetable throughout the year. Zucchini can be sliced in a variety of ways before you place it in the freezer. This makes it easier to add the thawed zucchini to recipes. Before you can freeze zucchini, it needs to be blanched to stop the enzymes from developing. The enzymes can change the color, texture and flavor of the zucchini, which will ruin its overall quality.

Things You'll Need

• Cool water
• Knife or grater
• Pot
• Colander
• Ice water
• Zipper sealed bag or airtight container

Instructions

1. Rinse the zucchini under cool water. Remove dirt, debris and pesticides from the vegetable.

2. Cut the zucchini to the desired size strips or rounds with a knife or grater. You can also dice or grate the zucchini.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place the zucchini into the water. Blanch large slices for 3 minutes and grated or diced pieces for 1 to 2 minutes.

4. Drain the zucchini in a colander. Immediately place the zucchini into ice water to prevent them from cooking.

5. Place the cooled zucchini in a zipper sealed bag or airtight container. Leave at least an inch of space at the top to allow the zucchini to expand when you freeze it. Label the zucchini with a date and place the zucchini the freezer.

References

• Iowa State University: Freezing fruits and vegetables
• University of Vermont: Freezing Vegetables
• University of Missouri: Blanch Vegetables Before Freezing