Things You'll Need
Summer squash
Large pot
Large bowl
Cookie sheet
Foodsaver
Foodsaver plastic bags
Summer vegetable gardens often produce squash in copious amounts. Once you have made squash casserole, bread and fricassee, and given away all the surplus your neighbors can eat, consider preserving some squash in the freezer using a Foodsaver. The Foodsaver seals food in plastic bags, removing all the air and providing an airtight seal. Foods preserved in this way stay fresher longer in the freezer. There are three models of the Foodsaver, but the basic method for freezing squash is the same for all three models.
Step 1
Choose fresh squash free of blemishes. Wash, dry and cut it into cubes or slices. Heat a large pot of water to boiling and prepare a large bowl of water half filled with ice water. Blanch the squash by dropping it in boiling water for three minutes. Remove the squash immediately with a slotted spoon and plunge it into the ice water to stop the cooking process. Blanch the squash in small batches so that the boiling water remains hot and the ice water remains cold.
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Step 2
Spread the blanched squash on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Place in the freezer and allow the individual slices to freeze completely. This preliminary step is necessary to keep the squash from forming one solid lump when it is sealed in the Foodsaver bag and frozen.
Step 3
Place the Foodsaver on a clean, dry counter or table and plug it in. Open the lid—if it does not readily open, you may need to push down on the star designs to release the locks. Remove the pre-frozen squash from the cookie sheets and place in Foodsaver plastic bags, filling no more than three-quarters full.
Step 4
Push the open end of one of the plastic bags of squash into the slot on the Foodsaver and close the lid. If you have the Vac 550 model, you may need to push the locks in on both sides; the 1050 model will require you to pull the locks forward to pop them into place.
Step 5
Push the "On" button and then wait while the Foodsaver seals the bag. A series of lights will come on and then turn off when the bag is sealed. You can then remove the bag and seal the next bag. Place the sealed bags of squash in the freezer, where they will remain fresh for two to three years.
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