Freeze the zucchini: To preserve the fruit vegetables
Contents
You still have zucchini left? You can freeze the summer vegetables wonderfully and enjoy them even months later. We tell you what you need to pay attention to.
Sliced zucchinis can be easily frozen - both raw and blanched
wikinus.com/photo
Freezing zucchini is often not recommended.
The argument: especially large zucchini contain a lot of water,
which can make them quickly become mushy after thawing.
But you should not be put off by this.
When freezing zucchini, the right preparation is crucial.
Storing at temperatures of -18 degrees Celsius preserves nutrients,
taste and appearance as much as possible.
So you can enjoy the delicious fruit vegetables even when the season is over.
Freeze the zucchini: How to do it
To freeze raw zucchini, the washed and chopped vegetables are first sprinkled with salt. Leave it to soak in for a few minutes, pour off the escaping water and freeze the pieces of zucchini in freezer-proof containers. To freeze zucchini blanched, place the pieces in boiling salted water for two to four minutes. Then, quench the vegetables in ice water, dab them dry and place them in freezing containers.
When should zucchini be harvested for freezing?
Depending on the time of sowing, zucchinis (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina)
can be harvested from mid-June to October.
Even two to three plants usually produce more fruit than can be used fresh.
But don't wait too long before harvesting: Courgettes taste best
when they are about 10 to 15 centimeters long and their skin is still thin and soft.
Larger fruits are often very watery on the inside,
while smaller zucchinis are generally firmer
and more aromatic - and are also better suited to freezing.
Since the fruits are harvested unripe, they have a limited shelf life.
In the refrigerator, they keep for a maximum of one week.
To enjoy them even in the cold season, you can freeze the zucchinis.
Basically, you should not peel zucchini,
because many valuable vitamins and minerals are in the skin.
To be on the safe side, you can also do the taste test:
If the zucchini tastes bitter, it is poisonous and should be disposed of.
Smaller zucchinis with firm flesh are suitable for freezing
wikinus.com/photo
How to freeze raw zucchinis?
Before putting raw zucchinis in the freezer, it is recommended to add salt.
It extracts water from the vegetables and leaves them relatively crisp after defrosting.
To do this, wash the fresh zucchinis carefully,
dab the vegetables dry with kitchen paper and cut them into slices or cubes.
Now place the pieces in a sieve placed over a bowl.
Sprinkle some salt on the zucchinis and leave to soak for a few minutes.
Pour off any water that escapes and place the pieces of
zucchini - as airtight as possible - in a freezer-proof container.
Alternatively, you can also use a freezer bag, which you close with a special clip.
It is best to label the container with the freezing date, quantity and contents.
This will give you a better overview of your stocks in the freezer.
When raw, zucchinis can be kept in the freezer for about 6 to 12 months.
How can blanched zucchini be frozen?
Zucchini can also be frozen blanched.
When blanching, the vegetables are briefly heated in boiling water.
Heating kills off any microorganisms and the fresh color of the vegetables
is better preserved. Cut the vegetables into small pieces and place them
in boiling salted water for about two to four minutes.
After blanching the vegetables briefly in a bowl of ice water,
dab them dry thoroughly with kitchen paper and place them in
freezer bags or freezer boxes. You can also freeze zucchini if you
have already processed the vegetables in a dish,
for example in a stew, grilled or stuffed in the oven.
Frozen, pre-cooked zucchini can be kept for about four to eight months.
Defrost zucchinis properly
Defrosted zucchini should be processed as soon as possible.
You can put the frozen vegetables directly into the pot or pan for cooking.
However, the cooking time is shorter than for fresh ones.
If the zucchini have become very mushy, you can still make a soup or stew from them.
The season of zucchinis can be extended by marinating them with spices, herbs and other summer vegetables
Other methods of conservation
You can also store zucchini processed as pesto.
Puree the steamed vegetables and mix them with grated
parmesan, olive oil, pepper and salt.
Similar to cucumbers, zucchini can also be pickled.
Cut the vegetables into small pieces, boil the zucchinis in a broth of
vinegar, sugar and spices and pour everything hot into preserving jars.
Turn the jars upside down for a few minutes and let them cool down.
Onions, peppers or chillies are suitable as delicious partners in the jar.
Those who love antipasti should try zucchini in marjoram marinade.
No comments for "Freeze the zucchini: To preserve the fruit vegetables"
Post a Comment