Can You Freeze Courgettes: Courgettes or zucchini, no matter what you call it, are great in so many dishes. They go with Stews, traybakes, and salads. However, there is only one downside to courgettes, which is that they get soft and mushy if they are kept for a long time.
So you might wonder, can you freeze courgettes? Have a look and find out how to freeze courgettes, how long frozen courgettes last, how to thaw frozen courgettes, how to use frozen courgettes, how to refreeze them etc.
- Can You Freeze Courgettes?
- Why Freeze Courgettes?
- How To Freeze Courgettes?
- Can You Freeze Courgettes Without Blanching?
- Can You Freeze Cooked Courgettes?
- How Long Do Frozen Courgettes Last?
- How To Defrost Courgettes?
- Can You Refreeze Courgettes?
- Do Courgettes Freeze Well?
- How To Use Frozen Courgettes?
- Interesting Facts On Courgettes
- Is it mandatory to blanch courgettes before freezing them?
- Does freezing extend the shelf life of courgettes?
- Is it possible to refreeze courgettes?
Can You Freeze Courgettes?
Yes, you can freeze courgettes both before and after cooking. If placed in the freezer they can live upto 3 months. The best way to freeze them is to slice them, Blanche them and place them into airtight freezer bags.
Why Freeze Courgettes?
Freezing courgettes is one of the best methods to extend their shelf life. If you have a large number of leftover courgettes, freezing them is always a good option.
Courgettes stay in the fridge for 3-5 days, but they do start to get softer after a certain period of time and the coldness of the fridge can make them go mushy and spoiled completely in about a week. So it’s always better to freeze them.
How To Freeze Courgettes?
Given below are the various steps involved in freezing Courgettes:
- Firstly courgettes contain high water content hence make sure to blanche them properly
- Boil the courgettes for about a minute.
- Drain the courgettes and get rid of the excess water
- Place the veggie in a freezer bag or an airtight container
Can You Freeze Courgettes Without Blanching?
Yes, you can perfectly freeze courgettes without blanching them. However, there is a risk of losing more nutrients, flavor, and texture but it is safe to freeze them even without blanching them.
Can You Freeze Cooked Courgettes?
Yes, you can freeze courgettes even if they are cooked. To freeze cooked courgettes, first, allow them to cool completely. Place them on a piece of baking paper and then freeze them. Once they have solidified, you can place them in a freezer bag for easy storage.
How Long Do Frozen Courgettes Last?
If kept in the freezer, courgettes last up to three months. If kept longer there is a high chance that the veggies get freezer burn. This will in turn change the flavour of the courgettes.
How To Defrost Courgettes?
Courgettes can be considered one of the easiest vegetables that can be frozen and taste best when cooked straight from frozen. Frozen courgettes can be used to thicken pasta sauces, soups, stews, etc.
It’s very easy to thaw courgettes. If you want to defrost the veggie, take the quantity you need out of the freezer place it in a bowl, and put it in the fridge to defrost. It won’t be too long before your courgettes are defrosted and ready to use.
Know More:
Can You Refreeze Courgettes?
As mentioned earlier, Courgettes have high water content. This helps freeze them easily the first time. However, when you defrost and then refreeze them, there are high chances of drawing in moisture out of the courgettes. This will in turn make them flavourless. Hence refreezing is never recommended in the case of this veggie.
Do Courgettes Freeze Well?
Frozen courgettes will never be the same as fresh courgettes. Frozen courgettes will lose their original texture and there will be a change in taste. As long as you are careful, you can easily freeze and use your courgettes without too many problems. To make sure that they freeze well use the blanching technique to reduce the amount of texture change there is.
How To Use Frozen Courgettes?
Frozen courgettes can go into the making of several dishes. These include:
- Soups
- Smoothies
- Oatmeal
- Courgette hummus
- Sauce
- Salads
In fact, this veggie can be served as a side dish with various dishes.
Check out other articles on Can You Freeze Roasted Vegetables to become familiar with details related.
Interesting Facts On Courgettes
Given below are some lesser-known facts about Courgettes:
- Though treated as a veggie, courgettes are fruits.
- The flowers of this veggie are edible
- The word zucchini which is another name by which courgettes are known means small gourd.
FAQs on Can Courgettes Be Frozen
1. Is it mandatory to blanch courgettes before freezing them?
No, it’s not necessary to blanch courgettes before freezing them. However, blanching them will ensure that the veggie retains all the nutrients and its flavour.
2. Does freezing extend the shelf life of courgettes?
Yes, frozen courgettes can last upto three months.
3. Is it possible to refreeze courgettes?
Refreezing courgettes is never a good option. When you defrost and then refreeze them, there are high chances of drawing moisture out of the courgettes. This will in turn make them flavourless.
Conclusion
You are already familiar with the different methods of storing courgettes, wandering the right way to freeze them when you have extra on hand won’t be an issue anymore.
Having a great load of courgettes is never going to overwhelm you again. Freeze your courgettes the right way to make sure that you enjoy them always! Keep connected to our site to have the latest updates on Can You Freeze Kale in a matter of no time.