Can I freeze Zucchini? The answer is YES! I love having zucchini in the freezer to pull out for my favorite zucchini baked goods. People often ask me how to prepare zucchini so they can freeze it. I decided to write this How to Freeze Zucchini for Baking post to help anyone who might be drowning in zucchinis that they don’t know what to do with. Talking about the food you can freeze, also check out these Meals You can Make with Pantry and Freezer Ingredients.
Zucchinis can get very large. If you have a zucchini plant, you have probably seen for yourself just how quickly they can go from, “Hmm, I’m not sure if this is ready to pick.” to “Holy Cow! This thing is huge!”
I typically only use the “Holy Cow! This thing is huge!” size for freezing because I use the normal-sized ones for yummy zucchini dinners and side dishes. These are my favorites: Sauteed Zucchini and Yellow Squash with Garlic and Parmesan, Sausage and Zucchini Lasagna Rolls, Chicken and Zucchini Skillet with Cannellini Beans, and Zucchini Cheese Bake.
Baking with Shredded Zucchini
- Chocolate Zucchini Sheet Cake
- The BEST Zucchini Bread Recipe
- Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Banana Zucchini Bread
- Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
I hope this is helpful for those of you who are looking for ways to preserve and store zucchini to use later.
The tools needed for prepping THE zucchini FOR FREEZING
- Good Knife
- Regular spoon
- Cutting board
- Cheese grater or food processor (I prefer a food processor. It is much faster if you are doing large batches.)
- Quart-size freezer Ziploc bags
- Large bowl
- Black Sharpie Marker
- 1 cup measuring cup
HOW TO FREEZE ZUCCHINI FOR BAKING
- So to get started with the freezing process, you need to wash and de-seed the large zucchinis.
- I cut them in half with my knife and use a spoon to scrape out all of the seeds and pulp.
- Give them a quick rinse and set them on the cutting board.
- Depending on if you are using a cheese grater or a food processor, you will want to cut them into manageable pieces.
- When I use my food processor, I cut them in long strips that are an inch or two wide so they can fit in the opening of my food processor easily. When I use a cheese grater, I usually just cut them in half or thirds so it is easier to hold onto the chuck while I am grating it.
- Whichever method you are using, it works best to do all of the shredding at once and empty the shredded zucchini into a large bowl.
- When you finish all the batches of shredding, use a 1 cup measuring cup and measure slightly packed cupfuls of zucchini into freezer bags.
- I like to do some with 2 cups and some with 4 cups. I do them in those sizes because I know those are the measurements for the recipes I like to use.
- You can do whatever measurements you prefer in your bags, but I suggest looking at your favorite recipes to get an idea of what would be the most efficient way to measure the zucchini out for you.
- After I have the zucchini measured into the bags, I make sure to get as much of the air out of the bag as I possibly can. Then I flatten the bag so that they will stack better in my freezer.
- At this point, you need to make sure that you label and date the zucchini. I also write how many cups I put in the bag.
- Now the only thing left to do is put them in the freezer and let them freeze. They can stay in your freezer for a long time. I have used mine for up to 9 months after freezing it.
Tips for Thawing the Frozen Shredded Zucchini
- When you are ready to use the frozen shredded zucchini in a recipe, you can either take it out of the freezer a day in advance and keep it in the fridge or on the counter.
- You can also do a water soak to help it thaw out a little quicker.
- I even thaw mine in the microwave if I am in a hurry. I just put it on defrost until it is ready. And then I am ready to make delicious zucchini baked goods like my favorite Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. YUM!
Savory Zucchini Recipes
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There is always a lot of water when I thaw my zucchini. Should I use that water in my recipes or drain it off? Also the 2 cups of shredded turns into about 1 cup after frozen. How do I adjust?
I usually add it. I haven’t ever noticed that it makes a difference, but I figure if the moisture would have been there if it was fresh that I better add it in. If I know it was two cups before frozen and it only looks like a cup after it was frozen, I still just use the “cup” Does that make sense?
I love zucchini soup. I love to make it when is hot outside… is so nutritional and tasty.
Can you post your recipe! Please Tia
Can you share the recipe?
Not sure where my first post went? I asked this before but can’t see it now. Do you grate it with the rind on to freeze or peel it first. The pictures look like the rind is still on. Thanks.
Hi Susan, I leave the rind on. If the zucchini’s are really huge I take the seeds out, but if they are small I just grate the whole things.
So if the recipe calls for 2 c. fresh zucchini and the 2c. reduces to 1 c. frozen do you use 2 c. frozen or just put in the 1 c. that it reduced to???
Hi Lonnie, I freeze two cup portions and then just what comes out, the one cup frozen, when I make it.
That isn’t clear to me. If you freeze 2 cups of shredded zucchini and it reduces to 1 cup after thawing is that really 2 cups amount? Thanks so much!
Hi Eliza, I don’t understand the science of why it shrinks, but it still works in the bread. I have never had issue with it not turning out right when I use my premeasured zucchini from the freezer, even if it has shrunk.
Maria,
The zucchini in your picture looks like it wasn’t peeled. Do you peel it first before freezing, or is it ok with the rind on it still?
So sorry to be answering this late, My comments got really backed up….I always leave it on.
To avoid the water in frozen zucchini I do not let it thaw completely when I put it in my batter. I let it thaw in the bag on the counter and when it has warmed up just enough that you can separate the shreds a little I break it up and put it in the batter.
Great tip, Thanks Sheree!