Make the most of fresh zucchini and summer squash with all the tips you need for how to freeze zucchini. Learn how to freeze zucchini for baking, freeze it without cooking, and the best way to freeze it for soups, sauces, and more.

How to Freeze Zucchini

Three are three basic ways to freeze zucchini that I plan to share in this post. Each one varies in the amount of prep time involved and are best suited to specific uses after freezing.

We’ll cover how to freeze zucchini without cooking it, how to freeze shredded zucchini, and how to freeze blanched zucchini—and how to use each of them once frozen.

Plus, there are tips for our favorite zucchini recipes to make whenever you’re ready.

Ingredients You Need

To freeze zucchini, all you need is zucchini. Any traditional or heirloom variety of green zucchini will work with these methods, as well yellow summer squash.

If working with a very large zucchini, you may find very large seeds inside. You can skip grating that part of the interior of the zucchini if you prefer.

How to Freeze Zucchini for Baking

If you primarily want to preserve zucchini to have it on hand for baked goods like Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Carrot Muffins, and Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, freezing shredded zucchini in the amounts you typically use in your recipes is the easiest option.

The main goal with this method is to remove the water in the zucchini to prevent the baked goods from being too wet on the inside.

1. To do this, you’ll grate the zucchini on a box grater or in a food processor.
2. Place it into a clean kitchen towel, wrap up, and squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
3. Discard the liquid (or use it in cocktails or to flavor water), and measure out the shredded zucchini in ½ or 1 cup amounts.
4. Add to freezer bags, press flat, and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 1 year.

How to Freeze Raw Zucchini

If you want to do as little work as possible, freezing sliced zucchini without cooking it is my go-to method.

Once frozen, you can add zucchini to smoothies—any kind is fine, though it’s great in this Chocolate Smoothie or Blueberry Smoothie. Or, you can add directly to a pan to cook into Zucchini Pasta Sauce. Since that sauce is pureed at the end, the texture of the zucchini doesn’t matter.

(Raw zucchini that is frozen and then cooked can be a little mushy or squeaky.)

How to Blanch Zucchini for Soups, Stir Fries, and More

If you want to use frozen zucchini in Ratatouille, Veggie Soup, Zucchini Stir Fry, or any recipe where it will not be blended, this is your best bet. To blanch and freeze zucchini, here’s what you’ll do:

1. Dice the zucchini.
2. Add it to a pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Lift out with a big slotted spoon and drain. Place onto a clean kitchen towel to dry and cool completely.
3. Transfer to a freezer bag in one flat later. Remove as much air as possible with a straw and seal. Freeze for up to 1 year.
4. To use, add frozen zucchini right into your recipe.

Zucchini Recipes to Try

Below are some of our favorite zucchini recipes that you can make with frozen zucchini using the methods listed above.

How to Store

Add the prepped zucchini to a freezer bag in a flat layer. Seal almost all the way, then remove the air with your mouth or a straw. Seal. This creates a sort of DIY vacuum seal. Freeze for up to 1 year.

Best Tips for Success

• Discard the stems of the zucchini before preparing.
• Use yellow summer squash or green zucchini.
• Remove as much liquid as you can from the shredded zucchini before freezing. This will make it ready to use in your baked goods.
• Let frozen shredded zucchini thaw and remove any moisture you see before adding to a baked good recipe.
• Add frozen raw or blanched zucchini directly to recipes still frozen.

Related Recipes

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