How to Save and Freeze Zucchini – Don’t Throw them Out

What to do when you have a plethora of zucchini? Freeze them of course! Save and Freeze Zucchini is a super simple job and helps to saves so much time and money in the winter when you are desperate for fresh ingredients for various recipes. Recipes like Zucchini bread, of course! Keep reading for tips on how you too can Freeze fresh zucchini to have it all winter long.

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Published August 11, 2023
Monica is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commission incomes by advertising and linking to Monica’s Scratch Kitchen Blog.

This post is all about how to save cost on winter zucchini needs with tips on how to Freeze Zucchini for year-round freshness. These tips and tricks can help you properly clean, shred and prepare your zucchini to be frozen.

Cost breakdown for this recipe

$0.00
Literally. I am beside myself with joy and thanks that my cousin Angie gifted me a few zucchinis from her garden. These babies were massive. Like, huge. Like, they went away or three weeks and left the sprinklers on and forgot they had a garden, huge. Like the summer was unbearably hot and the zucchinis grew out of control, huge.

However, if you are going to buy a bunch of Zucchini from the store, the cost can vary based on the time of year that they were purchased.

This past August, my aunt and uncle hosted a party at their house to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. While we were there, ready to leave, she piled zucchinis into my arms and said I had to take them all. No one wanted them, you see. Who am I to say no to a free zucchini?!

Instead of them going bad, sitting on our countertop, these giant beauties had to be cleaned and processed so that we could enjoy them all winter. Especially when food cost

What to use with frozen zucchini?

There are many uses for frozen and shredded zucchini. You can make it into bread, pancakes, soup and more. Zucchini Bread is moist, delicious and so easy to make. Click the link below for the full recipe.

Zucchini Bread

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is also amazingly delicious to eat. Click the link below for the full recipe.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

4 Must Have Items to Freeze Zucchini

#1 – The Sharpest Vegetable Peeler EVER

You’ve all had that night, when the Cutco salesperson comes to your house and does the knife demonstration in order to sell the set. With the price tag, these knives have always been well outside of our budget. However, the first time we did have a pitch, we were gifted a vegetable peeler for our time.

This Cutco Vegetable Peeler is sharp and has stayed sharp in the 10 years of having it.

Vegetable peelers do not have to be just for vegetables. You can use them to peel fruit as well. Often, this peeler is used to peel apples prior to making applesauce as well as carrots, zucchini, and sometimes asparagus stems.

#2 – Sink Colander to Wash the Zucchini

When processing or using fresh fruit or vegetables, it is very important to clean them before use. Not only can they have dirt, but also residual pesticides and particulates that can cause illness and sickness.

My favorite sink colander is this Makerstep Premium Quality Over the Sink Colander Strainer Basket. It extends over most sink sizes, is stainless steel for easy cleaning and dishwasher safe.

Having the extending sides keeps this colander off the sink basin and keeps your food safe from the dirt and bacteria on the surface of the sink.

#3 – Cuisinart Food Processor

My mother-in-law gifted me my first Cuisinart Food Processor the other year as a gift, and I can honestly say I do not know how cooking survived before this magical machine.

The bowl, top, funnel, chopping blade and shredder attachments are ALL dishwasher safe. How easy is that?!

I have made pizza crust, mayonnaise, balsamic vinaigrette, shredded cheese, salsa, sliced vegetables and fruit, made pizza sauce and more with this Food Processor. Its uses are practically endless, and I can say whole heartedly that ours is used daily. It is a must-have tool when shredding zucchini to freeze.

#4 – AMAZING Bag Holder Stand

Recipe

This dandy little green stand is my go-to tool when bagging items in the kitchen. From shredded zucchini to fruit, this tool is a cook’s best friend.

Simply fold over the bag, protecting the zipper seal from getting full of food, then tuck it into the grips while in a standing position. It holds your bag, from sandwich to gallon-size, open while filling. The stand arms fold down for easy storage and stays standing while in use.

This Rubio Baggy Holder has been a game changer while prepping food to be frozen or even loading snacks while on the go, keeping your hands free for work.

Ingredients to Save and Freeze Zucchini

1 Zucchini
Freezer Safe Bags
Food Processor

Directions to Save and Freeze Zucchini

1. The first step in freezing zucchini is to wash them to make sure all dirt and debris is cleaned off.
If you purchased zucchini from the store, make sure you wash them well to get any dirt, debris, pesticides or bugs off the surfaces.

2. Cut the ends off of the zucchinis and use a vegetable peeler to peel the skins off.

3. Then cut the zucchinis in half and use a spoon to scoop out the guts and seeds.

4. Using a knife, slice the zucchinis on a cutting board so they are able to fit into the feeding tube of the food processor.

5. Place the shredding attachment into the Cuisinart Food Processor, place the lid on top and then process all of the zucchinis until they are all shredded.

6. Using a measuring cup, measure out 2 cups shredded zucchini and place it into a freezer safe bag.

Using a bag stand, like this Rubio Bag Holder, helps to hold the gallon-sized bag open fully to help get the zucchini shreds into the bag cleanly. This is useful when transferring many a food item into the bags and helps keep the edges clean if folded over before tucked into the grips. Check it out HERE to see it on Amazon.

7. Close the freezer bag, remove all of the air and then label the bag with the item inside and also the date.

8. Finally, place the shredded and bagged zucchini into the freezer.

When you need or want to use it, just remove it the night before and place it into the fridge to thaw. Just make sure to place a bowl or large plate under the frozen zucchini in the bag to catch any drips. This is the best way to save and freeze zucchini to have it all year round.

This post was all about how to shred a plethora of zucchini and then freeze zucchini. Shredding and then freezing zucchini can then allow you to have fresh zucchini during colder months when supply is low, and cost is high.
~Monica

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