How To Freeze Zucchini (4 Methods)

If you hit up the farmers' market or grocery store, it’s likely you left with a few zucchini in your cart. This versatile vegetable can be used to make everything from zucchini muffins to squash casseroles, making it a favorite in the kitchen.

Zucchini can be fried, grilled, or sautéed to get the desired flavor and texture while still providing the sweet taste and crunch that people know and love. However, when you have extra zucchini, you might find that you want to freeze it for use at a later date. In general, the methods for freezing zucchini vary based on the type. To help make the process easier, we spoke with Chayanin Pornsriniyom, chef-instructor of Plant-Based Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education to get the lowdown on how to blanch and freeze zucchini in a few simple steps. 

Can You Freeze Zucchini?

You absolutely can freeze zucchini—and it's quite easy. But it's not as simple as placing whole or even sliced zucchini right into the freezer.

You'll need to take a few minutes to prepare zucchini for freezing. Primarily, you'll need to blanch it. Blanching helps ensure the vegetable will be vibrant once it's thawed, and it will help it retain some texture. Blanching will also help the zucchini last longer in the freezer.

How To Blanch Zucchini (And Why You Should)

Similar to many other vegetables you freeze, blanching is an important first step. “Blanching before freezing helps prevent discoloration and having the food turn mushy after thawing,” says Pornsriniyom.

Here are the steps for blanching zucchini: 

1. Boil a pot of water. (Do not add salt or zucchini will turn too soft.) 
2. Cut zucchini into the desired size and prepare an ice-water bath.
3. Once the water has boiled, toss the zucchini in and blanch for three minutes.
4. Lastly, transfer zucchini into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. 

How To Freeze Zucchini Noodles

Whether you're looking to use zoodles (zucchini noodles) in a healthy pasta recipe or as a side dish, here's how Pornsriniyom says to freeze them:

1. Blanch zucchini noodles as mentioned above.
2. Drain the noodles, and air dry or pat dry with paper towels.
3. Portion out the noodles and lay them on a sheet pan covered in parchment paper to freeze.
4. Once frozen and solid, you can package more than one portion into each freezer bag, separating them using parchment paper until the bag is full. Mark each bag with the date and amount.

How To Freeze Shredded Zucchini

Shredded zucchini is another common kitchen staple and can be used in a variety of recipes from burgers and pie to pancakes and zucchini bread. Here’s how Pornsriniyom advises to freeze shredded zucchini: 

1. Blanch shredded zucchini as outlined above.
2. Squeeze as much water out of shredded zucchini as possible by placing inside cheesecloth and squeezing firmly.
3. Lay flat into a freezer bag and freeze. Mark the bag with the date and amount.

How To Freeze Sliced Zucchini

Sliced zucchini can be used to make zucchini chips or sautéed for a quick and easy side dish. To freeze sliced zucchini:

1. After blanching, place sliced zucchini on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid.
2. Once frozen, portion the slices into the freezer bags. Mark each bag with the date and amount.

Can You Freeze Whole Zucchini?

Pornsriniyom doesn’t advise freezing a whole zucchini as it requires a long time to thaw and can become dull in color and mushy in texture.