Freezing zucchini for the winter at home: making vegetable “dough” and “just warm up” options

Zucchini is one of the most picky fruits. It harmoniously combines with any products, can become the basis for both hot spicy dishes and sweets. But when it comes to freezing, then the zucchini “requires” compliance with several rules. Otherwise, the workpiece risks becoming a hard shoe or porridge.

Useful properties of a vegetable

Why do you need to freeze zucchini for the winter at home? After all, this product does not have a pronounced taste, and only a real gourmet can catch a delicate aroma. Nevertheless, it is the zucchini that is necessary for the body during the autumn-winter epidemics and spring vitamin deficiencies. The vegetable is rich in vitamins A, C, group B, PP. It contains the necessary minerals for health: potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium. A nondescript fruit provides six positive effects.

1. Normalizes the digestive tract. The product has a mild laxative effect, which protects the digestive system from toxins, prevents the formation of constipation.
2. Eliminates puffiness. A healthy vegetable provides a small diuretic effect. As a result, toxins are washed out of the body, swelling goes away. However, people who are diagnosed with kidney disease should not be too fond of zucchini dishes.
3. Helps to lose weight. Zucchini, which has a low calorie content (16 kcal per 100 g), is one of the components of a diet. It is recommended to include in the menu for people suffering from obesity. And, according to reviews, losing weight is quite successful.
4. Strengthens the heart. The combination of potassium and magnesium favorably affects the heart muscle. Thanks to these elements, the vegetable marrow stimulates the work of the “main motor”, prevents the development of heart diseases.
5. Saturates with vitamins, minerals. The high iron content allows you to resist anemia, normalizing the level of hemoglobin. And vitamins protect the body from spring vitamin deficiencies.
6. Strengthens blood vessels. Zucchini provides the removal of harmful cholesterol, improves the condition of blood vessels. Such a complex effect prevents the development of atherosclerosis.

4 storage rules

For freezing, it is recommended to take young zucchini with a thin delicate skin. Old, overripe, it is better to leave for the preparation of caviar. In addition, there should be no signs of spoilage on the selected raw materials. To properly freeze zucchini for the winter, follow four recommendations.

1. Liquid elimination. Zucchini contains a lot of fluid and enzymes (natural enzymes). Such substances, after freezing, give the product rigidity and tastelessness, comparable only to the sole of the shoe. That is why vegetables must be deprived of such components before freezing. You can do this by several methods: having blanched the product, sprinkled it with salt or steamed it.
2. Product slicing. Do not freeze whole zucchini. As such, it will take up too much space. And in winter you’ll have to torment yourself before you cook anything from it.Therefore, it is recommended to freeze the sliced ​​product. What type of slicing to prefer? Depends on future plans. Lovers of stew and soup should cut the zucchini into small cubes. Those who want to freeze it into pancakes are recommended to grate the flesh. And if the main dish is fried zucchini, then, accordingly, cut the fruits into circles.
3. Container selection. You can freeze zucchini in containers or in bags. But the first option is undesirable. A lot of air remains in the container, which completely does not predispose to long-term storage. Therefore, it is better to prefer packages, removing air from them as much as possible. A vacuum suction or a manual vacuum cleaner will help to cope with this task. Zucchini, devoid of air, can remain fresh for eight to ten months.
4. Stress freeze. In order to maximally save all useful substances in a valuable product, it is recommended to freeze the product in a quick-freezing chamber. Usually it is called “Fast Freeze” or “Super Freeze”. This compartment allows you to instantly freeze the product at the lowest possible temperature. Wait one hour and then transfer the frozen pieces to the normal compartment of the freezer.

How to freeze zucchini for the winter in different ways

If you are a lover of stews and soups, enjoy preparing zucchini fritters, often indulge household members with fried vegetables, you need to familiarize yourself with all the freezing methods. Then you can prepare several different packages "for all occasions." To freeze fresh zucchini for the winter, use five algorithms.

Cubes

Features. This cut is suitable for cooking stews, soup, casseroles, grilled vegetables. Moreover, the zucchini can not even be defrosted before laying in a pan or pan.

What to do

1. Rinse the zucchini, wipe it with a paper towel.
2. If the product is young, with a thin skin, it is not necessary to clean it. For overripe vegetables, cut the skin, remove the seeds.
3. Cut the zucchini into small cubes.
4. Take a large pan, pour water into it, filling half the volume, put on fire.
5. When the water boils, lower the zucchini into it.
6. Blanch for five minutes.
7. Then discard the vegetables in a colander, let the water drain.
8. Lay the pieces on a towel, wait until they are completely dry and cool.
9. Now take a large cutting board, wrap it with cling film.
10. Place zucchini on it in a row so that adjacent pieces do not touch.
11. In this form, put the workpiece in the freezer.
12. After about one to two hours, get the zucchini, which managed to freeze pretty much.
13. Carefully remove the vegetables from the board, put them in a bag.
14. Remove air as much as possible, close or fasten the freeze.
15. Put in the freezer for storage.

Circles

Features. This freezing is not only suitable for frying zucchini. Beautiful even rings can serve as the basis for baking meat and fish dishes in the oven. They can be used to make complex sandwiches and pizza.

What to do

1. Washed and dried zucchini cut into even rings, the thickness of which varies between 0.7-1 cm.
2. Spread the workpiece on a large dish, sprinkle with salt.
3. Wait two to three minutes, and then flip the zucchini to the other side.
4. Now salt the second side.
5. Leave the vegetables for 15 minutes so that they can get rid of the liquid as much as possible.
6. Then put the rings on paper towels, pat each circle thoroughly.
7. Transfer dry vegetables to a board wrapped in polyethylene, put in a freezer.
8. After an hour or two, remove the workpiece, lay it in bags.

In crushed form

Features. For the preparation of fritters, vegetable caviar, mashed soups, it is better to freeze grated zucchini for the winter. For cooking, you can use a regular grater or puree the mass in a blender.

What to do

1. Clean and dried zucchini grate.
2. Sprinkle the mass with salt, mix thoroughly.
3. Wait 12-15 minutes for the mixture to pour juice abundantly.
4. Drain the liquid.
5. Squash mass wrap in gauze, squeeze.
6. After removing liquid as much as possible, lower the chopped zucchini into the bag.
7. Get rid of air, close the workpiece.
8. Put in the freezer for storage.

For baby food

Features. If you want to freeze zucchini to feed your baby, the cooking technology changes slightly. Only young vegetables can serve as raw materials for baby food.

What to do

1. Be sure to peel the zucchini.
2. Cut them into arbitrary cubes.
3. Blanch the vegetables for ten minutes, then drop them into a colander.
4. Place on a paper towel to ensure that excess fluid is removed.
5. Pieces into a blender bowl, beat in a gentle mashed potatoes.
6. Place the workpiece in batches in special containers for baby food.
7. Put in the freezer.

Fried

Features. If you freeze fried zucchini for the winter, then cooking will come down to simple steps. It is necessary to get a serving, defrost in the microwave. The only negative of this dish is the lack of a crisp.

What to do

1. Wash young zucchini, dry with a paper towel.
2. Cut into circles.
3. Salt, a little pepper such preparations.
4. Breaded in flour.
5. Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.
6. Allow the fried stocks to cool completely.
7. Put them on a cutting board wrapped in polyethylene.
8. Dip the squash in the freezer for an hour.
9. Frozen vegetables are portioned in prepared bags, remove air, and then seal for the winter.

Semi-finished recipes

If you are the owner of a sufficiently voluminous freezer, which can accommodate many blanks, then why not diversify the winter squash menu. You can easily prepare a vegetable ensemble for stews or load almost ready-made fragrant risotto. If you liked this idea, use three recipes for freezing zucchini for the winter.

With rice and carrots

Features. Such freezing will serve as the basis for the preparation of risotto. Vegetables or greens can be added as you wish.

Components:

• sweet pepper - three pieces;
• zucchini - two fruits;
• carrots - two pieces;
• rice - 180 g;
• greens (dill, parsley) - a bunch.

What to do

1. Initially put the rice cooked in slightly salted water.
2. Now take care of the zucchini, cutting it into small pieces, eliminating excess fluid in any of the above ways.
3. Cut carrots into strips or thin circles.
4. Peel the pepper, chop it into cubes or whetstones.
5. Cook rice until half cooked.
6. Discard the contents of the pan in a colander, rinse with cold water, allow to drain a little.
7. In a separate bowl, combine rice with vegetables, mix thoroughly.
8. Pour the resulting mixture into packets in batches.
9. Remove air, then put in the freezer.

For pumpkin and squash fritters

Features. If you like to add orange pumpkin cubes to the pancakes, do not deny yourself this winter.

Components:

• zucchini - two fruits;
• pumpkin - 400-500 g.

What to do

1. Grate the zucchini.
2. Salt the mass, squeeze out the excess liquid.
3. Grind the pumpkin with a grater.
4. Connect both workpieces.
5. Pack in packages, freeze.

With minced meat

Features. This preparation is able to save the hostess if the guests suddenly came up or there was absolutely no desire to mess with the preparation of dinner. A hearty, tasty dish is frozen almost ready-made. Before serving, you only need to defrost the cake mix, warm it in the microwave or oven. So, to freeze stuffed zucchini for the winter, use the following recipe.

Components

• zucchini - two fruits;
• rice - 180 g;
• minced meat - 250 g;
• onion - one;
• carrots - one;
• butter - 30 g;
• sour cream - 200 ml;
• vegetable oil - 40 ml;
• salt, spices.

What to do

1. Rinse the rice thoroughly. Put it to boil in salted water.
2. Divide the zucchini into three or four parts to make cylinders about 5-7 cm high.
3. Using a knife, carefully cut the core, but do not cut through the workpiece. You should have shapes that resemble glasses.
4. Flush the squash for three to five minutes.
5. Grate carrots, chop onion into cubes.
6. Sauté the carrot and onion.
7. Cook rice until half cooked, then add a piece of butter, mix.
8. Pour the carrot and onion into the minced meat, add rice and spices.
9. Stir the mixture.
10. Zucchini glasses fill with rice and meat filling.
11. Put the resulting "barrels" in a pan with high sides.
12. On each, apply a spoonful of sour cream.
13. Prepare the sauce by diluting the remaining sour cream in water, adding spices as you wish.
14. Pour them stuffed zucchini.
15. Close the pan with a lid and simmer until cooked.
16. Allow the dish to cool on its own.
17. Pick containers suitable for height.
18. Place zucchini in a container, top with ready-made sauce.
19. Close the container tightly, put in the freezer.

To freeze zucchini in the freezer is not only possible, but also necessary. Harvest vegetables in a variety of ways. If there is no vacuum suction at home, you can remove the air with a straw for a cocktail. Close the bag as much as possible, leaving a small hole for the tube. Press the bag down on all sides to allow excess air to escape. Now just pull the straw, completely seal the workpiece.

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