Can You Freeze Grated Zucchini?

If you’re a gardener who grows zucchini, chances are at one time or another you’ll have an abundance of zucchini during zucchini season, and you’ll find yourself asking the question, can you freeze grated zucchini.

Whether you’re a gardener with an abundance of zucchini or you’ve ended up with extra zucchini from the grocery store, you’ll want to follow our easy step-by-step instructions for how to freeze zucchini the easy way.

Best Way to Freeze Zucchini

Before we get into the details of how to, let’s first answer the question as to whether zucchini can be frozen.

Although there are many different ways you can freeze zucchini, but we want to focus on the best way to freeze it, which is grating or shredding it.

Why is grating zucchini the best way to freeze it? Zucchini holds a high-water content and by grating it, it allows you to get rid of much water before it’s frozen.

This will result in a better-quality outcome when freezing zucchini.

How to Grate Zucchini

When grating zucchini, you’ll want to use fresh zucchini that’s been picked recently from zucchini plants. This can be raw zucchini that you’ve grown in your garden, or it can be zucchini that’s been purchased from the grocery store.

To grate your zucchini, you’ll want to wash it first to remove any unwanted particles such as dirt or debris. Then make sure the stem of the zucchini has also been removed. Now you are ready to grate.

We recommend using a box grater to simplify the process. Or a product such as a cheese grater or food processor can also do the job.

If you’re dealing with a large zucchini, you might want to cut it into smaller portions to make it easier to manage and easier to hold onto while using a box grater.

You might also choose to use a food processor as an alternate method for grating zucchini. Some will argue that this is the easiest way because it doesn’t require much effort. However, we prefer a box grater for this task.

How to Freeze Grated Zucchini

The key with freezing grated zucchini is first to remove any excess moisture.

This will help the end result to be the best quality possible as well as the consistency to be much more user friendly than a big block of ice, which is the anticipated result of freezing zucchini with all of the moisture left intact.

To remove the moisture, you can squeeze the grated zucchini between paper towels or any type of absorbent towel until the moisture has been removed.

Now you’re ready to portion out the grated zucchini to freeze it.

You can use freezer bags or an airtight container for freezing grated zucchini depending on your personal preference. We like to use freezer bags for the best results as well as for stacking purposes.

Place the desired amount of grated zucchini into the freezer bags, remove any excess air, and seal the bag shut. Remember to date and label the bag with the contents for future reference.

How Long Can You Freeze Zucchini

Grated zucchini can be frozen in a freezer bag or sealed airtight container for up to 3-4 months without compromising quality.

Things to Make with Grated Zucchini

There are so many ideas of things you can make with grated zucchini. We’ve included links to some of our favorite recipes at the end of this post.

Grated zucchini works great in baked goods such as zucchini bread, cookies, cakes, and muffins.

Or you might like to try using it in pasta. Zucchini noodles have become popular for those whose dietary restrictions require them to avoid starches or grain such as wheat.

And, zucchini slices go great with pasta sauces as well as in casseroles with a variety of cheeses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Following are frequently asked questions that relate to can you freeze grated zucchini. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.

What is the best way to freeze grated zucchini?

The best way to freeze grated zucchini is by removing the large seeds and using freezer containers or freezer bags to help prevent freezer burn. Airtight containers are effective because they don’t allow the product to go stale.

Remember to remove any excess moisture before freezing and date and label the packaging with the content as well as the date. We’ve included more detailed step-by-step instructions above.

Can I freeze shredded zucchini for zucchini bread?

Yes, shredded zucchini for zucchini bread is a great way to use up extra zucchini. Shredded zucchini can be used in a variety of baked goods such as breads, muffins, pancakes, casseroles, and more.

You’ll want to thaw the zucchini and remove any excess moisture before adding it to your batter.

Can I freeze shredded zucchini without blanching?

Blanching zucchini involves boiling water, adding the zucchini and then transferring it to a cold water ice bath, then potentially transferring it to a baking sheet to flash freeze it.

There is no need to blanch zucchini when working with shredded zucchini. Instead, you can remove any excess liquid with paper towels and package it for freezing. It’s perfectly fine to bypass this extra step.

Can you use frozen shredded zucchini for baking?

Yes, grated zucchini is a great addition for baked goods such as zucchini muffins, zucchini pancakes, cookies, and breads. It’s a great way to use up large zucchini or extra zucchini that you might have on hand.