Can I freeze courgettes?

oldtractor

as title. Can I freeze them if cooked,sauteed in olive oil? or can I freeze them whole and raw? Thank you.

gin

I freeze some chopped up but raw. They go a bit soft, but are fine chucked into pasta sauces and minestrone.

dogstarheaven

i'm gonna do mine roasted with onions and garlic that i've lifted.. and then freeze..

tilly_willow

I usually freeze them cooked, either in a veg curry or as ratatouille. I have tried cooked slices (brushed with olive oil and baked in the oven) but wasn't over impressed with the result, rather soggy when defrosted. The problem with courgettes and freezing is the high water content in the cells which tend to burst when frozen. I did slice and dehydrate some last yr and they were OK as veg crisps and also added to stews.

hkminca

I made some into a soup along with broad beans and potatoes and froze that.

Linda32

Hi,

I've frozen them in slices before, and have done the same this year, or more to the point, OH has, due to him being on holiday at the moment

They do defrost abit soft, but if you are having them as a vegetable, which we oftern do in what we call a "summer sunday dinner", then I tend to defrost them early in the day, or even the night before. Then they do "dry out" abit before cooking. I brush with oil, sprinckle (sp?) with mixed herbs and roast in oven. I'm on gas which means the middle shelf for 20 mins at gas mk 6 for me.

HTH

angelavdavis

I freeze them as ratatouille or in batches fried with sliced onions. The larger ones I slice into larger slices, sprinkle and leave for a while, wipe dry with kitchen paper, griddle, tray freeze then bag up to use them as replacements to aubergine in moussaka. As mentioned, they are only good for using in stews, bolognaise, etc. I tried courgette pickle last year - nobody would eat it in this house!

I had thought about grating them, putting them in ice cubes and then bagging up to add to bolognaise as "disguised" courgettes to stop family members picking them out!

I put together a courgette cookbook for my allotment society last year which can be found here and includes sweet recipes as well as savoury!

MKS

angelavdavis wrote: »

I freeze them as ratatouille or in batches fried with sliced onions. The larger ones I slice into larger slices, sprinkle and leave for a while, wipe dry with kitchen paper, griddle, tray freeze then bag up to use them as replacements to aubergine in moussaka. As mentioned, they are only good for using in stews, bolognaise, etc. I tried courgette pickle last year - nobody would eat it in this house!

I had thought about grating them, putting them in ice cubes and then bagging up to add to bolognaise as "disguised" courgettes to stop family members picking them out!

I put together a courgette cookbook for my allotment society last year which can be found here and includes sweet recipes as well as savoury!

Thanks. I can't get the link to work - am very interested in your recipes.

oldtractor

Many thanks everyone. I am going to make ratatouille and freeze that.

Lotus-eater

I grate them and freeze in small bags, add to anything sauce like. You can also make cougette bread and cakes from this.
I add them to cooked passata at the end and freeze that, works really well.

I wouldn't try to freeze them for use as a main veg, I don't like soft courgettes.

Kleopatra

angelavdavis wrote: »

The larger ones I slice into larger slices, sprinkle and leave for a while, wipe dry with kitchen paper, griddle, tray freeze then bag up to use them as replacements to aubergine in moussaka. As mentioned, they are only good for using in stews, bolognaise, etc. I tried courgette pickle last year - nobody would eat it in this house!


I put together a courgette cookbook for my allotment society last year which can be found here and includes sweet recipes as well as savoury!

Thankyou so much - I asked about griddled courgettes on Old style but as yet have not had a reply except that freezing courgettes was also on here.

I will definately check out your recipes.