How to Store Zucchini So It Stays Fresh
It’s peak zucchini season, friends, and that means it’s time for crunchy zoodles, spiced bread, fresh salads and more. If you have not yet dined on the meaty flesh of zucchini at its prime, so full of delicate and subtly sweet flavor, then get ye to the farmers market, stat. But before you do, read up on how to store zucchini so it doesn’t wither in your fridge before you can savor its freshness for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How to Pick the Best Zucchini at the Market
Zucchini is delicious but you need to know how to keep it that way once you bring it home—and the first step is to make sure you pick out the best courgettes at the market. When selecting this tasty fruit (yep, zucchini isn't actually a vegetable—weird, right?), you want to look for one that feels firm all over and has shiny, smooth skin. Steer clear of fruit that’s semi-soft (i.e., bendy) and has a shriveled-looking exterior.
How to Store Zucchini in the Fridge
Once you bring the cream of the zucchini crop home from the store, you should put those puppies into the fridge. Don’t just toss them in there willy-nilly, though. Instead, pack the dry, unwashed zukes in large plastic storage bags (moisture is the enemy, folks) and whatever you do, don’t seal that Ziploc completely. Good air circulation is critical when it comes to keeping zucchini firm and fresh. Instead, let your squash breathe by only partially sealing the storage bag. Once your summer harvest is sitting pretty in open plastic bags, tuck it in the crisper drawer of the fridge to ensure that each and every zucchini stays dry and well, crispy. When stored in this way, zucchini will stay fresh and recipe-ready for one to two weeks—but aim to eat ‘em up in five days for superior taste and texture. That shouldn’t be hard since zucchini is yummy in just about anything you want to cook. (More on that below.)
How to Store Zucchini in the Freezer
The secret to having ready-to-go summer produce all year long is to blanch cut-up pieces of zucchini before freezing. Once those zukes have been scalded and then quickly cooled, place them on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer before storing in bags. Freezing these bad boys twice will ensure they don’t all stick together. Here’s a step-by-step method for how to freeze zucchini so you can indulge in this delicious fruit for an entire year.
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