[white-blazes]

Can courgettes be frozen, and if so, how best?

We're over-run again this year and give so many away.

[VSS]

Lucky you - mine haven't even flowered yet.

[darkbrowneggs]

They do freeze, but I don't think they taste very good when they come out. 
 
I make mine into Courgette Soup with some onions and a light chicken stock.  Liquidize it and freeze it in individual portions.  Its easy to reheat and makes a good quick winter lunch with nice bread.  You can add various herbs to ring the changes
 
Later in the year when I have too many runner beans or french beans as well as courgettes I make a spicy thick vegetable soup with a bit of beef mince onions and any spare veg, plenty of chilli powder and some (soaked and properly cooked) dried red kidney beans.  That a real winter warmer.
 
I also use them instead of aubergines in moussaka and freeze that but minus the topping which I add when re-heating in the oven.
 
Bigger courgettes stuffed with mince cooked with onions and tomatoes, freeze reasonably ok and reheat in the aga (which helps them dry out a bit) 

[manian]

They do freeze, but I don't think they taste very good when they come out. 
 
 

they don't taste very goodbefore freezing
courgettes (and aubergines) I have said before are devils food YUK
Mx

[white-blazes]

ha ha yes they are a bit bland aren't they, I bet they'll be watery after freezing - soups it may well be then 

[Bionic]

I posted this courgette cake recipe on here a little while back. If you want a posh cake this is the one.
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=23674.0
 

[luckylady]

You really can't beat making soup with your excess home grown veg can you?  You know where its come from and that its healthy and additive free.   I'm fighting off the broccoli spears at the moment so its broccoli and stilton soup in the freezer for us    . 
Bionic I think I may well try courgette cake, not a big fan of courgettes on their own so need to find another use for them.  Have made beetroot brownies before and don't get me started on carrot cake - my favourite.  Oh dear if I find all these cakes to make from veg I'm never going to lose weight!!

[ballingall]

We have frozen courgettes before when we have had a glut. Cut them into slices and freeze.


They can go a bit watery when you defrost, but if you use them in a sauce ie we use them in a creamy tomato sauce with pasta, then they are fine.


Beth

[white-blazes]

thanks all, we've sliced some and frozen them, and with some others today we made soup and have frozen that too

[Lesley Silvester]

I have a wonderful book called "What will I do with all those courgettes?" by Elaine Borish, published by Fidelio Press.  ISBN 0952488159. 
 
Quote from the back of the book "A cookery book for a garden full of courgettes.  Over 150 recipes for soups, salads, main courses, casseroles, bread and cake..."
 
I've tried several of them with great success.

[katie]

We fry ours in butter before freezing. A bit tastier!

[Red]

This reply might be a bit late but mine are just starting to grow properly! I believe you can vacum pack them ... having just required a vacum packer for the pig meant this year I'm going to give it go, you can get them quite cheap on amazon 

[Greenerlife]

I really don't think courgettes are worth freezing as a pure veg, because they have such a high water content, and their cell structure collapses when you freeze and defrost them. I always make tons of HFW's courgette pasta sauce, which is basically very thinly sliced courgettes very slowly fried in butter and garlic until they mush.  Instant sauce whenever you need it. Yum.

[northfifeduckling]

yes, very well, have done it for years with the dishes in mind I want to cook. I do cubes and slices in bags of 2 or 3 courgettes each, depending on size. Either are fab to add to a goulash or any kind of stew, cubes go into Ratatouille. I'm always glad in the winter if I don't have to buy them! Btw, I also freeze cukes in slices for some cooked dishes  .
Sweet pickles are also much loved by my friends and family (courgettes, cuces, pumkins)