When you could have extra butternut squash than you should utilize, freezing is an effective way to retailer it for later. As an alternative of letting it spoil, freezing retains its taste and texture intact, so you’ll be able to get pleasure from it in soups, casseroles or roasted dishes anytime. Right here’s how you can correctly freeze butternut squash to ensure you have it readily available for recipes all year long.
Freezing butternut squash: Key strategies
There are two key strategies to freeze butternut squash, relying on whether or not you favor to freeze it uncooked or cooked. Each choices will make it easier to protect your squash for lengthy after the autumn season.
Methodology 1: Freezing uncooked butternut squash
Freezing uncooked butternut squash is an easy course of that works nicely if you wish to use it in dishes like soups, stews or roasted greens. It’s typically the popular technique as it’s fast and environment friendly.
Step 1: Clear the squash below chilly water to take away any dust.
Step 2: Peel and minimize the squash into cubes or slices, relying in your desire. Smaller cubes work finest for faster cooking whereas slices are nice for roasting.
Step 3: Dry the squash items utterly, utilizing a paper towel or kitchen towel to take away extra moisture.
Step 4: Place the dried items on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for a couple of hours till strong. This prevents them from sticking collectively later.
Step 5: As soon as frozen, switch the items into freezer-safe luggage or containers. Take away as a lot air as doable to keep away from freezer burn. Label the luggage with the date and retailer them for as much as 12 months.
Methodology 2: Freezing cooked butternut squash
Cooked butternut squash freezes nicely, too. This can be a nice possibility in the event you plan to make use of it in purees, soups or casseroles the place the feel doesn’t want to stay intact.
Step 1: Prepare dinner the squash by roasting, sauteing, steaming or boiling till tender.
Step 2: Let it cool utterly.
Step 3: Puree the squash in the event you’d like.
Step 4: Divide cooked squash or puree into parts earlier than transferring it into freezer-safe containers or luggage.
Step 5: Take away any extra air from the luggage, then seal them tightly. Label the containers with the date and retailer them within the freezer for as much as 10 months.
Utilizing frozen butternut squash
The way in which you utilize your frozen butternut squash will rely upon whether or not it’s frozen uncooked or cooked. Uncooked preparations will retain extra of their texture than cooked preparations.
Uncooked butternut squash will be added on to soups, stews or casseroles with out thawing, because the moisture it retains from freezing received’t have an effect on these dishes. It will also be pureed or mashed and served alongside some scrumptious roast hen or lamb. Nonetheless, it’s not appropriate for roasting after freezing, as it’ll turn out to be too moist and can steam somewhat than roast.
“I all the time maintain a bag of frozen butternut squash in my freezer — it doesn’t spoil simply and saves me the trouble of peeling and chopping a recent squash. It’s good for making fast stovetop butternut squash soup. Generally I even dump a bag into the gradual cooker with some diced apples, dried cranberries and heat spices for a simple, flavorful facet dish!”
— Kristin King, Dizzy Busy and Hungry
Cooked butternut squash can be utilized in recipes like purees, soups or baked items. Since cooked squash shall be softer after freezing, it really works finest in dishes the place texture isn’t as necessary, like creamy soups, sauces or mashed dishes. Strive including heat spices like cumin or pumpkin spice for added taste.
Suggestions for freezing butternut squash
When freezing butternut squash, it’s necessary to pick out squash that’s agency and freed from blemishes. Overripe or broken squash might turn out to be mushy after freezing. To stop freezer burn, ensure that to take away as a lot air as doable from luggage or containers earlier than sealing them. All the time label your frozen gadgets with the date to maintain monitor of their freshness.
You may also freeze zucchini, bananas and corn on the cob.
Closing ideas
Freezing butternut squash is a sensible and simple technique for preserving this versatile vegetable, permitting you to get pleasure from it lengthy after the harvest season. Whether or not you freeze it uncooked for soups, stews or casseroles, or cooked for purees and baked items, correctly storing butternut squash ensures it is going to be prepared for all kinds of dishes. Whereas defrosted uncooked squash might not be appropriate for roasting because of its excessive moisture content material, it really works completely in recipes the place the added moisture received’t have an effect on the end result.
By taking a bit of time to prep and freeze your squash, you can also make meal planning simpler and keep away from meals waste. In case you are searching for a fast addition to a hearty soup, a creamy facet dish or a colourful ingredient for baked items, frozen butternut squash could be a handy resolution. With the precise freezing methods, this great fall vegetable shall be out there all year long.
This text initially appeared on Meals Drink Life.
