Zucchini is a prolific vegetable and even the most inexperienced gardener can end up with more than they know what to do with. When you think that you have eaten all the zucchini you can stand for the year, here are some great ways to use up the rest.
- Hide it in other foods. Zucchini has a very mild flavor that can be hidden well in other foods. Shred up fresh zucchini and mix it into sauces, casseroles, and pasta dishes. Not only will you be using up your zucchini, but you might manage to sneak a few vegetables into your kids unnoticed.
- Turn it into dessert. Zucchini mixes incredibly well into many muffin, cookie, and bread recipes. It adds moisture and nutrients and does not interfere with existing flavors. Try mixing a cup of shredded zucchini into your favorite banana bread, carrot cake, or muffin mix or recipe.
- Freeze it. Zucchini can be frozen in a variety of ways and kept for months. You can slice it and freeze it raw, slice it and blanch it before freezing, or slice it and sauté it before freezing. You can also grate and blanch zucchini to use later in baking or in sauces or casseroles. Blanched zucchini will last up to a year and raw zucchini will last about four months in the freezer.
- Donate it to a food bank or soup kitchen. Many food banks, soup kitchens, and other charitable organizations will be happy to accept your zucchini as a donation. Just be sure to donate it as soon as possible after picking it to ensure freshness.
- Give it to friends and neighbors. Everybody loves fresh vegetables from the garden, but very few people have the time or know-how to grow a garden of their own. Surprise your friends and neighbors with a couple of fresh zucchini from time to time and you will get rid of some of your surplus while providing them with a fresh treat from your garden.
To get the most from your zucchini crop, be sure to harvest each individual squash when it is dark green, slender, and approximately 6 to 8 inches in length. This is when the vegetables are the most flavorful. In addition, frequent picking will help to stimulate new zucchini growth.
As an added culinary bonus try eating the edible flowers on your zucchinis. They are especially good stuffed with cheese and fried!
Teresa Simpson - Teresa Simpson is a freelance writer who has published numerous articles and essays on a variety of topics. Until the birth of her son, ...
