“Can I freeze aubergine?” It’s a common question we get here at Freeze It. Not only is it a versatile ingredient that shows up in a range of cuisines from around the world but it’s humongous so you’re often left with half. Let’s freeze it, shall we!
Can You Freeze Aubergine?
Yes, you can freeze aubergine for up to 6 months. With aubergine being so incredibly versatile, there is actually a range of ways in which you can freeze aubergine. You can freeze it raw, cooked, grilled or in dishes.
Do Does Aubergine freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Aubergine? No
How to Freeze Aubergine
This is the perfect method for freezing aubergine if you use them in rounds in dishes or breaded and fried.
- Prepare for Blanching
First, bring a pot of water to a rolling boil as you’ll want to blanch your aubergine to kill off bacteria. Next, prepare a pot of ice-cold water which you’ll use as part of the blanching process to stop any further cooking from taking place. - Prepare Your Aubergine
Now it’s time to prepare your aubergine. Please don’t do this first as they will turn brown before you get round to blanching them. Optionally peel your aubergine of its skin, if you normally would, top and tail and then slice into rings.
- Blanch
Tip the slices into the boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Remove from the water and immediately tip into the ice-cold water to prevent it from cooking any further.
- Flash Freeze
Take a baking tray, line it with greaseproof paper. Once the aubergine has cooled, lay them on the tray in one spaced-out layer. Flash freeze for a few hours.
- Final Freeze
Remove from the freezer, and if the aubergine is frozen solid on the outside, you can tip them into a freezer bag to store.
Although aubergine will freeze without being blanched, blanching will lock in flavour and extend the time it can be frozen for. Blanching aubergine, and most vegetables, is a good idea.
How to Freeze Cooked Aubergine
If you prefer to use roasted aubergine in your dishes, such as in curries or stir-fries, then this is the method for you:
- Roast It
Peel then cube your aubergine into bite-sized pieces. Toss is with olive oil to ensure it is coated evenly then season with salt, pepper, and other spices you fancy. Roast in a preheated oven at around 190Ā°C for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown. - Cool It
Remove from the oven, allow to cool and pat with a kitchen towel to remove any of the excess oil. - Flash Freeze
Once cooled, lay them out on a baking tray in a single layer and place in the freezer to flash freeze for several hours. - Final Freeze
When the aubergine cubes are frozen solid, you can tip them into a freezer bag to store.
Yes, aubergine curry can be frozen in good-quality freezer bags. Once cooled, portion it out into bags and seal the bags up, removing as much air as possible.
Yes, you can freeze roasted aubergine. After roasting, allow the aubergine to cool completely. Then, transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag, removing any excess air. Label and date the containers before placing them in the freezer.
Freezer-Friendly Aubergine Recipes
Try out one of these delicious recipes that are perfect for freezing:
How Long Can You Freeze Aubergine?
Whether it’s roasted, blanched, pureed or prepared as a dish, aubergine will keep in the freezer for around 6 months. As always, ensure you label anything you freeze with a clear use-by date so you can keep things well organised in your freezer.
A whole aubergine will last for just over a week in the fridge. Once it has been prepared or sliced, the shelf life will be reduced to just 2 to 3 days.
How Do You Defrost Aubergine?
If you’re using frozen aubergine slices or frozen roasted aubergine then the good is that you don’t even need to defrost them. Simply stir into the dish you’re cooking or use in a moussaka, for example, and continue as you normally would.
The heat from the cooking will be enough to thaw them out.
As you can imagine, a dip cannot be eaten straight from the freezer. Plan when you’re going to eat your aubergine dip and then place in the fridge overnight to thaw slowly and safely.
This is the same for any aubergine dish you have made. Allow it to thaw slowly overnight in the fridge and then reheat in the oven until piping hot in the centre.
Can You Refreeze Aubergine?
We would rarely recommend refreezing anything, and aubergine is no exception to this rule. Freezing, thawing and then refreezing it can completely ruin the texture.
There is, however, a slight exception to this rule. You could refreeze cooked aubergine if it were previously frozen uncooked.
For example, if you freeze raw aubergine, defrost and then make parmigiana with it then you can freeze this cooked parmigiana with no issues.
Does Aubergine Freeze Well?
“Does aubergine freeze well?” and “Can aubergine be frozen?” are two different questions, with slightly different answers.
It comes down to texture. When the aubergine is frozen and cooked, it will usually release water, making it a little slimy. If you’re quite particular about the texture of your aubergine, fresh will always be better.
Having said that, freezing aubergine is better than throwing it away so if you want to save your aubergine for later in the month then freezing will still work fine for you.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
Two aubergines got accidentally frozen in my fridge.
they defrosted… this was a couple of days ago… is it safe to cook and eat the aubergine now or should I have cooked immediately after defrosting? They feel quite firm if a little more wrinkly!
Why do you say peel the aubergines and than show frozen slices with the skin still on???
Can see how that would be confusing John! We’ve just tweaked the wording a little to make it clearer.