Courgette or zucchini is a member of the squash family, used in various main courses and side dishes. But recently, thanks to some health gurus, turning courgette into spaghetti strands has gained popularity. So, can you freeze courgetti (also called Zoodles)?
Can You Freeze Courgetti (Zoodles)?
Courgetti can be frozen for up to 3 months. Whether you call it zucchini spaghetti, zoodles, or courgetti, it is perfectly easy to freeze! (Full Instructions Below)
Do Does Courgetti freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Courgetti? Yes
How To Freeze Courgetti
Freezing courgetti is fairly easy, but first, you should make sure that they are good enough. When you want to freeze the noodles, make sure you make them with the freshest, best-looking courgettes you can find.
Here’s a step-by-step process of how to freeze courgette:
- Prepare
Prepare the courgetti from fresh courgettes. Make sure to remove the large seeds, if any. - Wash
Wash the spiralized courgettes and strain the water. You can spread it out to let it dry well. - Season
Sprinkle kosher salt on the courgetti and mix well. It will help maintain the texture of your courgetti even after freezing. - Portion
Divide the noodles into small portions to store them separately. - Bag Up
Put the courgetti into zipper plastic bags. Try not to leave any water or air inside. - Freeze
Place the well-wrapped zoodles in the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Courgetti?
Courgetti is a healthy substitute for regular noodles or pasta. It is low in fat and cholesterol and rich in nutrients. It is possible that due to your love for courgetti, you may have prepared a large batch, which you can freeze.
So, how long can you freeze courgetti for?
You can freeze courgetti for up to 3 months. Though you may store the noodles in a freezer for longer, it may not taste very good and the texture is likely to break down. Freezing courgetti for too long may lead to the vegetable getting freezer burnt.
Apart from that, you cannot store the courgetti in the fridge for too long. You must know that you can do so only for 4-5 days if you plan on refrigerating it. After that, it may get stale.
How Do You Defrost Courgetti?
Frozen courgetti is not very hard to deal with. Once you cook it, the noodles will taste just as good as fresh ones. So how do you defrost courgetti?
Remove the bags from the freezer and place them in the fridge. Depending on the size or portion of the courgetti, it may take 3 to 4 hours to fully defrost. You can also leave it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Once the ice has completely melted, boil the courgetti and use it in a delicious spaghetti or pasta recipe. If you had boiled it before freezing, you could skip the boiling part here. Cook the courgetti directly in the pan or add them to a sauce.
Note: DO NOT let them thaw over the counter or by placing them in tap water.
Can You Refreeze Courgetti?
Once you have thawed the frozen courgetti, you may realize that it is too much. So what should you do with the extra thawed noodles? Can you refreeze courgetti?
Yes, refreezing courgetti is just as easy as doing so for the first time. First, you will need to dry the thawed spiralized courgettes. Spread it out on a towel or large tray to let it dry.
Next, place it in a thick freezer bag. Alternatively, you can wrap it with a cling film sheet and then in the bag.
Whichever option you choose, try not to leave any drops of water or air bubbles in the plastic. Also, storing it in thicker bags or two layers will help preserve the freshness even more.
Refreezing courgetti is simple, provided you keep a few things in mind. While you thaw the frozen noodles for the first time, make sure you do so in the fridge. If you thaw it over the counter or run it under the tap water, you cannot refreeze it.
In that case, your only option will be to consume the courgetti within 1-2 days or discard it.
WARNING
There is an increased risk of foodborne pathogens if you refreeze partially thawed raw or blanched vegetables.
Does Courgetti Freeze Well?
Courgetti is a nutrient-rich and tasty alternative to regular spaghetti noodles. However, preparing the spiralized courgettes every time can be time-taking. The best solution is to prepare it in a large batch and store it in the freezer.
You may wonder, does courgetti freeze well?
Yes, courgetti freezes well if it is done the right way. Courgette is a vegetable that contains a lot of water. If you leave courgette noodles in the fridge or at room temperature, it will get stale within 4-5 days.
Moreover, if not frozen the right way, it will turn out to be soggy once defrosted.
Make sure that you dry up the courgetti and place it in tight bags that are thick enough. Additionally, do not leave water or air inside the bags while freezing. If frozen well, you can use the vegetable noodles for months.
That said, it is recommended to prepare fresh courgetti every time you want to eat. It will prevent the vegetable from getting soft or soggy.
FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing courgetti or courgetti in general, then these may help:
You certainly can! In fact, the technique for freezing spiralized squash or other vegetables is the same as we have outlined here. The key thing to remember is that you need to protect it from the air. Make sure you use thick freezer bags which you seal up and remove the air when you do so.
