How to Freeze Dry Zucchini (AND USE IT)

[@bilezmom11]

Scott, I have an amazing zucchini basil soup recipe. I thought you’d enjoy it. (Share a little bit of my knowledge with you for a change). 2 lbs zucchini sliced crosswise (like coins) 1/4 cup olive oil (I prefer 1/8 cup) 3/4 cup chopped onions 2 cloves of garlic chopped or grated 1 tsp salt 3 cups water 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves Sautéed onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add zucchini and salt and sautée for 5 minutes. Add water and cover partially and cook for 15 minutes. Use immersion blender and blend until smooth. Add basil and continue to blend until incorporated. It’s amazing! I have one for carrots, too if you like this one.

[@GardenerScott]

That looks great! Thanks for sharing.

[@pati2617]

Txs

[@nickhasinternets]

Great vid! A little tip. You can use a spray bottle and mist the pieces with water on a baking sheet, kitchen towel, or drying rack. Leave to sit a couple minutes flip over, mist the other side. Also, you don’t have to use water, you could use stock, broth, wine, liquor, anything! The skin was only tough because it wasn’t quite reconstituted enough. I would probably have added a little more fat in the pan as well. Also, you could probably just add the dried pieces to the pan, pour in some of your liquid, boil it off until dry, and sauté them in the fat and residuals. Just some ideas, thanks for the videos!

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks for the tips.

[@janb8015]

FYI... anything with seeds (including strawberries & tomatoes) will appear to be dry but could still be holding moisture IN the seeds. Whenever possible, de-seed your food or give them an additional 10 hrs over when the flesh appears dry.

[@Lintriage]

Try zucchini fritters - yum

[@rebeccakennedy2032]

I loved this video! One of the best out there on freeze drying and then using it. Please make more videos like this for freeze drying. I love all your videos.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I am planning more videos like this as I learn to use it.

[@alduree]

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions!!

[@LeverActionLarry]

Thanks for the info! I plan to grow some zukes for the first time next year!

[@NancyfromCanada]

I’m going to try zucchini flour! I only have dehydrator but it will work to make flour! Thanks for all the ideas to use up zucchini!

[@brianseybert2189]

You made me hungry for some fresh grilled zucchini.

[@diannajones4669]

Thank you, I have learned a lot from you. I found for my zucchini muffins that just putting the fd zucchini in with extra water worked really well.

[@KristiContemplates]

G'day, Wanted to share a 'trellis' idea I'm going to try - mattress springs. Currently, I have jute netting horizontal to the ground to keep my potato plants off the ground. I have happier plants. Since the kids went to live with their dad and his fiancee full-time, I have excess furniture. So, am collapsing the mattresses down into the padding and the springs. Padding will become a quasi carpeting, and I realised the internal springs would be a great replacement for the jute netting. Supports the plants. Keeps animals from digging up seedlings. I can crawl over it for weeding. I'll let you know how it goes 👍

[@GardenerScott]

Interesting idea. I look forward to hearing about it.

[@heidiclark6612]

Thank You for this video. I have been curious about how vegetables really come out using a freeze drier.

[@kerriism]

Thank you so much for the video 😀 I’m going to use your suggestions. Definitely will remove the skin.

[@carolclarkson4859]

Enjoyed your video! Thank you. We have a freeze dryer and need to do this. Love our freeze dryer. Great ideas.

[@lisarodrigues4272]

great tutorial.

[@NewsfromtheGrove]

That was really smart! Thank you.

[@lukealexander4512]

Great video! Right now I only have a dehydrator for sun-dried tomatoes, but would like to get a freeze dryer in the future. Another good recipe is zucchini fries with ranch.

[@Kimber261]

I really wish I could afford a freeze dryer. they look like a very good tool.

[@lizchattin7016]

I like these ideas. Tough? It doesn't look like you rehydrate it enough? Maybe soak it longer? I'm going to try all these ideas.

[@dhayes1541]

I think you need to rehydrate them longer and with more water. The dense skin takes longer to rehydrate. Drop them into a bowl of water for a few minutes then pat them dry before cooking.

[@dartagnantaft5918]

I had the same problem with the skin on yellow squash and had to cut the skin off to use them.

[@kycalm]

Thank you for the video. I just came across your channel. I am a new subscriber. Trying to figure out what all to do with my abundance of zukes. My freeze dryer is waiting!

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel!

[@Latebloomershow]

Great to meet you last night on the zoom! Sounds great! Do you recommend your mic? Thumbs up. No freeze dryer.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Kaye. It was good to see you too. I do recommend my mic. It's been great. A Comica Boom X-D.

[@karswan]

I'm waiting for my freeze dryer. Could I prefreeze my garden zucchini to freeze dry later? I've dehydrate enough grated and spiralized, but I want to freeze the squared and maybe the planks. I can a zucchini bread jam and a marmalade.

[@EatMiMeat]

Yes, you really want to prefreeze what you put in freeze dryer. I am filling freezer with food I want to freeze dry when time allows.

[@maggyjones4749]

Hi Scott, how long does the freeze dried products last when you can them?

[@GardenerScott]

If they are properly stored they can last more than 10 years.

[@maggyjones4749]

@@GardenerScott thanks so much for getting back to me, greatly appreciated.

[@Judten1]

What did you use for the metal tray divider? Thank you

[@GardenerScott]

A popsicle stick.

[@Judten1]

@@GardenerScott CLEVER!!! 🙂

[@tyecekline5445]

Did you put an absorber in the jars?

[@GardenerScott]

I didn't because I knew I would eat them soon. Absorber is good for long-term-storage.

[@laurie4914]

Does freeze drying retain the nutrients?

[@GardenerScott]

It retains most of the nutrients.

[@laurie4914]

@@GardenerScott Thanks!

[@marygrott8095]

Would you be willing to try this experiment with dehydrated zucchin, for those of us who don't have a freeze dryer?

[@kerriwilkinson7347]

I have dehydrated zucchini with great results! It tastes just the same, and it really saves space.

[@GardenerScott]

I plan to do the same again with dehydrated next season.

[@susandickerson2663]

Thanks Kerri! Very helpful.

[@nancylee8030]

In this video you talked about your homemade crackers Could you please share that recipe ? I will check back or let me know if you can email it to me

[@GardenerScott]

It is simply slices of zucchini sprinkled with salt and then freeze dried.

[@cathysheahan7036]

Dude, you're killing me with the misuse of that amazing mixing bowl! That is a classic Pyrex Cinderella bowl. The handles are designed to be a pouring lip as well. You might as well have turned the Pyrex cup sideways, when you poured in the water, instead of using the pouring lip of the cup. Have you never wondered why the handles are different sizes? The one that was in your left hand would've been the right size to use for this.

[@alexmac6386]

I sent mine back it never worked from day 1