Consider your fruits and veggies when searching for strategies to cut down on your food waste. You may wonder how long you can keep zucchinis in the fridge if you’ve got any left over. On this page, you’ll find information on various storage options.
It is possible to keep zucchini in the fridge for up to two weeks, but it may begin to wrinkle after a week or so. You should utilize a zucchini more quickly if the skin has been broken because the flesh will be less resistant to germs.
Here’s all you need to know about zucchinis’ shelf life and deterioration, whether you want to know how long a zucchini lasts or even if it’s rotten.
How To Choose The Best Zucchini
Choose just the finest zucchinis if you want them stored for the longest time possible. In other words you should select small, firm, and smooth-skinned specimens and those that are devoid of flaws and deterioration.
Those with huge seeds and stringy meat should be avoided, as should those with dull-looking, large skins.
Zucchini is normally collected while it is at its most juvenile stage before the seeds have begun to develop and harden and the skin has become drab and thick. That is precisely what we’re looking for in a zucchini.
How Long Does Zucchini Last?
Fresh zucchini may be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks or at room temperature for three to four days. Zucchini that has been cut or sliced can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days, and the same holds true for cooked zucchini.
You may always freeze zucchini if those storage times are too short for your requirements.
Squash, such as zucchini, may be stored for up to two weeks if properly cared for, although it’s not quite as long-lasting as winter squashes like butternut or spaghetti squash.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about how to choose a zucchini in the produce section.
Is Zucchini Necessary to Keep in the Refrigerator?
Zucchini must be stored in the refrigerator. Zucchini will rapidly shrivel up if it is left at room temperature. There is a good chance that zucchini will be safe to eat after a few days, but it won’t keep well and may be mushy when you attempt to use it. Instead, store the zucchini in your refrigerator.
Because of their high water content, zucchinis need to be stored in the refrigerator. Their flavor and texture will soon deteriorate as the moisture evaporates from them in a dry environment.
You don’t want to let shriveled zucchini go to waste, either. Instead of keeping zucchinis out at room temperature, store them in the refrigerator.
Since chilly temperatures can cause chilling injuries and degrade zucchini, it’s best to keep it in the hottest portion of your fridge if possible. Zucchini should not be stored near the icebox or at the bottom of the refrigerator unless they are in the crisper drawer.
Sliced Raw Zucchini: What’s The Best Place To Keep Them?
If you’ve already sliced up some zucchini but haven’t utilized them, it is essential to keep them wet. Place the zucchini in the fridge in a covered container or Ziploc bag. Moisture that might otherwise escape is retained thanks to the bag.
A zucchini’s skin helps keep the veggie moist, so it’s best to leave it on while cooking it. On the other hand, Sliced zucchini has a lot of exposed surface area because of the lack of peel.
This implies that if you don’t cover the zucchini slices, they’ll dry up in a matter of hours and be useless. Before storing them, keep them in a well-sealed container.
Is Zucchini Safe To Keep In The Freezer?
Many gardeners have a huge supply in the summer but no zucchinis in other seasons. Blanching and freezing your harvest is an option if you want to keep any of your own or have purchased a large quantity from the shop. Zucchinis should never be frozen when they are still uncooked.
It is critical to blanch vegetables to prevent their enzymes from reacting, and to preserve the nutrients as well as the texture of the dish.
Enzymes break down veggies when their tissues are broken, which is what you don’t want to happen. Blanching the zucchinis before freezing avoids the freezer damage from ruining their texture.
Zucchinis should be washed and sliced before blanching. You’ll want to have hot and cold water on hand. Boil the zucchinis for a few minutes, tossing them frequently, until their color is deep and they are just beginning to soften, then remove them from the water.
Drain them, then thrust them into the frigid water without a second thought. This prevents them from becoming mushy by halting the cooking process. Afterward, remove the ice water and package the blanched zucchinis in containers or sealer bags.
Raw zucchini can be frozen, although it’s usually grated before being frozen. Using grated frozen zucchini in meals won’t have much of an impact on how it tastes or feels.
How Do You Tell If Your Zucchini Is Getting Worse?
Checking on a zucchini that’s been sitting in the fridge for longer than you’d like is a good idea. You may want to discard the vegetable if it is wrinkled and shrunken. Make sure to remove any mushy or soft areas using a knife. Compost the entire veggie if it is slimy.
In general, zucchinis’ shriveling makes it easy to identify when they’ve gone rotten. However, if a zucchini has been damaged, you should remove these parts.
You may also smell the zucchini to see if it has gone rotten. Bacteria are destroying the cells of moldy zucchini, giving them a foul, unpleasant smell and a sticky texture. Avoid eating a zucchini that’s gone slimy.
Throw out any zucchini that:
- Has large rotting areas. As long as the deterioration isn’t encroaching on the entire vegetable, it’s fine to clip off a few tiny patches or flaws.
- Swelled, shriveled, mushy, or wrinkly in appearance. These are signs that the zucchini is past its prime and has lost most of its water content. If the vegetable reaches this stage, it is no longer edible.
- Mold has taken hold. Whether cooked or fresh, you should throw it out if you observe mold or any other strange activity. Even if there is just one moldy cube and the others appear to be in good condition, it’s still better to dispose of the zucchini.
- It is pre-cut and stored in the refrigerator for more than five days. You never know if that zucchini is safe to consume, and better to be cautious than sorry.
- When in doubt, throw the zucchini away.
If the zucchini has huge seeds or stringy flesh, then it’s not a good idea to eat it.
In summary
Fresh zucchini may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks if it hasn’t been damaged or sliced. Sliced zucchini should be stored in an airtight container and consumed as quickly as possible.
FAQs
Here’s a quick rundown of everything we discussed thus far:
How long can zucchini be stored before it goes bad?
An entire fresh zucchini may survive up to two weeks. Cooked zucchini has a shelf life of three to four days after it has been chopped up.
Zucchini spoilage: how do you spot it?
Dispose of squashes that are wilted, squishy, or have holes in the skin. Cut and cooked zucchini should be avoided if it has been in the fridge for more than five days or has developed mold.
What is the best way to keep zucchinis fresh?
Zucchini may be stored in a perforated bag inside the fridge’s crisper drawer. All zucchini that has been sliced or diced must be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.