Beyond Bread — 20 New Ways to Use Up All That Zucchini, Recipes Included (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with all my zucchini? ›

When zucchini becomes overgrown, it is called a marrow. These large squashes are excellent in a variety of recipes-especially muffins, bread, and cakes due to the structure of the fruit. You can also use the huge zucchini as a stuffed squash.

If you have big zucchini that aren't quite giant enough to make cups, slice then lengthwise, scoop out the flesh to make a boat, and make Taco Zucchini Boats! You can also use giant zucchini and scrape the seeds off the strips for this tasty that's loaded with flavor from three types of cheese!

We recommend preserving summer squash or zucchini by pickling or freezing. Summer squash is good for you. It is low in calories and many varieties provide vitamin C, potassium and, if the skin is eaten, beta carotene. Preserve summer squash by freezing, pickle them for canning or dry them.

We're sometimes asked, "Can you freeze zucchini whole?" You certainly can, but it will be much more challenging to thaw and use later. (Imagine trying to shred a soggy, whole, thawed squash.) So, instead, we recommend tackling the shape in advance so you can quickly use the frozen zucchini when you're ready.

Zucchini is richer in vitamin B and vitamin C as compared to cucumbers. Both vegetables have relatively equal amounts of calcium but zucchini is richer than cucumbers in potassium and iron. Zucchini also has a higher amount of protein and fiber.

“Googootz” is also the Italian slang for “zucchini,” and refers to a squash-like vegetable that Italians and Italian-Americans grow called cucuzza.

If you would feel confident using a zucchini for hand-to-hand combat, then it's too big to eat. Cooking with it won't make you sick or anything, but if it's thicker than Popeye's forearm and sturdy enough to stand in for Bamm-Bamm's club, it'll be more hassle than it's worth.

Cocozelle has one of the tastiest flavors and is far superior to our regular ole' American zucchini if you ask me. They are uniformly straight and best harvested at 6-8” in length. The bush-habit plants are highly productive and very easy to grow.

Raw zucchini can also cause gas and bloating, especially if you overdo it. Zucchini is rich in fiber that your gut doesn't digest. When your body doesn't fully break the fiber down, gas can build up and cause bloating and make you pass wind. Eating raw vegetables can cause gas if you have irritable bowel syndrome.

Is it safe to eat overgrown zucchini? ›

But here's the thing: These monster zucchini are totally impressive to look at, but they're not really all that delicious. This isn't, of course, to say that you can't eat these massive zucchini that grow in your garden or that you find at the farmers market. You absolutely can. Go ahead and stew, roast, or bake them.

Zucchini is made of over 90% water. When cooked, it gets soft and slowly releases that water into whatever dish you're cooking. If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture.

Do Store Fresh Zucchini in the Fridge. If properly stored, zucchini will last up to a week. The best way to store zucchini is in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer where humidity is kept to a minimum.

Yes, you can freeze zucchini without blanching it first. However, if you blanch it first, it will help deactivate the enzymes that can make it more mushy and discolored. The thawed zucchini may be less than ideal.

Yes, you can freeze zucchini without blanching it first. However, if you blanch it first, it will help deactivate the enzymes that can make it more mushy and discolored. The thawed zucchini may be less than ideal.

Whether you choose to buy seedlings or plant zucchini seeds directly in your garden, you should group two to three plants close together for best pollination. Plus, hilling allows you to dig compost in to the soil.

Store in the fridge, properly wrapped

To store zucchini in the fridge, keep the squash whole, dry and unwashed. Store them in a plastic or paper bag with one end open to encourage air circulation, and pop them in the refrigerator crisper drawer.

Freezing is the best option for safely preserving zucchini. At a recent food preservation class, the topic of preserving zucchini was discussed. Participants asked why canning zucchini was not recommended.