Having squash on hand when you need it is great. The process of having to cook it before freezing can be time-consuming, and you may be wondering if you could skip cooking and jump straight to freezing.
This fruit is often likened to the pumpkin. It can be grilled, roasted, and made into a paste for soup.
Yes, Squash can be frozen without cooking and will be OK. The main reason for mildly boiling and blanching the squash before freezing it is to prevent the growth of enzymes that cause the squash’s flavor and taste to deteriorate over time. Freezing squash without cooking is not harmful to your health or safety and will not hurt you when utilized.
Squash is a sweet and delicious, versatile dish that is impossible to resist. It can be used for casseroles, pumpkin pie, and stir-fries.
Can You Freeze Squash Without Cooking it?
Squash is mostly grown in late spring and early summer. Yes, you can freeze squash without cooking. Freezing the squash is a great way to keep it on hand whenever you want or need it, no matter the season.
It is very similar in flavor to pumpkin but tastes much better, and you do not even need to add sweetener to enhance the taste as it is naturally sweet. Freezing the squash for the seasons it does not grow is a good and safe way to store your squash.
You can either cook the squash before freezing or just freeze it uncooked. Both methods will do well to keep your squash from spoilage.
The Pros And Cons of Freezing Fresh Squash
Cooking fresh squash before freezing takes time, and if you just want to throw your squash in the freezer and get some other things done, this method may not be for you.
It is possible to save time and energy by freezing fresh squash.
Freezing fresh squash has its disadvantages. For instance, if you want to freeze your squash for an extended period, it may lose its flavor and not taste as nice and sweet as it would if it had been properly blanched before freezing.
How To Freeze Fresh Squash
We will show you a step-by-step method of freezing squash so you have it handy whenever you need it.
Step 1: Clean And Peel The Squash
You want to use fresh squash if you will be freezing for a long time. Start by washing the squash thoroughly and then proceed to peel it. Because of the hard texture of the squash, you can put it in the microwave for about 5 minutes, so it can be soft before peeling it.
Simply cut off the ends and, after about 3-5 minutes, let it cool and then peel off the skin of the squash with a vegetable peeler. It comes off easily.
Step 2: Chop the squash
While some prefer to cut the squash into cubes, you can use any size that you want. Just make sure you cut them into even pieces.
Step 3: Freeze
After you have chopped to the even sizes of your choice, get a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. Transfer the finely and evenly chopped squash onto the lined baking sheet and spread them in such a way that they can freeze apart instead of forming a big clump.
After this, simply place the baking sheet in the freezer overnight.
Step 4: Keep The Squash
Once the squash is well frozen, transfer it into a freezer-safe zip-lock bag and keep it in the freezer. Write the date on the bag, so you can properly monitor the shelf life, as you can only keep it between 6-12 months.
Shelf-Life Of Frozen Squash
Check this out to find out the shelf life of some selected squash. The majority of the squash lasts for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months when frozen.
It is important to know how long you should keep the different types of squash.
| Squash Name | Shelf Life Of Fresh And Whole Squash | Shelf Life Of Frozen Squash |
| Acorn squash | 2 months | 12 months |
| Butternut squash | 3 months | 6 months |
| Delicata squash | 2 months | 6 months |
| Honeynut squash | 3 months | 6- 12 months |
| Spaghetti squash | 2 months | 8 months |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze squash without cooking first?
Yes, you most certainly can freeze squash without cooking it first. The major reason why you should blanch your squash before freezing is to get rid of the enzymes that cause deterioration. If you want to store the squash for over 6 months, we recommend that you blanch it so the squash can retain its flavor.
Can you freeze raw squash?
Of course, you can freeze raw squash. It is worth mentioning, however, that if you plan to store the squash for a long time, you should blanch lightly because the taste and flavor can be off when you thaw raw squash after storing it for a long period.
What is the best way to freeze fresh squash?
To freeze fresh squash, simply chop the squash into even pieces and then spread them on a lined baking sheet. Make sure they do not touch each other, so they do not become clusters. Once this is done, freeze overnight, so you have a nicely frozen squash. This, indeed, is the best way.
What happens if you don’t blanch squash before freezing?
If you do not blanch squash before freezing it for a short period, nothing will happen. The flavor and taste will be as awesome as ever. However, if you do not blanch squash before freezing for a long time, the enzymes that aid deterioration will grow and cause a loss of flavor and will make the squash totally off when thawing to cook.
In Conclusion
You can freeze both cooked and uncooked squash. If you wish to keep the squash for a long period, we recommend blanching it before freezing it. This aids in flavor retention. You should also look into the shelf life of some of the squash we’ve listed. This will assist you in determining how long you should store your squash. To keep your squash from spoiling, label it and store it in zip-lock containers.
