Pumpkin is an extremely versatile fruit that offers you a useful and delicious base for a range of soups, dishes and desserts. However, like any other fruit, it spoils quickly. You have a maximum of two weeks to use it up. However, freezing pumpkin is a great way to preserve it and use it year-round. You can freeze both cooked and raw pumpkin. In this article we'll show you a few ways you can do that!
Freezing Pumpkin – Different Ways You Can Do It
Although pumpkin season peaks in September and October, you can easily freeze pumpkin so you can enjoy delicious pumpkin soup and other pumpkin dishes all year long! Here are different ways you can do that!
Method 1: Freeze cooked pumpkin cubes
Cut the pumpkin into quarters: Since pumpkin is not an easy fruit to cut, here are some steps to make the process easier for you. Insert the tip of a sturdy knife into the top of the pumpkin, right next to the stem. Press the knife down into the pumpkin and it will begin to splinter. Continue running the knife along the bottom of the pumpkin until you have cut it in half. Then cut each half in half to make quarters.
Scoop out the pumpkin seeds: Scoop out the pulp with a large spoon and remove the seeds and any fibrous threads. Discard the seeds or set them aside to roast – roasted pumpkin seeds are another delicious and nutritious pumpkin treat!
Place the pumpkin in the oven: Place the pumpkin flesh side up in a roasting pan and add a small amount of water to the bottom. Let a large pumpkin sit in the oven for about an hour, 45 minutes for a medium-sized one and 20-30 minutes for a small one. Use a knife to check the pumpkin to see if it can be cut without difficulty.
Peel the skin off the pumpkinas soon as it has cooled down sufficiently. Then peel off the skin with a knife or your fingers. When the pumpkin is well cooked, the skin falls off effortlessly.
Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces from 2.5 to 8 cm long and put them in freezer bagsl. Be sure to pack the pieces loosely in the bags so they don't freeze together! Squeeze as much air out of the bags as possible.
Date the bags: Your pumpkin should last at least 6-8 months in the freezer.
Method 2: Preserve pumpkin puree in the freezer
Puree the pumpkin cubes:After cooking your pumpkin in the oven and cutting it into cubes, you can make a puree by processing the pieces with a blender or hand blender.
Place the pumpkin puree into zip-top bags:Squeeze out the air and place in the freezer.
- Notice: You can also use muffin cups and ice cube trays to freeze the pumpkin puree. Spread it evenly with a spoon and smooth the surface. Once frozen, you can transfer it to zip-lock bags for long-term storage so your muffin cups or ice cube trays aren't constantly full.
Also read:Bake Pumpkin Bread: Recipe for salty pumpkin bread with fresh yeast that is easy to prepare!
Method 3: How to freeze raw pumpkin
The easiest and quickest method is to freeze raw pumpkin. All you need to do is remove the peel and cut it into medium-sized pieces. It will last about 6 months in the freezer, but if you blanch it you can keep it for up to a year. To blanch, you need to put the washed and cut pumpkin pieces in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then wait until they cool and then freeze.
- Notice: Blanching ensures that the fruit's valuable nutrients are retained and that the flesh retains its color and texture after thawing. In addition, microorganisms that can cause foodborne illnesses are inactivated. Blanching also makes portioning easier because the cooked pumpkin is very soft.
Additional tips that are helpful
- If you are freezing cooked pumpkin, make sure it is completely cool before placing it in the freezer.
- If you freeze raw pumpkin, cut it into the size and shape you need to prepare your recipes. Then put it in freezer bags.
Freezing Brussels Sprouts: What Methods Can You Use to Preserve Flavor?You can find out here!
How you defrost pumpkin depends on when you use it
- If you want to use your pumpkin within a few days, you can place it in the refrigerator to thaw.
- If you want to use the pumpkin the same day, you can let it thaw on the counter for a few hours.
- If you need the pumpkin as quickly as possible, you can pour warm water over it (while it is still in the bag) to speed up the defrosting process.
Pumpkin jam recipe: Delicious ideas for enjoying pumpkin in a different waycan be found here!
