If you’ve ever wondered about freezing eggplant (often called eggplant), this article will give you all the answers you need. Eggplants are not a very popular vegetable, although quite a few people want to educate themselves about freezing eggplants. The first thing you should know is that eggplants can be frozen and the entire freezing process is quite similar to other vegetables. So if you have already frozen some vegetables, reading the rest of the article will make you feel right at home. If you are interested, read on.
Freezing eggplant (aubergine) – preparation
Before we get to the last step, ie putting the eggplant in the freezer, we need some preparation. This takes about 20-30 minutes depending on how many eggplants you want to freeze. Some activities take just as much time, no matter how many eggplants you want to freeze, so it’s always better to do the freezing in batches. The first thing to do, of course, is to wash the eggplants. Next, you should cut off both ends of each eggplant, peel them (if you wish) and slice them. Now you are ready for the next step.
blanch
Once the eggplants are prepared, it’s time to blanch them, which will prevent the vegetables from discoloring. Now you should boil a mixture of water and half a cup of lemon juice. Once the mixture is boiling, place the slices in for about 4 minutes. Then put the aubergines in cold (possibly icy) water for a few minutes so that they cool down well. Once cool, drain and dry. Now they are almost ready to put in the freezer.
One thing to note – if you have an already cooked eggplant, you can (and should) of course skip the prep and blanching steps as you have already done them.
Eggplant – Freezing
Ok, sliced eggplants are cool and dry, now it’s time to wrap them. They can be packed in airtight containers or freezer bags, although the latter seem to be a better choice as they don’t take up as much freezer space. When packing, consider dividing the veggies into several freezer bags so you can easily thaw as many eggplant slices as you need at once. Be sure to deflate these bags (a straw might be quite helpful), seal them tightly, and label them properly. Now they are ready to be put in the freezer.
Read Also: Can you freeze beetroot?
In case you’re wondering how long eggplants can be kept in the freezer, most sources suggest keeping them there no longer than 6-9 months. Of course, you can keep them there longer, but after defrosting, you may not be satisfied with their quality. Of course, frozen and thawed veggies work best in stews, soups, and casseroles, but you probably already know this.
summary
As you can see, the answer to the question Can you freeze eggplant? affirmatively – these vegetables freeze quite well, and it’s not that difficult to freeze. Just test it a few times to be sure eggplant freezing works well for your needs.