courgette info

[lesleygl]

Does anyone have a good way of preserving courgettes. I have been reading up and some say blanche then freeze, grill then freeze, fry with garlic and butter then freeze, freeze on a tray with nothing done to them. Don't put in oil as dangerous and on and on but none of it is very successful from what I have read. Does anyone have a fool proof or nearly fool proof suggestion please?

[Matt.]

Short answer from me is no. But we have made courgette provencale(?) before and frozen that. This is fried cougettes, garlic, tomatoes. Also frozen pasta bakes with courgette in. I doubt you'll find a way to freeze and keep the fresh consistency.

Just make the most of the glut and gorge yourelf on them while they last

[Pies]

Make soup then freeze the soup

[lesleygl]

Are runner beans any easier to freeze any special methods please

[Sue]

Lesley
Re Runner Beans
I personally don't like them frozen plain but last year found a method of stewing them with garlic, chilli if liked and tomatoes from HFW. I then froze this and have now eaten all my stocks over winter.

And as for courgettes, make loads and loads of ratatouille! I try only to eat the veg I get from my allotments so when I run out of fresh tomatoes, that's it until the next season but having loads of ratatouille in the freezer meant I got a tomatoey hit during the winter, which was very welcome...
best wishes
Sue

[Alice]

You don't say why you think the freezing methods are not successful Lesley.
I just cut the courgettes into chunks, fry VERY lightly in butter, put on a tray and open freeze then tip into a freezer bag. They're fine. To use I cook from frozen - add to soup, stew, ratatouille, sweet and sour, stir fry - whatever.

For runner beans just open freeze the fresh beans, tip into a freezer bag and use from frozen.

[rana]

we have made courgette provencale(?) before and frozen that. This is fried cougettes, garlic, tomatoes.

having loads of ratatouille in the freezer meant I got a tomatoey hit during the winter, which was very welcome...

Great ideas but surely the courgette glut occurs well before the tomato plants are forthcoming with fruit............

[lesleygl]

thank you all for your suggestions - I am very grateful and willgive them a try.
Lesley

[SlugLobber]

I simply cut mine into julienne strips last year and froze like that. They do go soggy when removed, but I was planning to use them in stir-fry/casserole anyway.