Three ways to freeze eggplant for the winter in the freezer

How to freeze eggplants in the freezer for the winter? The son could not stand them all his childhood, and recently he suddenly fell in love. I tried to prepare a little last year, but when they melt, they become very soft. They lose their shape, and you no longer know what to cook from them. I just thought, can I boil them before that?

We all try to make as much vitamin reserves as possible in order to pamper our family with tasty and healthy dishes during the cold season. And if every housewife has fruits, then some vegetables, for example, eggplants, are most often used for preservation. And it is completely in vain, because knowing how to properly freeze eggplants for the winter in the freezer, you can save a maximum of useful substances.

What is the problem with this method of harvesting blue ones? They just have a very juicy and firm pulp, which often loses its texture after defrosting. For some, the vegetables are too hard, as if rubbery. Other housewives complain that they then simply fall apart. But this should not stop you, because there is still a reliable method of freezing, and there is more than one.

How to freeze eggplants for the winter in the freezer - three proven ways

To ensure that vegetables not only retain their vitamins, but also remain firm and tasty, it is not enough just to put them in the chamber. The blue ones must be prepared in advance: dry, bake, or at least blanch before laying.

Freezing dried eggplant

Drying doesn't mean turning vegetables into chips. You just need to dry them a little in fast mode so that the pulp loses some of the moisture. Wash the fruits, peel them, if you like, and cut them into slices or cubes as you like.

Now send the workpiece for drying using your choice:

1. Electric dryer. Set the temperature to no more than 60 ° C and the timer for 2 hours.
2. Oven. The temperature can be increased up to 70 °, but the time can be reduced by an hour.
3. Microwave. A great way if there is no time and everything needs to be done quickly. Put chopped vegetables in a single layer on a dish and set for 2 minutes at maximum power.

When drying blue in the oven, do not close the door completely.

Vegetables frozen in this way are slightly dried, wrinkled in appearance. Just put them in boiling water for a couple of minutes before further use, and they will return to their previous volume.

Baked frozen eggplant

If you need whole fruits, then it is best to bake them right away and prepare a semi-finished product. Wash the blue ones, place on a baking sheet and bake in a gas or electric oven for 20 minutes. There is no difference where, just do not forget to set the temperature to at least 200 °. Then hold them under pressure. When the blue ones have cooled down, just put them in bags, you don't even need to clean them. In winter, these eggplants are great for stuffing or for casseroles.

How to blanch eggplant before freezing

Short-term processing of vegetables in boiling water will also rid them of some of the liquid. However, the method is only suitable for shredded blue. Cut them into slices or cubes, and as soon as the water in the pan boils, lower it for 1-2 minutes. Then put in a sieve so that the water is glass, and can be sent to the tray and to the freezer.

Freezing eggplant for the winter in different ways: baked, boiled, raw