Can You Freeze Eggplant?
There are many items of fresh produce, like onions and bell peppers, that stand up well in the freezer — but can you freeze eggplant? When you buy eggplant, the intention is always to use it while it’s fresh. But sometimes time runs away from us and next thing we know, we have overripe eggplants in our produce drawers that are unusable. So, can you freeze eggplant to prevent it from being wasted?
There are so many wonderful, versatile recipes that feature eggplant. You can sauté it, roast it, grill it or even pickle it. But can you freeze eggplant? What if you’ve already prepared it and have leftovers? Can you freeze cooked eggplant? As long as you’re willing to take a few careful steps first, you can freeze eggplant for use later. The method you choose for freezing depends on how you plan to use your eggplant later.
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Can Eggplant Be Frozen?
Eggplants come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, but their makeup is essentially the same. While most people think of eggplant as a vegetable, it’s actually a fruit. Raw eggplant is usually globe-shaped or long and narrow with deep purple, edible skin. The inside of an eggplant is white and spongy with a soft texture that’s great for absorbing other flavors.
Eggplant is best enjoyed after being cooked because it has a milder flavor and more pleasing texture than in its raw form. Popular recipes include Chinese eggplant and eggplant Parmesan. But can you freeze eggplant? If you don’t have time to use up your eggplant before it starts to turn, you can freeze eggplant as long as you follow a few basic guidelines.
Can You Freeze Raw Eggplant?
Can you freeze raw eggplant? If you have a whole eggplant in your refrigerator that you’re not going to use within three to four days, it’s best to freeze the eggplant before it starts to soften and turn brown. Once it gets to that point, there’s really no saving it — even for sauces and dips. To make sure you have a usable product on the other side of freezing, you’ll need to blanch or cook your eggplant beforehand.
Because eggplant consists of 90% water, it does not freeze well in its raw state. Ice crystals will form if you freeze raw eggplant and the cell walls will break down. This will result in a mushy mess once you thaw the raw eggplant, which nobody wants! Fortunately, you can freeze eggplant and avoid this, as long as you blanch or cook it first.
Can You Freeze Cooked Eggplant?
Eggplant is a very versatile ingredient used in all kinds of cuisines from around the world. Because of its spongy texture, eggplant absorbs flavors well, such as in this eggplant curry recipe. When cooked down, eggplant has a pleasing creamy texture while also adding bulk to soups and stews.
Can you freeze eggplant that has been cooked? This is the best way to go if you want to freeze eggplant. A quick 10-minute sauté will cook out most of the water in the eggplant so that it stands up to freezing. You can also roast eggplant to reduce the water content. If you don’t want to cook eggplant down, you can use a blanching method to prepare it for the freezer.
Can You Freeze Fried Eggplant?
Fried eggplant slices are used in dishes such as eggplant Parmesan — which would be a delicious dish to take out of the freezer when life gets too busy to cook. So can you freeze eggplant that’s been fried? If you want to get ahead of the prep work for this recipe, you can bread and fry your eggplant rounds and then freeze them to use at a later time. Just let them cool down on a plate lined with paper towels to allow excess grease to drip off. Then flash freeze them on a baking sheet for an hour or two. Layer parchment or wax paper between the slices to prevent sticking when you transfer to a freezer bag or container.
Can You Freeze Eggplant Parmesan?
One of the most popular ways to use eggplant is in eggplant Parmesan — and you can even make a delicious vegan version with this vegan eggplant Parmesan recipe. Eggplant Parmesan is made with sliced rounds of eggplant that are breaded and then layered with tomato sauce and cheese. Since the eggplant has already been cooked in this recipe, does that mean that you can freeze eggplant Parmesan? Yes! And the best part? You don’t even need to thaw it — simply bake it straight from the freezer.
How To Freeze Eggplant
The key to freezing eggplant is to decide how you plan to use it later and to pick the right pre-freeze preparation method.
How To Freeze Raw Eggplant Without Blanching
Can you freeze raw eggplant? This is not recommended because the water content of raw eggplant is too high and freezing will destroy the integrity of the fruit. Blanching eggplant in boiling water and lemon juice for just four minutes will protect the plant’s integrity so that it can withstand freezing temperatures.
If you are not planning to use slices of eggplant, you can freeze eggplant without blanching it but you still need to cook it first. Season eggplant with salt and pepper, and sauté over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before transferring to the freezer. You may want to consider puréeing your cooked eggplant before freezing if you want a smoother consistency.
How To Blanch Eggplant for Freezing
Can you freeze eggplant for eggplant Parmesan? If you plan to use your eggplant as whole pieces versus cooked down, you can freeze eggplant slices after blanching them. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a half cup of lemon juice (this prevents browning). Boil your eggplant slices for four minutes and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Allow to cool and pat dry before freezing.
How Long Can You Freeze Eggplant For?
Anytime you are freezing food, use the three to six-month rule. Frozen food is best used in three months but you can freeze eggplant for up to six months if you prep and package it properly.
How To Use Frozen Eggplant
The great news is that you can freeze eggplant and use it without thawing. If you are making eggplant Parmesan, just build your layers using the frozen slices. You may need to adjust the cooking time a bit, but this method is better than allowing the slices to thaw.
For cooked or puréed eggplant, you can add it straight to the pan or mix it into tomato sauce without thawing. It will temporarily reduce the heat of your dish, so just give it time to warm back up.
Learning how to work with eggplant from experienced chefs is easy if you take online cooking classes featuring dishes made with the fruit. Eggplant is typically abundant in late summer, so look for seasonal classes near you that include eggplant recipes.
How To Thaw Frozen Eggplant
You can choose to thaw frozen eggplant by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight. Just be aware that thawed eggplant may become watery or start to oxidize into an unpleasant color. It’s usually best to use eggplant directly from the freezer in your dishes.
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Earthy eggplant is a versatile food that is savory and delicious. Because it spoils fairly quickly, it’s good to know that you can freeze eggplant for use at a later date. So, next time you wonder “Can you freeze eggplant?” remember just how many options are open to you to prevent food waste.
Blanching eggplant slices is a great idea if you plan to make eggplant Parmesan. Otherwise, you can roast, sauté or blend eggplant before freezing. However you choose to do it, one of the best things about freezing eggplant is that you can use it straight from the freezer in your favorite recipe. Having done the prep work already, simply grab your eggplant and get cooking, and just as the old saying about money goes, time saved is time earned!
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