Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Food / Got Zucchini?

July 23, 2012

Got Zucchini?

Our local gardens are starting to burst with zucchini and you may be wondering what to do with all of it!  Whether purchasing or picking zucchini — choose firm, slender zucchini with a bright green color and free of wrinkled skin and soft spots. For best quality, harvest zucchini when it is young and tender, about 6 to 8 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter. As zucchini gets longer and bigger around, it becomes tougher and develops more seeds. These larger zucchini can be used to make zucchini bread; scoop out seeds and pulp with the tip of a spoon.

For best quality, use zucchini within about three to four days. Wash the squash just before preparation. Zucchini makes a quick addition to meals as it doesn’t have to be peeled!  And before you try to give (or sneak!) your zucchini away, here are quick tricks for using zucchini:
The Produce for Better Health Foundation at www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org  suggests:

  • Slice, marinate (try balsamic vinegar) and grill a variety of vegetables including zucchini, asparagus, green onions, eggplant, and mushrooms. They’re delicious!
  • Cut up veggies like carrots, zucchini and potatoes. Add them to your favorite meatloaf or soup recipes.
  • Take your favorite lasagna recipe and try adding different combinations of your favorite vegetables between the layers: mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, onions, or eggplant. Be creative.

Additional tips include:

  • Add raw zucchini to lettuce and pasta salads.
  • Cut zucchini into sticks and serve with a dip.
  • Slice zucchini, saute in oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes until tender crisp; toss into heated pasta sauce for a veggie-packed pasta topping.

 Freezing Zucchini

To freeze grated zucchini for baking, the National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends (http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze/squash_summer.html):

Choose young tender zucchini. Wash and grate. Steam blanch (directions below) in small quantities 1 to 2 minutes until translucent or clear. Pack in measured amounts into containers, leaving 1/2-inch head space. Cool by placing the containers in cold water. Seal and freeze.

A great recipe to try…

Last but not least, a favorite recipe that I made last week from www.allrecipes.com

Chocolate Chip Orange Zucchini Bread

  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups grated zucchini
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 Directions

  1. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and spices.
  2. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar, and continue beating until well blended. Stir in oil, vanilla, zucchini, nuts, chocolate chips, and orange rind. Blend in sifted ingredients. Turn batter into two greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes, or until bread tests done. Remove loaves from pans, and cool. Chill before slicing.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 280 | Total Fat: 15.3g | Cholesterol: 26mg

Enjoy!

Sources:

Alice Henneman, University of Nebraska Extension, http://lancaster.unl.edu

National Center for Home Food Preservation, http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze/squash_summer.html

Produce for Better Health Foundation at www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org

All Recipes, www.allrecipes.com

Author:  Shari L. Gallup is a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator with The Ohio State University, Licking County.  Readers may reach her at 771 E. Main Street, Newark, 43055 or  visit the OSU Extension of Licking County web page at: licking.osu.edu.

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, disability or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA. Keith Smith, Ph.D., Associate VP for Agriculture Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 or 614-292-1868.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories: Food
Tags: freezing, garden produce, recipes, zucchini

Avatar for Shari Gallup
Avatar for Shari Gallup

About Shari Gallup

Shari Gallup is an extension educator, specializing in health and wellness, and has been making a difference in lives of ordinary people for over 20 years, in areas of diabetic education, corporate health and wellness and using food to fight disease. Gallup recently developed a series of quick “Garden to Plate” videos to create awareness of how vegetables can be made into healthy food that tastes good in just a few minutes. Gallup is a passionate and mindful speaker who is creative in her teaching and research approach and enjoys motivating, educating and having fun.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Diabetes Awareness month 2024 3

November Diabetes Awareness Month Webinars

2024 Food Preservation webinar series presented in Summer 2024

Kids Eat Free

Here Comes the Sun, Sun Meals, and Sun Bucks!

winter seed sowing timeline

Winter Sowing

How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner

Food Videos

  • Freezing Green Beans
  • Ohio Days – My Plate My State Video
  • Water Bath Canning Of Salsa
  • Water Bath Canning of Sweet Pickles

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d