Can you freeze eggplant?
Can you freeze eggplant? Yes, you can freeze eggplant in many ways. You can freeze them raw, cooked, grilled, or in dishes such as moussaka and parmigiana.
How to freeze raw eggplant?
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. It is not necessary to season the water because this operation is only intended to blanch the eggplants.
- While waiting for the water to boil, peel the aubergines and cut them into slices of equal thickness.
- Put the eggplant slices in boiling water for about 4 minutes. Then immediately plunge them into cold water to prevent them from cooking further. Then drain them.
- Spread the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure that the slices do not touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each slice of eggplant individually so that they don’t stick together afterwards. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the eggplant slices are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the eggplant slices to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the eggplant slices to the freezer.
How to freeze cooked eggplant?
- Peel and cut the eggplants into small pieces. Drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt, pepper, or any other spice of your choice. Roast them in a preheated oven at around 190°C for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown.
- Take the eggplants out of the oven, let them cool and pat them with paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
- Spread the eggplant pieces out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pieces don’t touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece of eggplant individually so they don’t stick together later. This will make it easier to defrost small portions. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours.
- Once the eggplant pieces are completely frozen, remove the baking sheet from the freezer and transfer the eggplant pieces to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Seal the freezer bag or container tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag or container with the date and contents, then return the eggplant pieces to the freezer.
How long do eggplants last in the freezer?
Raw eggplants will keep for about 6 to 8 months in the freezer, while cooked eggplants will keep for about 10 to 12 months.
How to thaw eggplant?
If you have frozen sliced raw eggplant or chopped cooked eggplant, you do not need to thaw them. Just incorporate them into the dish you are preparing or use them in a moussaka, for example, and proceed as usual. The heat of cooking will be enough to thaw them.
If you want to thaw your eggplants, let them thaw slowly overnight in the refrigerator. Then cook or reheat them in the oven until they are heated through in the center.
Can you freeze eggplants without blanching them?
Of course, it is quite possible. Blanching eggplants simply eliminates bacteria and preserves their nutrients, flavor and vibrant color.
