Can you freeze pumpkin?
Can you freeze pumpkin? Yes it’s possible! But don’t just store a whole pumpkin in your freezer. It would indeed be very surprising if you could fit a whole pumpkin into your freezer. Instead, check out the method below to learn how to freeze pumpkin properly.
How to freeze raw pumpkin?
Blanching the pumpkin preserves its color, flavor, texture and nutrients. It’s tempting to skip this step, but it only takes a few minutes and will make the difference between satisfaction and disappointment.
- Cut your pumpkin in half, remove the seeds and peel it.
- Cut your pumpkin into equal sized pieces; think about the portions you usually eat and do the same.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then blanch the pumpkin pieces for 3 to 4 minutes. Then, take the pieces out of the boiling water and immediately plunge them into a container filled with cold water to stop the cooking.
- Drain the pumpkin pieces and let them dry. You can also pat them with paper towel to save time.
- Spread the pumpkin pieces out on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece of pumpkin individually so they don’t stick together later.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours until the pumpkin pieces are frozen solid.
- Take the baking sheet out of the freezer and transfer the pumpkin pieces to a freezer bag. Close the freezer bag tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag with the date and contents and put it in the freezer.
How to freeze cooked pumpkin?
If you want to freeze cooked pumpkin, you can use the same approach.
- Start by cooking your pumpkin following your favorite recipe. Be careful not to overcook it, otherwise it will become mushy and you will have a hard time freezing it.
- Once cooked, let the pumpkin cool to room temperature.
- Spread the pumpkin pieces out on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch each other. The idea is to pre-freeze each piece of pumpkin individually so they don’t stick together later.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours until the pumpkin pieces are frozen solid.
- Take the baking sheet out of the freezer and transfer the pumpkin pieces to a freezer bag. Close the freezer bag tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag with the date and contents and put it in the freezer.
What is the shelf life of pumpkin in the freezer?
Pumpkin will keep for about 10 to 12 months in the freezer, whether raw or cooked. After this time, your pumpkin may lose some of its bright color and intense flavor.
How to thaw pumpkin?
We highly recommend thawing your pumpkin in the fridge overnight. This will prevent your pumpkin from losing its consistency. Admittedly, it takes more time, but the result is worth it.
Can you refreeze pumpkin?
You can safely refreeze pumpkin, but only once. Keep in mind that you should refreeze your pumpkin shortly after thawing it; try to limit this timeframe to 36 hours. Beyond this time, it is possible that bacteria will form.
It’s also important to note that you should only refreeze your pumpkin if it was thawed in the refrigerator. If it has been thawed at room temperature, there is a higher risk of bacteria forming.
Can you freeze a whole pumpkin?
Yes, but what good is it? It is best to prepare the pumpkin before freezing it so that it is more convenient to thaw and cook later. You can freeze it in halves, but you still need to peel it and remove the seeds.
Can you freeze pumpkin seeds?
Freezing pumpkin seeds is a great way to store them. Unfortunately, they go rancid very quickly on contact with air. If you plan to freeze an unopened packet of pumpkin seeds, you can put it in the freezer as is.
On the other hand, if you opened the package or harvested pumpkin seeds yourself, you should put them in a freezer bag. It’s crucial to push out as much air as possible when closing the bag, as the moisture in the air can spoil your seeds. Once frozen, your pumpkin seeds will keep for about 1 year in the freezer, which is already a long time!
Can you freeze other varieties of squash?
We’ve focused on pumpkin on this page, but you can use the methods described above to freeze other varieties of squash. Other varieties of squash freeze just as well as pumpkin.
