How to freeze eggplants in the freezer for the winter

Fresh or roasted eggplant, frozen for the winter, is a good way to incorporate vegetables into your daily diet year-round. It won’t take much time to prepare them after freezing: they are already sliced ​​and even heat-treated. Fast, simple and tasty.

How to freeze fried eggplants in the freezer for the winter?

Frozen fried eggplants are perfect for making vegetable stews or rolls with cheese and herbs. They can be left in a warm room to defrost, reheated in the microwave, or added straight from the freezer to the pan with the other ingredients.

1. 
   How to freeze eggplants in the freezer for the winter? Wash the eggplants and dry thoroughly with paper towels.
2. 
   Cut vegetables into thin slices.
3. 
   Fry the slices with a little oil until they get a nice golden crust on both sides.
4. 
   Place the finished eggplant pieces on a napkin or paper towel to get rid of excess fat that the vegetables absorb during the frying process.
5. 
   Place the slices on a cutting board or tray in a single layer and place in the freezer for an hour to firm up slightly, then transfer to containers or plastic bags for permanent storage.

How to prepare fresh eggplants in the freezer for the winter?

Eggplants can be cut in advance in different ways - for each dish in their own way and frozen in this form. Then, before cooking, you will only need to take out a container with those vegetables that have already been cut as required by the recipe and add them to the dish.

Cooking time: 55 min.

Cooking time: 15 min.

Servings – 3.

Ingredients:

• Eggplants – 3 pcs.
• Salt - to taste.

Cooking process:

1. Trim the legs and tails of dense, ripe eggplants, wash them and dry them.

2. Cut the vegetables in any convenient way, based on what is to be cooked from them later: cubes, cubes, circles or plates lengthwise.

3. Sprinkle chopped eggplant pieces with salt and leave for half an hour to remove bitterness.

4. After 30 minutes, the eggplant should be washed under running water, blanched in boiling water for about 2 minutes, and then lightly dried again.

5. Place the vegetable slices on a cutting board, cover with film and leave in the freezer for several hours, and then transfer to trays or bags prepared for permanent storage.

How to properly freeze eggplant slices for the winter?

Eggplants can be thermally treated before freezing, for example, by keeping them in the oven for half an hour. This product can be used by adding to vegetable sautés and stews. The cooking time will be reduced, because the eggplants are almost ready.

Cooking time: 1 hour 40 minutes.

Cooking time: 10 min.

Servings – 3.

Ingredients:

• Eggplants – 3 pcs.
• Vegetable oil - for lubricating the mold.

Cooking process:

1. Wash the eggplants, remove the tails and pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

2. Cut the vegetables into round slices about 5 mm thick.

3. Grease a baking sheet with a thin layer of oil.

4. Lay out the eggplant pieces and keep in the oven, heated to 180 degrees, for about half an hour.

5. Remove the browned vegetables from the baking sheet, place on a cutting board and place in the freezer for an hour so that the vegetables set and do not stick together later when stored together. After 60 minutes, transfer the eggplant slices into bags or containers and leave them in the freezer for permanent storage.

Frozen eggplant caviar for the winter

Eggplants can be processed and frozen in advance, so that later, in the winter months, you can prepare delicious caviar from them. This greatly simplifies and speeds up the cooking process.

Cooking time: 55 min.

Cooking time: 10 min.

Servings – 4.

Ingredients:

• Eggplants – 4 pcs.

Cooking process:

1. Wash the eggplant and remove the stems. Prick each vegetable with a fork in several places so that they remain intact during baking.

2. Place the eggplants on a baking sheet and keep in the oven until softened. It is better to turn the vegetables over from time to time for more even processing so that they do not burn.

3. Place the finished eggplants in a bowl, cover with a lid and leave to cool. This way they will get rid of bitterness, and the skin will be easier to remove.

4. Remove the skin from the roasted vegetables.

5. Place the processed eggplants, several at a time, in a plastic storage container and place in the freezer. In winter, use it to prepare delicious caviar or other dishes.

How to freeze whole eggplants in the freezer for long-term storage?

Eggplants can be baked and then frozen whole. During the cold season, this preparation is suitable for any dish: they can be cut for sauté or stew, stuffed with meat or cheese filling, or cooked with eggplant caviar.

Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

Cooking time: 10 min.

Servings – 4.

Ingredients:

• Eggplants – 4 pcs.

Cooking process:

1. Wash the eggplants thoroughly and dry them, blotting them with a paper towel.

2. Place the vegetables on a suitable-sized baking sheet or baking dish, previously covered with parchment paper.

3. Keep the eggplants in the oven for 45-50 minutes at 190 degrees.

4. Cut the finished vegetables lengthwise, open them slightly and remove the tails.

5. Place the eggplants on a flat surface, cut side down, place a weight on top and hold in this position until they have cooled completely. Then transfer it to a container or freezer bag and place it in the freezer.

How to prepare blanched eggplants for freezing for the winter?

Eggplants according to this recipe undergo a light heat treatment before freezing, remain almost fresh, but at the same time, with further cooking, they will not become rubbery and will not taste bitter.

Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

Cooking time: 10 min.

Servings – 4.

Ingredients:

• Eggplants – 4 pcs.

Cooking process:

1. Wash the eggplant, cut it into random pieces of such size and shape that it will be convenient to prepare other dishes from them: cube, block, circle or plate.

2. Boil water in a saucepan.

3. Place the vegetable pieces in boiling water for a few minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and place in ice to cool quickly.

4. Wait until the water has completely drained.You can speed up this process by placing vegetables under a weight.

5. Place the finished eggplant slices in containers or freezer bags and refrigerate.