The Best Way to Store Zucchini

If you're a fan of the zucchini, which is also known as "summer squash," then you'll likely want to find a way to store it after bringing some home from the grocery store or picking it from your garden. Zucchini are delicate vegetables that need to be handled with care, but storing them is a rather simple procedure.

Zucchini, which is normally picked when it is 4 to 6 inches long, can be kept at room temperature in much the same way a cucumber can be. Keep the vegetable in a cool place and store, if needed, in a perforated plastic bag. That will allow the zucchini to last approximately a week without perishing.

Don't store a zucchini in the refrigerator if at all possible. The cold inside the unit is not the best environment for a zucchini and can prematurely age it. If there is no other choice, store the vegetable in the crisper drawer in a plastic bag for no more than five days. Do not wash the zucchini, according to TasteOfHome.com, prior to storing; wash it only just before use.

To freeze a zucchini, wash it, slice it into 1/2-inch slices and then boil for three minutes. Remove from boiling water and place into ice cold water for five minutes, adding ice to keep the water chilled if you are processing several zucchini, according to PickYourOwn.com. Remove from water and place in freezer devices such as freezer bags or vacuum-sealed containers. Frozen zucchini will last between nine and 14 months frozen.

Zucchini pickles well, either in chunks or chopped into relish. There are many recipes for zucchini pickles (including one listed in the Resources section below). Zucchini pickles and relishes can be stored for a year or more in properly sealed home-canning jars.