How to freeze eggplants for the winter - three ways to freeze eggplants.

Do I need to freeze eggplants for the winter? After all, fresh “little blue” ones in the cold season have long ceased to be something akin to fairy-tale snowdrops during the New Year’s period. Almost black and purple fruits from warm countries almost on the shelves all year round. They sit there, their lacquer barrels shining... But there aren’t that many people willing to buy them. The price, you know, is not conducive to inspired culinary creativity and the pleasant absorption of its results. So let's take care of the sleigh eggplants in the summer. We will freeze eggplants in several ways!

How to freeze fresh eggplants

We bet you can’t tell the difference between the taste of frozen eggplants after defrosting and fresh ones? Having the sad experience of freezing the “little blue ones” without blanching, I know what I’m talking about. Why don't you freeze a couple of small fruits? In your winter culinary fantasy there will be a place to play!

Sequence of actions:

  1. Choose young, ripe eggplants for freezing that are undamaged and have smooth, shiny skin.
  2. Cut the “little blue ones” into small cubes (for pickling), standard cubes (for preparing stews, soups, caviar, purees) or moderately thin (0.4-0.5 mm thick) circles (for frying). In order for frozen eggplants to retain their shape and taste as much as possible after thawing, they need to be removed from the liquid. Sprinkle the sliced ​​eggplant with coarse salt and stir. Let them stand room temperature several hours. Then drain the darkish juice that has accumulated. Rinse off any remaining salt under running water. Squeeze lightly so as not to deform the pieces too much.
  3. Now you need to blanch the workpiece.

    This can be done in several ways:

    • Fill the pan halfway clean water. Bring to a boil. Drop in the eggplants and blanch them for 2-4 minutes. They will become softer, but not boiled.
    • Place the “little blue ones” in a large microwave-safe pan. Pour some water. Cover with a lid. Place in the microwave oven. Turn on the device at a power of 800-900 W for 3-4 minutes.
    • You can also blanch vegetables in a double boiler. Process eggplants in this way for 2-4 minutes.
  • Place the blanched blue ones in a colander. Cool completely. Wait for the water to drain.
  • Divide into small portions and distribute into freezer bags or plastic containers with a lid. Place in a quick freezer.
  • After a few hours, you can move it to storage in the general compartment of the freezer.
  • Advice. You can defrost eggplants prepared for the winter in this way in the main compartment of the refrigerator or at room temperature. It is advisable not to use a microwave oven. Delicious, almost fresh vegetables (or berries?) are ready to participate in your culinary experiments and proven dishes.

    Freezing fried eggplants

    Fried frozen eggplants are a great time saver. Well, finances, of course. Fragrant pizza, fresh eggplant caviar, vegetable pies and a wide variety of snacks... Yes, all this can be prepared with frozen “blue” ones! You just need to know how to freeze them correctly.

    Method for freezing fried eggplants:

    1. To freeze fried fruits, you first need to fry them, this is logical. Wash the “blue” ones selected for frying and freezing. Cut off the ends. Cut as you are used to - not very thick circles or thin slices. To prevent eggplants from absorbing a lot of oil and becoming bitter when frying, sprinkle them with salt. Wait a few hours for the juice to release.
    2. Drain the liquid and rinse the eggplant slices. Blot away any water with paper towels. Heat a little refined vegetable oil in a frying pan or saucepan. Fry the eggplants on both sides.
    3. To be absorbed excess fat After frying, place the circles (plates) not on a plate, but on a small stack of paper towels.
    4. Wait for the eggplant slices or slices to cool completely. Take a large cutting board (tray). It should fit comfortably into the freezer compartment of your refrigerator or freezer. Wrap in a layer of cling film. Place fried eggplants close to each other (but not overlapping), in one layer for freezing. Then wrap it in plastic again. Repeat layers until you run out of eggplants.
    5. Place the “little blue ones” in the freezer. After a few hours, check the degree of freezing.
    6. When the eggplants are done, remove the board. Unfold the film. Divide the entire amount of vegetable into small portions. Place into freezer bags. Remove the air from the package and tie the neck or seal with a ziplock.

    Store frozen fried eggplant for up to six months in a general purpose freezer. Before use, defrost and, if desired, lightly brown again in a frying pan.

    Freezing baked eggplants

    Baked fruits make an excellent complementary food for a child. It is enough to defrost them and mash them into puree. And for older gourmets, you can prepare vegetable caviar or pate, cream soup or anything else tasty and aromatic. Do we freeze?

    In cubes or circles

    The method is very simple. Peeled, sliced, baked, froze. All! Now let's look at this simplified scheme for freezing baked eggplants in more detail.

    Procedure:

    1. Freezing baked blues is very easy. The longest process is preparation. Wash beautiful ripe eggplants without visible damage. Dry with a towel.
    2. Remove peel if desired. Cut into cubes or circles. If desired, you can add salt to remove the bitterness. Rinse the slices and squeeze lightly.
    3. Place on a baking sheet greased with odorless vegetable oil. Preheat the oven to 170-180 degrees. Place the baking sheet with the eggplants on the middle rack of the oven. Bake until done. This will take from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the cut and the amount of vegetable.
    4. Baked “blue ones” must cool completely before freezing. Blot away any oil and moisture. Divide into freezer bags or special containers with a lid.
    5. Place in a quick freezer for a few hours. Move to the general compartment of the freezer. The semi-finished product for stew or delicious vegetable caviar is ready!

    A method for the lazy or Freezing whole baked eggplants

    This method of freezing baked fruits is even simpler. The “blue ones” are baked whole. However, you can then cut them however you like.

    How to freeze:

    1. Wash several small eggplants. Wipe them off.
    2. Prick the fruit in several places with a fork.
    3. Place on a baking sheet with a large number olive or sunflower deodorized oil. Bake at 200 degrees for about half an hour.
    4. Cool the finished eggplants. Remove the peel. Lightly squeeze out the juice.
    5. If desired, chop the fruits or leave them whole. Place into freezer bags. Freeze. Store in the freezer until winter.

    Happy freezing!

    If you love eggplants for their unusual taste, you probably prepare them for the winter. Canned vegetables help us out winter months, however, with such harvesting methods they lose a lot of valuable nutrients. However, not all... However, freezing for the winter is an ideal method of preparation that does not require much labor. It has one more advantage - when frozen, the fruits retain 70-80% of the vitamins that each of us simply needs for normal functioning. Today we’ll talk about how to store eggplants for the winter - how to freeze them, and we’ll give recipes for preparing defrosted vegetables.

    1. Choosing good fruits

    For freezing for the winter, you should choose only ripe fruits. Before purchasing, make sure that the vegetables are firm and their skin is not damaged or wrinkled. Inspect the eggplants for dark spots; if you see small brown spots, these are signs of rotting; you should not take the vegetables. You can determine the age of the fetus by looking at the stalk. Green indicates freshness, and brown indicates that the vegetable was picked a long time ago.

    Some people do not like to eat blue ones that have veins or large number seeds How can you tell if there are a lot of seeds inside? If the base of the fruit has a large oval depression, it means there are a lot of seeds inside. A small round depression is characteristic of the male blue ones; they have almost no seeds. For freezing, it is better to use medium-sized vegetables. Now let's look at three ways in which you can freeze eggplants for the winter at home.

    Freezing blanched eggplants

    This is perhaps the easiest way to freeze eggplants for the winter. Wash the vegetables thoroughly and trim the stems. Cut the fruit into circles at least half a centimeter thick. To make the little blue ones release their bitter juice, place them in a bowl or basin and salt them well. After about half an hour, drain the liquid and rinse the fruits again with clean water.

    After boiling water, place a portion of eggplants into the pan and blanch them for 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to a colander and keep very cold water until completely cooled. Process all cuts in this way.

    Wet eggplants should not be frozen. First you need to dry them. Spread a large towel on the table with vegetables on it. The fabric will gradually absorb all the liquid. When the fruits are dry, they can be frozen. Use a cutting board - place the slices on it in layers, covering each of them with cellophane. Place the eggplants in the quick freeze compartment for a few hours.

    After this time, the blue ones can be packaged. Prepare suitable containers or bags. In each bag, put as many blue ones as you can use at one time in the winter. Do not try to place as many fruits as possible in one container, otherwise the unused vegetables will have to be thrown away, since they cannot be re-frozen.

    Fried

    There is another way to freeze eggplants - fried. It is good because it saves time when you need to prepare caviar or pizza with these vegetables. However, the process of preparing for freezing in this case takes a lot of time. This is his flaw.

    The washed blue ones should be cut into circles or longitudinal slices. Place vegetables in a large bowl and season with salt. Let them sit for a while and release the juice. If you don't do this, the blue ones will taste bitter. Drain off the dark liquid that has separated from the fruit. Rinse the slices and dry with napkins. Fry the fruits over high heat on each side.

    After frying, place the vegetables on a paper towel to remove excess fat. Once cool, place them on a cutting board in a single layer. Cover the top with a plastic bag. Place the second layer, cover, now the third layer. More than three It is not recommended to do layers. Place the board in the quick freeze compartment for 3 hours. Now the blue ones can be packaged in bags and placed in any freezer compartment.

    Baked blue ones

    You can freeze eggplants for the winter in baked form. After washing the fruits, cut them lengthwise into three parts. You will end up with fairly large slices. First, remove the bitterness, as in previous cases. When the juice has drained, rinse the slices and dry. After greasing a baking sheet with oil, place the blue ones on it. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes at 180 degrees.

    Now the blue ones need to be cooled. If desired, you can carefully remove the skin from the vegetables. Place the eggplants on a cutting board in several layers, separating each level with cling film. Place in a super freezer for 3 hours. When the vegetables are well set, pack them into bags.

    You can bake eggplants whole for freezing. To do this, simply make several punctures on the fruits with a fork and place them on a baking sheet. Baking time: half an hour at 180 degrees. After cooling the fruits, put them 1-2 pieces in bags and put them in the freezer.

    Winter has come...

    Now it's time to use the blank. We take out the previously stored eggplants. What to cook from frozen blueberries?

    Eggplants for the winter - cooking recipes

    An excellent appetizer that is sure to garnish New Year's table, is fried eggplant with garlic and tomato. They're easy to prepare, and if you've frozen them cooked, they're a piece of cake.

    After frying the slightly sliced ​​blueberries on both sides, brush them with a mixture of mayonnaise and garlic. Cut the tomatoes into thin slices. Place a thinly sliced ​​tomato on top of each piece of eggplant and sprinkle with herbs. Such cold appetizer V winter time will delight everyone with its piquant taste and attractive appearance.

    So, now you know three ways to freeze blueberries for the winter. Choose the one that you like or seems more convenient. Do not forget to carefully select the fruits for freezing, because there is no place for rotten and spoiled products in the freezer.

    I love eggplants, I would eat them all year round! Fortunately, my husband shares my preferences, and we recently acquired a spacious freezer. Now, without any problems, you can store surplus summer harvest for a long time - including the little blue ones. And today I want to tell you how to freeze eggplants for the winter in the freezer.

    First, I studied the theory well and found out whether it is possible to freeze eggplants for the winter. After all, little blue housewives began freezing relatively recently. And there is an explanation for this: eggplant is a porous vegetable, like a sponge, and easily absorbs foreign odors. In addition, if you freeze it incorrectly, without pre-processing, it will turn out bitter and hard, like rubber. This scared many cooks. Therefore, I will tell you how to make eggplant preparations for the winter in the freezer so that they turn out to be both tasty and healthy.

    How to freeze fresh eggplants for the winter at home


    I’ll say right away: it makes no sense to freeze eggplants in their raw form, without a little heat treatment; as a result, we can end up with a completely inedible semi-finished product. There are three options for preparing vegetables: blanching, baking and roasting. I’ll share the simplest recipe first.

    1. Select young, ripe blue ones, cut off the back with the tail, and wash. Cut into circles from 5 to 8 mm.
    2. Place the eggplants in a bowl, sprinkle well with coarse salt, and leave for half an hour. Then drain in a colander and rinse off the juice with running water. The bitterness will go away with it.
    3. Place a pan of water on the fire and bring to a boil. Place a colander with eggplants in the pan, cover with a lid, and leave at a low simmer for two minutes. Then remove the colander, rinse with cold running water, and let the liquid drain. Place the eggplants on a towel to dry.
    4. Place the blue ones in one layer on a large board and cover with a bag. Place in the freezer for 4 hours. If there is a lot of eggplant, you can put several of these servings at once.
    5. We take out the frozen vegetables, put them in special freezer bags or containers, and close them tightly. We put it in the freezer.

    We store frozen eggplants in the freezer for about six months.

    Note: you can freeze eggplants whole, but to do this you need to first bake them in the oven until half cooked (about half an hour). Grease the peel with vegetable oil before baking.

    Is it possible to freeze blue ones into cubes?


    Of course you can! For example, according to the previous recipe. I will offer you another simple way to freeze diced eggplants in the freezer.

    1. Wash the young eggplants, dry them, and if desired, peel them (you don’t have to peel them). Cut into cubes of your favorite size. For example, 1 cm. If for caviar, it can be smaller.
    2. Prepare a solution at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon of salt per 1 liter of water. Place the vegetable cubes in it and leave for 1 hour.
    3. Drain the liquid and rinse under running cold water.
    4. Place the vegetable pieces in a saucepan and pour cold water. Add salt and 1 tbsp. spoon lemon juice. Bring to a boil, blanch over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
    5. Remove the blue ones with a slotted spoon and lower them into ice water for a minute. Then add the liquid and let the vegetables dry.

    Place in sealed bags or containers, close tightly, and place in the freezer.

    Tip: It is very important to remove excess air from the bags before freezing. Squeeze out the air with your hands while squeezing the bag. Remains can be pulled out using a cocktail straw, drawing air into yourself like a vacuum cleaner. Reliable sealing will extend the shelf life of the product up to a year.

    Other ways to process fresh eggplants:

    • Microwave baking for 3 minutes, power 900 W;
    • Steam treatment for 4 minutes.

    How to freeze eggplants for rolls


    Very convenient preparation– frozen blue ones for rolls! They are easy to make. I’ll tell you in detail how to freeze eggplants in the freezer for the winter, so that later it’s easy to prepare a delicious snack from them.

    1. Wash the blue ones and dry them. We do not remove the peel. Cut off the tails and cut into long slices lengthwise. Thickness – about 0.5-0.8 mm.
    2. Place in a deep bowl, sprinkle with salt. Leave for 30-40 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water and dry.
    3. Spread baking paper on a baking sheet. Lay out the blue “tongues” in one layer. Bake at 200 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
    4. Take it out and let it cool. If there are a lot of eggplants, bake several batches this way.
    5. Cover the tray cling film, lay out the slices in one layer. If everything doesn’t fit, cover it again with film and lay out the next layer. You can make several such layers. Keep in the freezer for several hours.

    We take out the blue ones, remove the film, put them in bags or containers for freezing.

    Frozen fried eggplant


    It’s even easier to prepare a dish in winter using frozen fried eggplants. They turn out very tasty!

    1. Wash the blue ones, dry them, cut them in any way - as you like.
    2. Sprinkle with salt and leave in a bowl for an hour. Then drain the liquid and rinse. Dry again in a paper towel.
    3. Pour into the pan vegetable oil, fry the blue ones in portions - 5 minutes on each side. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a folded paper towel. Gently blot off excess fat.
    4. Place the cooled blue ones on a board or tray with film in one layer. If necessary, cover them again with film and lay out the next layer. Freeze it.

    Take it out and remove the cling film. Place in portions into sealed bags and close. After defrosting, the blue ones can be lightly fried again.

    Watch this video on how to properly freeze blue ones.

    What can you cook from frozen blueberries?


    Before you cook anything, vegetables need to be properly defrosted. The best and gentlest option is to take them out of the freezer and keep them in the refrigerator for several hours (preferably overnight). They will gradually defrost on their own, while retaining their juiciness and nutrients.

    Most popular dishes:

    • Eggplant caviar: fry onions and carrots, add thawed eggplant cubes, spices, salt and pepper. Stew it out. At the end of cooking, add chopped garlic.
    • Eggplants with fried potatoes: fry the potatoes and onions in one pan, and the eggplants (in cubes or slices) in another. Then mix everything together, add garlic, fry for a couple more minutes with spices and herbs.
    • Rolls: after defrosting, coat the blue slices with any filling, place in a mold, sprinkle with cheese and bake until done.
    • Vegetable stew: fry the thawed blue ones, add any chopped vegetables - onions, carrots, cabbage, bell pepper. Put it out. At the end, add chopped tomatoes and garlic, seasonings, and herbs. Can be sprinkled ready dish grated cheese and keep covered until the cheese melts.
    • Buckwheat porridge with eggplants: cook the buckwheat. Separately, boil two or three hard-boiled eggs. Fry eggplants with onions. Add butter, eggplant, chopped eggs, and herbs to the buckwheat. Season to taste.
    • Meat casserole: grind any meat into minced meat. Add garlic, salt, pepper, seasonings, raw egg, knead. Place it in the mold, slightly overhanging the sides. Place thawed and fried blue tomato slices in the middle. Pour in beaten egg and milk, sprinkle with cheese, bake until done.
    • Eggplant-nut paste: fry the thawed blue ones in vegetable oil. Mash them with a fork, add a little vinegar, crushed walnuts and garlic, cilantro and other herbs to taste. Stir and garnish with pomegranate seeds.

    In addition, you can add frozen eggplants to fried soups or hodgepodges, or make them based on them. delicious salads. Create, experiment!

    Here they are simple ways freezing blue ones at home. Bon appetit and good mood!

    Hello dear readers. The season of conservation and preparation for the winter began a long time ago. Fruits are ripe, vegetables are ripening. We have already made a lot of preparations. Now it’s time for the eggplants. We love eggplants very much and try to prepare them in different ways. I really want to save eggplants for vegetable stews. One of the gentle ways to preserve a product for a long time is to freeze it. The most important thing is that you have enough space in the freezer. After all, freezing is now the most common way to preserve food for a long time.

    For example, our friends bought themselves several freezers specifically for the purpose of freezing berries, herbs, vegetables and fruits.

    We have also already frozen dill, sorrel, parsley, bell pepper, and some berries. Now it’s time to freeze eggplants, especially since we have an abundance of this wonderful vegetable on the market.

    We buy eggplants from friends. They grow their own eggplants. Moreover, they are not bitter at all; you don’t even need to salt them to get rid of the bitterness. But in any case, it is important to know how to properly freeze eggplants for the winter before doing this. There are many ways to preserve vegetables for a long time.

    Is it possible to freeze eggplants for the winter?

    Eggplants are not only rolled into jars, but also frozen. Many people are interested in the question: is it possible to freeze eggplants at home? After all, we very often see eggplants in supermarkets, frozen as part of vegetable mixtures.

    You can freeze eggplants, the main thing is to do it correctly. After all, eggplants are rich in microelements (potassium, iron, phosphorus..., vitamins), and the freezing process allows you to save about 70% useful substances.

    The most important thing is to wait until the price of eggplants drops, usually in August-September, when eggplants ripen en masse.

    Another important point, eggplants need to be frozen airtight so that they do not absorb foreign odors. For example, the smell of dill, parsley, etc. products that are stored in the freezer.

    How to choose eggplants

    If you buy eggplants at the market, be sure to pay attention to their appearance. Take young eggplants; they have practically no seeds, unlike large eggplants.

    Take smooth, clean eggplants, without stains. The eggplant tail should be green, not dry. A dry tail, as a rule, indicates that they have been stored for a very long time.

    As a rule, young eggplants do not taste bitter like large ones. Therefore, if you are absolutely sure that the eggplants are not bitter, you don’t need to soak them in salt water before freezing.

    Eat various ways freezing eggplants: fry, blanch and soak. Moreover, you can freeze at least 1 kg. eggplants, at least 10. The most important thing is that you have enough space in the freezer.

    The first way is to freeze whole eggplants. But this method is more likely for those who have freezers. Although they can be boiled, peeled, and allowed to drain excess liquid, I freeze eggplants in a slightly different way. And I haven’t tried to freeze whole eggplants; our freezer is small.

    It is best to cut eggplants, and the thinner the better, they will freeze faster this way. You can cut eggplants into cubes, circles, strips, depending on what dish you are preparing the eggplants for.

    For example, for example, it is better to cut eggplants into strips, since all the ingredients in the salad are cut into strips. This is how it is more convenient to store and then use eggplants.

    Place the eggplants in a deep bowl and add salt, mix everything well and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then we drain the excess liquid, squeeze it out and dry it.

    Dry the eggplants on a towel to absorb excess moisture. It is best to use a paper towel for this purpose. This is necessary so that the eggplants do not stick together.

    After we have dried the eggplants, they can be placed in containers and sent to the freezer. The best way to store eggplants is plastic containers.

    I really like freezing eggplant in cubes. I cut the eggplants 1 cm by 1 cm. I try to ensure that all the pieces are even.

    Be sure to add salt and leave for 15-20 minutes. As you can see, a lot of liquid drains from the eggplants. Then place the eggplants in a colander and allow the liquid to drain.

    Place the eggplants in a thin layer on a paper towel. After excess moisture has been absorbed, you can freeze the eggplant cubes.

    To prevent the cubes from being a whole piece of ice, it is best to place them on a cutting board, having previously covered it with either parchment or foil, at a distance from each other.

    Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours until the eggplants begin to freeze. The eggplant pieces turn out whole and do not stick together to form a single lump. And then we put the cubes into bags or trays.

    Eggplant storage packaging

    If you freeze eggplants in cellophane bags, I advise you to place them in 3-4 bags so that the packaging is airtight. Be sure to release the air from the bag and tie it tightly.

    You can also use ziplock bags; they are very thick and convenient for storing vegetables in the freezer.

    If you have space in the freezer, it is best to place the eggplants in plastic containers with a tight lid. This storage method is the best, as you will be absolutely sure that the eggplants will not be saturated with foreign odors.

    There are also special bags with clips that are designed for freezing vegetables. They can be purchased at a supermarket or convenience store.

    There are also vacuum bags, but they are not so easy to get. Yes, and they are expensive.

    Another method of freezing is to blanch vegetables and then freeze them. To prevent eggplants from being tough and to cook faster, they are heat treated before freezing.

    First, you need to cut the eggplants into cubes or circles. I cut the eggplants into half-centimeter slices.

    Our eggplant slices are hot and need to be cooled and excess liquid allowed to drain. To do this, place the vegetables on a paper towel and let the liquid drain.

    Then the eggplants need to be placed in small bags or plastic containers. But again, they can stick together and form a huge piece. Therefore, I recommend placing them on a cutting board and placing them in the freezer for a couple of hours. And then place the frozen pieces tightly in a bag or container. After all, it is important for us to freeze eggplants correctly so that there is no disappointment later.

    What is the best way to freeze eggplants, with or without peel?

    I don't peel the eggplants and freeze them with the skins on. You can freeze peeled eggplants. You can also completely do without blanching vegetables. But only if you are sure that your eggplants are not bitter.

    It is enough to wash the vegetables well, dry them and cut them as you need them: into cubes, circles, strips.

    But I advise you to first lay out the vegetables on a cutting board and let them freeze (about 2-3 hours), and then put them in bags or containers.

    How to defrost eggplants

    So, we figured out how to properly freeze eggplants for the winter at home. We also figured out whether eggplants can be frozen. Now another question arises, how to properly defrost eggplants?

    You can defrost eggplants in different ways. Many people recommend doing this in the microwave, but I don’t use a microwave, so I prefer to defrost the eggplants at room temperature.

    Or, for example, in the evening, remove the container with eggplants from the freezer and put it in the refrigerator.

    It is believed that best way defrosting eggplants means starting to cook them immediately after you take them out of the freezer. That is, cook immediately without defrosting.

    What is prepared from frozen eggplants? This is another question that interests many. I use eggplants for cooking, caviar, Korean eggplants, I boil them in adjika. In general, everything that you want at that moment. What do you cook with frozen eggplants?

    Thanks to freezers, which are now available in almost every home, many housewives make preparations for the winter with their help. The freezer compartment of the refrigerator contains fruits, berries and, of course, vegetables. It’s nice to get supplies from there during the cold season and pamper your loved ones with delicious gifts of nature. This simple method of preparation is liked by many housewives, because it does not cause much trouble. Frozen foods can be stored for a long time without losing vitamins. How to freeze eggplants fresh for the winter at home?

    Should you freeze eggplants?

    During the harvest season eggplants cost pennies, but in winter their prices are very high. Most often, many housewives pickle eggplants for the winter and use various methods conservation. Many people would like to freeze them, but they doubt this method. Is it possible to freeze eggplants for the winter and how to do it correctly, what recipes are there?

    Eggplant differs from other vegetables in that after freezing it changes its taste and structure. For this reason, not everyone risks freezing this vegetable for the winter at home, because they are afraid of spoiling it. It turns out that there are methods and recipes that allow you to save amazing taste eggplant and preserve its maximum beneficial properties by freezing. Most people doubt the advisability of this method, but given the cost of eggplant in winter and its beneficial properties, it is simply necessary to use it.

    In cooking, such a vegetable has long taken its rightful place due to its taste and beneficial properties. Microelements and vitamins in its composition have a beneficial effect on the entire body. The vegetable has amazing properties, for example, helps smokers overcome cravings tobacco products. It contains a sufficient amount of nicotine, which is necessary for a smoker. Eggplants also activate the process of bile secretion from the human body, which is very important for normal liver function. Eggplant contains a lot of fiber, which improves intestinal function. The copper contained in the vegetable has a good effect on the hematopoietic system.

    The vegetable is also distinguished by the fact that it has a bitterness that goes away only if it is cut and salted. Many people think that after freezing the bitterness will go away. In fact, it remains and, according to many experienced housewives, This vegetable cannot be frozen in its raw form.. To get a vegetable suitable for cooking delicious dishes In winter, you need to take into account several rules when freezing.

    Experienced housewives with freezing experience recommend that before loading the eggplant into freezer get rid of excess moisture in the vegetable as much as possible. To do this, it must be subjected to heat treatment using one of the available methods:

    • fry;
    • stew;
    • bake;
    • soak;
    • blanch.

    For storage for the winter, you need to choose young vegetables in which the peel is not very dense. The young “blue ones” have practically no seeds, which is also important for harvesting. The type of vegetable does not matter; any variety can be used. One of the important requirements in any recipe, so that the vegetable is fresh, elastic and not spoiled.

    Eggplants can be cut in a convenient way, much in this matter depends on what dishes will be prepared from them after freezing. Also, the cutting sizes will depend on free space in the freezer.

    If the “little blue ones” are not salted and the bitterness is not allowed to go away with the juice, you will end up with tasteless pulp. With any method used, vegetables should be sealed to prevent air from entering before freezing.

    Also, for freezing, the “little blue ones” can be completely fried in a frying pan without oil. According to the recipe, the fruits need to be turned over so that they release the juice. After heat treatment remove the peel, cool and pack in a convenient way for long-term storage.

    Blanched vegetables

    First you need to select the right vegetables, so that they are free from cracks and other damage with shiny and smooth skin. Then they should be washed well and cut in a convenient way:

    • longitudinal plates;
    • circles;
    • cubes.

    To remove the bitterness, you need to sprinkle the chopped eggplants with salt. After this, the vegetables are mixed. According to the recipe, they need to sit in the kitchen for several hours. The eggplants will release dark-colored juice, which needs to be drained, and the vegetables should be rinsed well under running water and squeezed out of excess moisture. It is very important to do this carefully, not to deform the cutting.

    The vegetables are now ready for blanching. You need to take a pan, pour water into it, and when it boils, place chopped eggplants in boiling water for 3 minutes. This will allow the eggplants to become softer and not lose their shape.

    After this, the vegetables should be placed in a colander and excess moisture should be allowed to drain. At this time, you can prepare packaging for storing vegetables:

    • containers;
    • packages;
    • cling film.

    Place the eggplants in the prepared storage container and place them in the freezer.

    Fried "blue"

    Selected eggplants should be washed thoroughly and the edges removed, after which you can cut it in a convenient way. The chopped vegetables are covered with salt and left for several hours to release the juice. This will help remove the bitterness and make the taste of the “blue” ones pleasant.

    When the eggplants have released enough juice, it is drained. Chopped vegetables are washed with water and dried paper towel. This will help them fry well and not get soaked in too much oil.

    Place eggplants in a hot frying pan with vegetable oil and fry. They need to be posted on paper napkin or a towel to remove excess oil.

    The next stage is preparation for freezing. To do this you need to have a cutting board, plastic bags or cling film. The board should not be very large sizes so that it can fit freely in the freezer. A layer of eggplant is placed on the board so that each piece does not lie on top of the other, after which they are covered with cling film and then the next layer is placed. All vegetables are laid out in this order.

    After this, the tray of vegetables should be placed in the freezer and left for several hours so that they harden well. When the eggplants are firm enough, you can take them out and put them in packaging convenient for long-term storage.

    How to properly freeze baked eggplants?

    This method is the most correct, since baked eggplants retain more nutrients. The “blue ones” need to be sorted out and washed, trimmed off the ends and cut to your liking.

    Chopped vegetables sprinkle with salt and stand like that for several hours. All the dark-colored juice that the eggplants released must be drained and gently squeezed out. Now, according to the recipe, you need to prepare a baking sheet on which the eggplants will be baked. The surface of the baking sheet must be greased with vegetable oil and the eggplants should be placed evenly. Then the baking sheet is placed in the oven at a temperature of 180 o C.

    To bake vegetables, it is best to use odorless vegetable oil. The baking sheet should be in the oven for no more than half an hour, this time will be enough if the vegetable is not cut very coarsely. Before freezing, let the vegetables cool and remove excess oil. Now you can put them in a prepared container and freeze them in the freezer.