Any Tips for Freezing Pumpkin?

9 years ago

Hello all. I am a longtime lurker looking for advice.

In the past couple of years I have gotten hooked on pumpkin soup (I prefer the mild flavor to butternut squash). I was thrilled to see the first pumpkins of the season at the store last weekend!

The thing is that as with last year, come early spring I will be jones-ing for pumpkin soup but naturally there will be no fresh pumpkin.

Does anyone have a nice tried and true method for freezing?

Can I just skin and then freeze the chunks? I like to roast mine before making into soup - would it be better to roast and then freeze?

I would appreciate any tips or suggestions!

Thanks so much.

Comments (6)

booberry85
9 years ago
I've never frozen it in chunks. I usually roast it, peel it, mash it and then save it in containers in the quantity that the recipe calls for. I make pumpkin bread with it. It works out perfectly fine.
lazy_gardens
9 years ago
Roast, mash, freeze in recipe quantities.
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lascatx
9 years ago
I have frozen pumpkin and butternut in cooked or partially cooked chunks and pumpkin as prepared mashed or pureed. I put it in ziploc freezer bags and label the amount (1 c, 2 c most often).
grainlady_ks
9 years ago
These are the instructions from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Freezing

Pumpkin

Preparation -- Select full-colored mature pumpkin with fine texture. Wash, cut into cooking-size sections and remove seeds.

Cook until soft in boiling water, in steam, in a pressure cooker or in an oven. Remove pulp from rind and mash. To cool, place pan containing pumpkin in cold water and stir occasionally. Package, leaving ÃÂ½-inch headspace. Seal and freeze.

-Grainlady
skeip
9 years ago
Cut into chunks and roast until tender. IMHO, roasting rather than steaming makes a dryer puree. Pulse in the food processor or mash until smooth. I pack about 2 cups in a zip top bag, which is roughly equal to one 15 ounce can, and freeze flat. You can get a lot in the freezer this way. If it still seems too wet, you can drain for a bit in a strainer either before or after freezing.

Steve
sarah_socal
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks all! I will give it a try.

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Any Tips for Freezing Pumpkin?

Comments (6)

booberry85

lazy_gardens

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Any Tips for Freezing Pumpkin?

Comments (6)

booberry85

lazy_gardens

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lascatx

grainlady_ks

skeip

sarah_socalOriginal Author

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sarah_socal
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