The summer vegetable garden is not complete without a few zucchini and summer squash plants. They are easy to grow and provide abundant harvests. Preserve that garden goodness by dehydrating zucchini.
Benefits of Dehydrating Zucchini for Food Storage
- Dehydrated zucchini takes up very little space. Believe it or not, about four pounds of zucchini will shrink enough to fit into one pint sized jar.
- Dried summer squash is easy to add to pasta dishes. Just add the dehydrated zucchini to the boiling water at the same time you add pasta. By the time the pasta is done, the zucchini will be rehydrated too and ready for your favorite sauce.
- Dehydrated zucchini is also easy to add to soups. Just grab a few handfuls and toss in the simmering soup until it is rehydrated.
- Dried Zucchini can be blended into powder. Powdered zucchini is easy to use in smoothies, and sprinkled over anything to add an extra veggie boost. Just use an herb grinder or blender to turn the dried pieces into powder.
- Dehydrated zucchini can be rehydrated and used in casseroles. To rehydrate, soak in a bowl of boiling water for 10 minutes, and then layer in your favorite casserole recipes.
Helpful equipment for dehydrating zucchini and summer squash:
- Food dehydrator or oven
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Baking sheets (if using oven)
- Parchment paper (if using oven)
Steps to Dehydrate Zucchini with a Food Dehydrator
Step 1: Prepare your zucchini
Use freshly harvested, small to medium size zucchini with no blemishes or soft spots. Wash to remove any residue and soil. Trim off ends and cut zucchini into 1/4-inch slices.
Step 2: Arrange the zucchini on dehydrator trays
Lay the zucchini slices in a single layer on your dehydrator trays. The pieces can touch, but try not to overlap them, or they may not dehydrate evenly.
Step 3: Dry your zucchini
Set the temperature of your dehydrator between 125˚F and 135˚F (or per your dehydrator’s instructions). Drying time ranges between 5-11 hours depending on the humidity in the air and moisture level in your zucchini. Swap your trays about half way through. Zucchini is brittle when dry.
Step 4: Let the dried zucchini cool
Remove the dehydrated zucchini from the dehydrator and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Store dried zucchini in an airtight jar
Once the dried zucchini has cooled, place it in a jar, and label. Store the jars in a cool, dark place.
Steps to Drying Zucchini in an Oven
If you don’t have a food dehydrator, you can also dehydrate zucchini in your oven on a baking sheet at the lowest setting.
Step 1: Prepare your zucchini
Use freshly harvested, small to medium size zucchini with no blemishes or soft spots. Wash to remove any residue and soil. Trim off ends and cut zucchini into 1/4-inch slices.
Step 2: Arrange the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet
Use parchment paper to prevent the zucchini slices from sticking to the baking sheet. Lay the zucchini slices in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. The pieces can touch, but try not to overlap them or they may not dehydrate evenly.
Step 3: Dry your zucchini in the oven
Set the oven at the lowest temperature, usually this is around 150˚F degrees. Place the baking sheets in the center of the oven. Leave the oven door open a few inches and watch carefully so the zucchini doesn’t burn.
Drying time ranges between 2-5 hours. Zucchini is brittle when dry.
Step 4: Let the dried zucchini cool
Remove the baking sheets from the oven, and let cool for about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Store dried zucchini in an airtight jar
Once the dried zucchini has cooled, place it in a jar, and label. Store the jars in a cool, dark place.
That’s it! Now you have turned that overwhelming zucchini harvest into dehydrated, shelf stable jars that is easy to store on your pantry shelves and ready to add to your favorite recipes.
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