If you want to freeze pumpkins, there are several options available. We introduce them and explain how you can easily preserve the vegetables.
You want to freeze pumpkins? It's easier done than expected because the autumn vegetables can be prepared for the freezer in just a few steps.
Freezing raw pumpkin
If you want to freeze raw pumpkin, you must first peel it. An exception is the Hokkaido pumpkin, which you can also eat with the skin on. Then cut the pumpkin in half, cut off the stem and remove the seeds with a spoon. Finally, the flesh must be cut into small cubes.
In the next step, you should shock freeze the pumpkin cubes. Put them on a tray with baking paper or a large plate and place them in the freezer for one to two hours. Then you can put the vegetables in freezer bags and freeze the pumpkin.
Shock freezing prevents the pumpkin pieces from freezing together later on and keeps them individually portable. Pumpkins are not suitable for blanching because they would become mushy after defrosting.
Freezing pumpkins as a puree
If you are planning to make a delicious pumpkin soup later anyway, you can freeze the pumpkin as much. To do this, you should also peel, remove the stalks and seeds, and then cut it into pieces.
Then cook the pumpkin for about 20 minutes with a little water in a pot. Once it is soft, you can drain the water and puree the pumpkin.
When the pumpkin puree has cooled down, pour it into a freezer container, and place it in the freezer. This way the pumpkin will keep for about four months. By the way: You shouldn't throw away the seeds, because you can very well roast pumpkin seeds and use them as a soup garnish.
Freeze grated pumpkin
It is also possible to finely grate the pumpkin with a kitchen grater and then freeze it. Before you do this, you should of course peel the vegetables and remove the seeds.
Then cut it into strips, so that you can easily grate the pumpkin in your hand. The pumpkin rasps taste especially good in pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread.
You are looking for more pumpkin recipes? Then try the pumpkin risotto, pumpkin vegetables, our pumpkin jam, or a pumpkin lasagna. We also tell you how to prepare pumpkin in the oven and how to hollow out a pumpkin. Alternatively, you can boil down the pumpkin and we explain how to store pumpkin.