Eggplant, a nutrient-dense ingredient loved by many, is simple to prepare. In this article, we'll go over numerous simple ways to freeze eggplant. This practical technique guarantees that these components are readily available in your kitchen whenever you need them. Let's begin on this adventure together!
How to Freeze Eggplant?
You can freeze eggplants to keep them longer, up to 8 months. Just follow our instructions below.
- Wash and cut the eggplant horizontally into 1-inch circles.
- Place the eggplant slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Add olive oil and salt to your liking
- Place in the oven at 350°C for 15 minutes.
- Wait until the eggplant slices cool completely.
- Place the slices in a zip bag and put them in the freezer. Note: separate the slices with stencils so they don't stick together.
- Date the bag, and you can keep it for up to 8 months.
Detailed Instructions for Freezing Eggplant
Follow our detailed 4-step guide to the best eggplant freezing!
Step 1: Choose eggplant
Freeze the best fresh eggplants and purchase them during the season. From August until October each year. High-quality eggplants have large, spherical, smooth skins that are firm when held. To test the suppleness of the eggplant body, press it with your fingers. Especially the stalk remains green. These eggplants are freshly plucked and of high quality.
Step 2: Prep your eggplant
Wash the eggplant with clean water before cutting it into horizontal or vertical slices. You can also remove its skin if you choose. However, eggplant skin has a beneficial nutritional value and should be kept.
Before freezing eggplants, you should blanch, bake, or precook your favourite recipes. Allow to cool or purée before storing in the freezer or refrigerator.
If you are blanching the eggplant in boiling water, you must remove the peel. At the same time, prepare a bowl of cold water so that when you remove the eggplant from the pot, you immediately place it in the bowl of cold water.
Step 3: Close the eggplant bag
After precooking the eggplant, allow it to cool completely before separating it into zip bags. If you don't want the eggplant slices to touch, use wax paper to separate them. You can then use a vacuum or other methods to extract as much air as possible.
Step 4: Freeze Eggplant
Now use a pen to write the date on the bag and put it in the freezer of the refrigerator. So you can use them for 8 months.
What are the health benefits of eggplant?
Eggplant contains a variety of vital minerals, including calcium, iron, protein, energy, and others. Nasunin, in particular, serves to reduce inflammation, protect DNA and cell membranes, and aid in nutrient absorption. Let us find out more together!
Nutritional value of eggplant
In 100g of eggplant there are:
- 100 kcal of energy
- 1000 mg protein
- 4.5 g starch
- 500 mg ash
- 15 mg calcium
- 400mcg iron
- 92.4 g water
- 1.5 g fiber
- 34 mg phosphorus
- 10 mcg of carotene
- 5g disposal rate
- 15 mg vitamin C
- 600 mg vitamin PP
- 100mcg vitamin B2
Health Benefits of Eggplant
The table of ingredients above shows that eggplant contains no fat or cholesterol, which is beneficial to vegans and persons with heart disease. Specifically, eggplant provides the following health benefits:
- Reduces Inflammation: Nasunin present in eggplant has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces stress. It also helps to remove toxic metals (mercury, arsenic, and lead) from the body.
- Protects DNA and cell membranes from damage: Nasunin also helps to protect the fatty layer of cell membranes, holding them together, preventing cell change or death.
- Good for Brain Health: Eggplants are packed with phytonutrients that improve blood flow to the brain, but these are mostly found in the skin of the eggplant. Therefore, the more beautiful the eggplant, the more delicious and nutritious it is.
- Helps the body absorb nutrients and eliminate waste: Nasunin helps the cells in the body absorb nutrients from food better, and has the effect of eliminating harmful toxins in the body. Eliminating waste is an important step because when there is a build-up of toxins in the body, we are more susceptible to heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.
- Beneficial for Type 2 Diabetics: The Laboratory of Food Biotechnology at the University of Massachusetts has found that eggplant helps control glucose absorption and lowers blood pressure.
- Prevent anemia: One of the causes of anemia is iron deficiency; eggplant is rich in iron, which helps prevent anemia. In addition, it plays an important role in red blood cell development because it helps in protein metabolism.
- Diuretic effect: The accumulation of water in the body due to many different causes: menstruation, menopause, heart disease, kidney disease, pregnancy... so eggplant juice should be used; it has a diuretic effect to help eliminate toxins out of the body.
Cách làm món cà tím nướng mỡ hành ngon
What are some eggplant tips that I can use?
We will share with you some tips to help you choose, preserve, and process eggplant better. Tips include how to choose quality eggplants. Store eggplant properly to retain maximum nutrients. And tips to keep in mind when you use and process eggplant.
How to choose good eggplant?
Eggplant ripens best between August and October. However, because to technological advancements and greenhouse-growing methods, eggplant can be purchased all year. Choose eggplants with smooth, shiny skin that feels substantial in your palm and has vivid green branches and leaves; they are high-quality eggplants.
Avoid buying fruits that are smashed, bruised, or irregular in color. Gently press the skin with your fingertips; if the peel returns to its elastic state, the eggplant is ripe and has indentations.
The preserved eggplant
Eggplant is a fragile meal that is susceptible to both heat and cold. The optimal temperature for eggplant preservation is approximately 10 °C. You should also store the fruit whole, as cutting it will destroy the flesh within. When storing eggplant in the refrigerator, avoid using food wrap and washing it. Give the eggplant room to breathe.
A few tips and notes when processing eggplant
It is recommended to cut the eggplant head with a stainless steel knife, as the carbon knife will turn it black, destroying the phytonutrients.
- Should keep the shell because it contains many nutrients.
- To reduce the bitterness, soak the eggplant in salted water and let it sit for half an hour.
- Eggplant contains oxalates, which, if consumed a lot, will accumulate, causing kidney stones or even kidney failure.
- Children are easily allergic to eggplant (symptom: itchy mouth or hands and feet), so let them try a little first and then cook often.
- To get all the nutrients, you should cook eggplant rather than eat it raw.
Final Words
We've just shown you the simplest ways to freeze eggplant. I hope you find it useful and utilize it on a daily basis to prepare wholesome meals. If you require assistance or have any questions, please contact our team.
