Do you have spare pumpkin or other winter squash that you don’t want wasted? Then let me show you how to freeze pumpkin and all the different ways we preserve our pumpkin for later.
Based on my own system with pumpkin, we do this every year after Halloween and then can enjoy pumpkin for months rather than days.
It was my late neighbour Maria, who first got me fascinated in pumpkin beyond Halloween. She was in her 80’s when she became my neighbour when we lived in Portugal and had this cute little allotment behind our house and grew everything.
Then she had a dark room that was away from the sunshine that she would keep her pumpkins and then get one out as she needed it.
Maria would then make delicious Portuguese soups of pumpkin, sweet potato and spinach and they were so creamy and amazing.
I then started preserving my own pumpkins. Making them last longer, making pumpkin soup, making pumpkin puree, or just blanching the pumpkin and then freezing them for another time.
Today, I wanted to show you my favourite ways for preserving pumpkin and how I use pumpkin across my different kitchen gadgets.
Cooked pumpkin is also fine to freeze. However, before you go chucking a whole pumpkin into your freezer, consider that defrosting the whole thing will take ages. If you cut up your pumpkin into cubes before freezing it, you’ll have it prepped and ready to go straight out of the freezer when you need it.
How To Freeze Pumpkin?
So now I have answered a few of your important pumpkin questions, lets dive in and let me show you how to freeze pumpkin and my favourite 7 methods for freezing the pumpkin for later.
Can You Freeze Pumpkin Puree?
Yes, you can freeze pumpkin puree and what I love is these freezer soup trays as they are really good for pumpkin puree (not just soup) and then you can quickly freeze some for later.
Then once frozen you can move these frozen pumpkin puree cubes into a zip loc bag.
How to cook pumpkins and puree to freeze / Homemade pumpkin puree
FAQ
Does cooked pumpkin freeze well?
Can you freeze leftover pumpkin?
How do you store cooked pumpkins?
How long does pureed pumpkin last in freezer?
Can you freeze Pumpkins?
Transfer into freezer bags. Grab the cookie sheet, break apart any clumps that might have formed, and transfer the chunks into a freezer bag or container. Label it with a name and date if you want. Freeze. Place the bags or containers in the freezer. Freezing pumpkins is as simple as that.
How long will canned pumpkin remain good if it is frozen and then thawed in the fridge?
Pumpkin can stay up to 3 days in the fridge after thawing. The ideal thing is to always use the pumpkin as soon as possible after thawing and avoid storing it in the fridge as you run the risk of microbial contamination and intestinal infection after consuming these foods.
Can you freeze diced pumpkin?
Pre-freeze the diced pumpkin. Place the chunks on a cookie sheet lined up with aluminum foil or a silicone mat (my favorite) in a way they don’t touch one another. If some of them touch a bit, it’s not a huge problem. Then place the cookie sheet in the freezer until the chunks freeze solid, which takes at least a few hours.
How long can you keep a pumpkin in the freezer?
Label/date the bags. Take a permanent marker and write the date you are freezing the pumpkin, as well as the pre-portioned amount contained in the bag (if applicable). Your pumpkin should keep in the freezer for at least 6-8 months. Blend your pumpkin chunks.