- Squeeze them out before cooking – ring them out in some paper towels or a lightweight dish towel.
- Don’t overcook them – stick to the cook times and methods above.
- Add them into soups and sauces at the very end – they’ll get cooked just being in the warm soup or sauce.
Summer is all about veggies, veggies, veggies—especially squash. You might be wondering, “What can I do with all this zucchini?,” whether you are realizing how many zucchini plants you currently have growing in your garden or simply noticing all the farm-fresh zucchini at the farmers market. Rather than sending a loaf of zucchini bread to every friend and relative, use them to make zucchini noodles with these 43 best zoodle recipes!
Zoodles are zucchinis that are spiralized (aka zucchini noodles). They’re incredibly simple to make and will take on any flavors you give them. The best part is that you can substitute them for pasta dishes high in carbohydrates to enjoy lighter meals devoid of all the starch that will quickly fill you up but not keep you satisfied.
Fact: zoodles can get very soggy very fast. As a result, prepare your sauce, soup, or base first before adding the frozen zoods at the very end of any recipe that calls for them. They really only need to steam in a covered skillet for a few seconds before they begin to lose their water, which will dilution the remainder of your dish. Al dente is the goal here friends! Not mushy zoodles.
What To Serve With Air-Fried Zucchini Noodles
These delicious air-fried frozen meatballs with homemade cherry tomato sauce go fantastically with these yummy zucchini noodles!
Don’t forget the garlic bread however you choose to serve these frozen zucchini noodles from the air fryer!
Check out some of my other air fryer recipes if you enjoyed this recipe for air-fried zucchini noodles!
These are some other recipes I love to make:
See also:
Tips to Avoid Soggy Zucchini Noodles
After you spiralize a zucchini with a spiralizer, there are three best ways to cook the zucchini noodles so they are crisp, not soggy:
Read this post for more details on how to prepare zucchini noodles.
First off, you won’t have to worry about sogginess if you serve raw zoodles (like in this exotic Coconut-Mango Zucchini Noodle dish). Cooking is what really makes zucchini release moisture. However, even raw zucchini can occasionally become a little limp after being cut. In this situation, pat the spiralized noodles dry with paper towels or a thin kitchen rag to remove any excess moisture.
You really don’t need to worry about too much water when cooking zucchini noodles in a soup like this one with chicken. The noodles will maintain their moisture and remain mostly firm due to osmosis.
However, because the zucchini will release water into the soup you’re making, the flavor might be diminished. For instance, if you make salty ramen, the more time the noodles spend in the broth, the less umami flavor the ramen will have. If you keep the soup, you can easily remedy this by adding more seasonings. This won’t be a problem if you eat the ramen right away after it is prepared.
Last but not least, you will notice right away that the zucchini noodles release moisture into the pan when you cook them in a skillet. One spiralized zucchini releases barely a tablespoon of liquid. However, if you’re cooking several zucchinis, the water in the skillet may quickly accumulate.
Here are some suggestions for avoiding soggy, watery zucchini noodles.
How Much Zucchini is the Same as 1 Cup of Pasta?
Zucchini noodles will be roughly the same size as pasta if you eat them raw or barely cooked. One cup of zucchini noodles will equate to one cup of pasta.
FAQ
How do you make frozen zoodles less watery?
Cooking is what really makes zucchini release moisture. However, even raw zucchini can occasionally become a little limp after being cut. In this situation, pat the spiralized noodles dry with paper towels or a thin kitchen rag to remove any excess moisture.
How do you make zucchini noodles without getting soggy?
- Pat zucchini noodles dry with paper towels after spiralizing them.
- Cook zoodles over medium-high heat. …
- Do not cover the zucchini during cooking. …
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. …
- Do not add salt to the pan. …
- Use a pan that conducts heat well. …
- Don’t overcook the zoodles.
Is frozen zucchini soggy?
Because zucchini contains 95% water, after being frozen and thawed, it can become quite soft. A little puddle of water may surround it. Therefore, it’s best used in soups, casseroles, sauces and smoothies. In fact, it’s a great way to sneak in extra vegetables to a smoothie—you won’t even notice!
