Most people store zucchini wrong—here's what to do instead

Here's how to store the summer squash so it lasts.

Summer brings so much great produce into our kitchens, but the bounty can be overwhelming, especially when you aren’t sure how to store it. Zucchini tends to be a seasonal point of frustration—it always manages to pile up, whether thanks to our local CSA or absent-minded farmers’ market shopping. For long-term storage, you can always freeze zucchini, but if you just need a little extra time to work your way through it all, you absolutely should store it in the fridge, and we’ll explain why, plus how to tell if zucchini is bad.

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Why You Should Store Zucchini In The Fridge

Whole zucchini will last much longer stored in the fridge than out on the counter. You can keep the soft-skinned squash in the crisper drawer, which maintains a lower humidity level, helping keep moisture at bay. This is important because excess moisture promotes spoilage. For the same reason, it’s best to avoid washing zucchini until ready to use, as any water left on the skin can promote mold and spoilage too.

You also want to ensure the squash has room to breathe, so if storing in a plastic or paper bag, make sure one end is open for air circulation. If the zucchini you purchased came sealed in plastic packaging, poke a few holes in it to let air in.

Where Should You Store Cut Zucchini?

Once sliced, zucchini should also be placed in the fridge, but this time in an airtight container lined with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. As with most vegetables, once cut, you’ll need to work a little quicker to use it up before it goes bad.

How Long Zucchini Lasts In The Fridge

Depending on how fresh the zucchini is, when stored whole, it should last one to two weeks. Ideally, you should store it away from other fruit and vegetables that produce a lot of ethylene gas as they ripen (like tomatoes or bananas), as this will speed up ripening for the zucchini too. That said, we know there is only so much room in the crisper drawer. 

Once cut, you typically only have a few days, about four to five, before the vegetable starts to show signs of spoilage.

Zucchini Pasta

How To Tell if Zucchini Has Gone Bad

We might sound like a broken record here, but mold is always a signal that produce has gone bad, and that includes zucchini. Other indicators that zucchini is on its way out include mushy flesh and brown spots. 

Wrinkled skin (on its own) doesn’t mean you have to toss out your squash, however. As with bell peppers and other vegetables, it’s a sign that the veggie is losing moisture, but so long as no other signs of decay are present (like mold), it’s okay to use.

Frequently asked Questions

Is it OK to eat a soft zucchini?

If a zucchini is slightly soft, it's likely still OK to eat. However, if it has other signs of spoilage, such as a slimy texture or an odor, or is extremely soft and mushy, it's a good idea to toss it.

Can you cut mold off zucchini and still eat it?

It's not a good idea to cut mold off a zucchini and continue to eat the remaining parts. Though you can see the mold on the surface, mold produces toxins that could make you sick. These can spread on the produce and you won't be able to see them.

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