Boil Zucchini - The Complete Guide

Zucchini can be cut and prepared in many fun ways, but perhaps the best way to cook it is by boiling it.

This vegetable requires some cooking experience, but luckily there are a few methods you can use to cook and boil zucchini perfectly.

How should you boil the zucchini? Zucchini can be peeled, cut and boiled in a saucepan for about 3-5 minutes over low heat. Other types of zucchini cuts, like zucchini noodles, can take even less time and can be used in a number of delicious and healthy recipes.

Read below to learn more about how to boil zucchini, how to make classic zucchini noodles, and how to cook them perfectly every time.

How to prepare zucchini

Zucchini is a somewhat dense, water-laden vegetable that belongs to the pumpkin family. There are several species of this vegetable.

Some have dark and light green stripes, some are golden yellow, and some are just deep green.

All types of zucchini taste the same, with only a few minor flavor differences. This vegetable can be cooked in a number of ways, but perhaps the best way to get the most out of its flavor and smooth texture is to boil it in filtered water.

Boiling the zucchini in plain or salted water will make the outside of the vegetable tender but adequately firm. 

This feature allows the vegetable to be used in many different recipes. For example, zucchini can also be cut into thin strands, called zucchini noodles, that resemble the texture of pasta!

But before we get into the variations and uses of zucchini, let’s first look at how to prepare it for general cooking.

When you pick zucchini from the market, make sure you pick at least 2-3 zucchini, especially if you want to slice them and plan to make a medium to large meal.

The vegetable must be fresh and fully ripe. Neither should it have external deformations or soft spots, which would indicate its deterioration.

washed and peeled

Wash the zucchini with clean water and pat dry with a paper towel. Next, peel the outer skin of the vegetable. Be sure to use a vegetable peeler instead of a knife for this task.

Ideally, a fine peeler will be more than enough to remove the outer layer; however, you can also use a thicker peeler if you don’t like the dark green color under the skin. 

On its own, zucchini has a balanced flavor with earthy and nutty notes. It also has a slightly sweet taste and an equally mild bitter taste.

Notably, the bitterness is greatly reduced once the zucchini is properly peeled and cooked.

How to cut zucchini

Zucchini can be cut in many ways. The best way to use it is to cut it sideways (horizontally) to form even, round slices.

Several recipes use this cut. Round zucchini can be baked, fried, roasted, steamed, and boiled. 

But the best way to enjoy zucchini is to make zucchini noodles.

Zucchini noodles are delicate, slightly sweet, and have a more pronounced vegetable flavor than regular pasta noodles.

In addition, they are more nutritious, especially compared to regular wheat noodles.

Although they aren’t as firm, they are still a great substitute for people who can’t process gluten or diet-conscious people looking for a low-carb, low-calorie alternative.

boil zucchini

Boiling the zucchini will preserve its texture and allow it to become deliciously soft. 

Although raw zucchini is tender enough to bite into, eating it well cooked can spare you the bitterness and potential stomach issues that eating undercooked or raw zucchini can cause.

How long do you have to boil zucchini?

Boiling this vegetable is very easy. All you need is to cut the zucchini into slices and cook it in boiling salted water for about 3-5 minutes.

A common mistake that people make when boiling this vegetable is that it leaves it longer. It is important that you remove the zucchini as soon as it is finished cooking or it can continue to cook even in hot water.

So how do you know when it’s cooked?  Well, in this step it is important to look at the color, size and tenderness of the zucchini.

Remember that zucchini is dark green in color, but when cooked, it turns a pale green to light green color.

This is usually a dead giveaway that the zucchini is cooked. However, it can be difficult to rely on just one aspect, given the color variations of this vegetable.

The second best way is to look at the size of the slices. Raw zucchini is hard or somewhat firm with a plump texture.

However, once cooked, it wrinkles slightly and reduces its size. You can tell if the zucchini is fully cooked by looking at the core (center) of the round slices. 

When cooked, the seeds in the center will become more prominent while the rest of the slice withers around them. This is another sure sign that the zucchini is cooked.

Also, if the zucchini is overcooked, it can be very tender. You just want it to soften up enough without losing its shape.

Zucchini that is too tender will be hard to spoon and will break halfway from plate to mouth.

The zucchini should be tender, but still firm. In other words, it should hold its shape but be tender enough to be pierced with a fork or knife without resistance. 

Foolproof method for boiling zucchini

Here’s a great method for perfectly boiling zucchini.

You will need to

• A medium saucepan
• 3-4 zucchini (peeled and sliced)
• Salt to taste)

Instructions

1. Clean the zucchini and peel it with a vegetable peeler. You can adjust the width of the peeler to your liking. We suggest a fine to medium peel for the best flavor and texture.
2. Fill the saucepan with water, add salt to taste, and bring to a boil. 
3. Add the zucchini slices and let the vegetable cook for about three minutes. 
4. Check if it’s done by piercing 2-3 slices with a knife or fork. The cooked zucchini will be tender enough to allow a fork or knife to poke through without breaking. A good indicator of this would be if you could lift the zucchini slice without it falling apart.
5. Remove the zucchini slices from the boiling water and run clean tap water over them to lower their temperature. This will also prevent the zucchini from overcooking. 
6. Drain cooked zucchini well and set aside for 2-3 minutes before using in any recipe. 

Here’s a quick guide to cooking time for zucchini:

boil zucchini noodles

Zucchini noodles or “zoodles” are a great alternative to pasta.

From a nutritional point of view, a typical cup of pasta has about 200 calories and 40 g of carbohydrates. By comparison, a cup of zucchini will give you about 18 calories and 4 g of carbohydrates.

Plus, you also get other important micronutrients with zucchini!

So how do you make zucchini noodles? Well, for this recipe, you are going to need a special tool called “veggetti”.

This tool will cut thick or thin noodles in a matter of minutes and you can easily make 1-2 large servings from just one medium-sized zucchini.

To make the noodles, all you have to do is insert a clean zucchini into the veggetti and start turning it. Once you have all the noodles, you can simply cook them in boiling water or directly in a pan.

Here is a quick recipe for noodles cooked in oil. You will need to

• zucchini noodles
• A splash of olive oil
• 2-3 garlic cloves (thinly sliced)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• Parmesan cheese and chili flakes (to decorate)

Instructions

1. In a skillet, heat the olive oil and add the garlic. Cook it until fragrant and then add the zucchini noodles. 
2. Cook the noodles over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes or until tender. The noodles won’t need much oil to cook, since zucchini is naturally very moist. It will release a lot of its water as it cooks, which will create steam and help speed up the cooking process as well.
3. Add the seasonings and gently stir the noodles with a spoon.
4. Serve the noodles on a flat plate with a garnish of Parmesan cheese and chili flakes. 

Noodle cooking method

To cook the noodles, simply bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt to taste.  Then add the zucchini noodles and cook undisturbed for about 3-5 minutes or until just tender.

A good way to tell if the noodles are done is to pick up a strand with a fork and then pinch it between your fingers. You can also use a knife to avoid burns.

If the noodles break easily, remove them from the pot and run them through clean water. Drain them well and set them aside.

If the noodles break even when you lift them up, this would indicate that the noodles have been overcooked. You can keep using them, but they won’t give you the same good texture.

Boil zucchini and pumpkin

Pumpkin and zucchini are often used interchangeably.

This is true to an extent, but both zucchini and squash have slightly different characteristics.

Both are in the same squash family, but zucchini is dark green, light green, or yellow in color, while squash is mostly variations of yellow.

Another characteristic of the squash is that it has a bulbous bottom that straightens out towards the tip of the vegetable.

Zucchini, on the other hand, has a rounded and straight shape, and can even resemble the shape of a slightly crooked roll.

Both vegetables are cooked and treated in much the same way, and luckily you can use the same methodology to cook squash as well. 

However, pumpkin can take a little longer to cook than zucchini. Therefore, you should use the fork test after the 5 minute mark to check the doneness.

Here’s a quick chart showing cooking time for pumpkin:

Remember that the width and thickness of this vegetable varies from region to region.

Therefore, you should check the cooking point following the same practices as with zucchini. Once cooked, remove the pumpkin from the boiling water and run it through clean, cold water.

Drain the pumpkin and season it to your liking.

tips and tricks

• Zucchini can be cooked with and without the skin . The conventional method is to cook the zucchini by boiling or sautéing it after it has been peeled and cut. However, in the case of zucchini noodles, you can leave the skin on. The pretty green and off-white color of the noodles will give the dish presentation points, but if you want to keep things traditional, just peel the skin off before making the noodles.
• Zucchini noodles can also be steamed or boiled in the microwave. Just add the noodles to a microwave-safe bowl and pour in a splash of water. Cover the top with a paper towel or microwave-safe lid and let the noodles simmer on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
• Boiled zucchini slices can be seasoned separately even if you cook them in salt water. When you run clear water over the slices to cool them, the zucchini may also lose some of its salt content. You can confirm this by tasting the zucchini before and after washing them, and adjusting the seasoning accordingly.

Related questions

Zucchini can be cut and prepared in a number of ways. It’s also an amazing and healthier substitute for pasta noodles.

Now that you know everything about how to boil zucchini, here are some related questions!

Can zucchini and squash be boiled together?

Yes, when both vegetables are cut the same way, they can be cooked together in one pot without requiring additional cooking time.

However, if they are not cut the same and have different widths, both vegetables will require different cooking times.

At most, you have to check that each vegetable is ready after five minutes in boiling water.

Can zucchini noodles be boiled until al dente?

Zucchini noodles do not need to be boiled and cooked afterwards, as they can be prepared using just one cooking method. Boiling them, even for 1-2 minutes, and then sautéing them can overcook them and ruin their texture. 

It is much better to fry or boil the noodles and then mix them at the end of the recipe to preserve their flavor and tender texture.

Can boiled zucchini be stored?

Boiled or cooked zucchini can be stored in the same way as other cooked recipes. The best way to do this would be to store the cooked noodles or zucchini pieces in a dry, airtight container.

Store container in bottom of refrigerator at 40°F and consume within 2-3 days.

Always check the zucchini for signs of spoilage before consuming it.

If you notice that there is water in the container, drain it. This is considered normal, as the zucchini can release some of its water when it cools and shrink slightly in the fridge.

Zucchini can also be frozen. Always drain the zucchini well, as the added moisture can cause freezer burn.

Store the zucchini in an airtight container in the coldest part of the freezer. The zucchini will remain edible for about 2-3 months.