How to Freeze Eggplant Parmesan?

Eggplant Parmesan, a traditional Italian-American dish, doesn’t have to be filling. In order to let the flavor of the eggplant truly shine, we kept the breadcrumb covering thin and delicate.

Use a freezer-safe plastic bag to store frozen eggplant parmesan. The bag needs to close securely. Vegetables shouldn’t be frozen in glass containers. The date the eggplant slices were frozen should be written on the packaging. Layer the slices as well to avoid freezer burn. The slices of eggplant won’t get soggy because of this.

Eggplant Parmesan

What is Eggplant?

A vegetable known as nightshade is eggplant (Solanum melongena) (technically a fruit). It has a variety of colors and forms and is also known as aubergine. The health benefits of eggplant are a result of its antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral content.

Consuming eggplant can enhance brain function, blood sugar control, cancer risk reduction, and cardiovascular health. In this piece, we’ve discussed the nutritional profile of eggplant, how to include it in your diet, and some of the health issues it may raise. Continue to read!

Eggplant has a solid texture and a thick, meaty interior that cooks down to a creamy smoothness, making it a suitable meat alternative. Eggplant has been utilized in traditional medicine for a very long time. In the traditional ayurvedic medical system of ancient India, white eggplant was used to treat diabetes and the roots were used to treat asthma.

How to Freeze Eggplant Parmesan?

It’s possible to freeze eggplant parmesan before baking it, but you’ll want to bake it first. This will preserve the quality of the parmesan and ensure it lasts longer. You can freeze the parmesan for up to six months, but the quality will start to degrade after that time. However, it will still be safe to eat. You can cut the parmesan into individual pieces, wrap them in high-quality plastic wrap, and freeze them. Once you’ve frozen the parmesan, make sure you use it within 6 months, otherwise, it will become soggy.

If you’re freezing eggplant slices, make sure you seal them tightly. A vacuum-sealed plastic bag will work best, but you can use a resealable plastic bag. Avoid using glass containers. You can also label the eggplant slices with the date they were made, so you’ll know when they’re ready to use. You can also layer the eggplant slices with plastic wrap to prevent them from sticking together and freezer burn.

How to Make Eggplant Parmesan?

Ingredients

  • Two 28-ounce cans of whole, peeled tomatoes
  • Olive oil, extra virgin, two tablespoons
  • Salt that’s been crushed and pepper
  • 2 large globe eggplants, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (total weight: roughly 2 pounds).
  • all-purpose flour, 1 cup
  • 3 lightly beaten eggs
  • 1 cup of unflavored, dry breadcrumbs
  • Frying with vegetable oil
  • Grated Parmesan, half a cup
  • Big slices of fresh mozzarella, totaling half a pound,

Tomatoes are pureed in a food processor; they are then transferred to a medium pot and olive oil is added. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Salt and pepper are used to season tomato sauce.

In the meantime, mix the eggplant with 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt in a colander. pause for 30 minutes. To dry slices, press them between two layers of paper towels. Eggplant should be dredged in flour, with excess shaken off, then dipped in eggs, with excess allowed to drop off, before being gently dusted with breadcrumbs.

Turn on the 375-degree oven. A rimmed baking sheet should have a wire rack on it; set it aside. Pour enough vegetable oil into a sizable skillet to cover the side halfway. When a pinch of breadcrumbs is dropped into hot oil, they sizzle. Fry eggplant in batches until golden, about two to three minutes per side; remove to rack to drain.

In a 9 by 13-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of tomato sauce. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan over the sauce-covered portion of the eggplant. Add 1 1/2 cups of sauce, then the last of the eggplant. Finish with the remaining sauce, mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until bubbling and gently browned.

What are the Health Benefits of Eggplant?

Here are some of the many health advantages of eggplant:

1. Antioxidants Abundant

together with a variety of vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants are substances that help shield the body from the harmful effects of free radicals. Studies have shown that antioxidants can help prevent a number of chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. For instance, eggplants are rich in anthocyanins, a pigment with antioxidant properties that gives them their vibrant color. The anthocyanin nasunin, which is present in eggplants, is particularly beneficial. In fact, numerous investigations in test tubes have demonstrated that it effectively shields cells from harm caused by free radicals.

2. Could Lower Heart Disease Risk

Due to their antioxidant content, several studies indicate that eggplants may help lower the risk of heart disease. In one study, for two weeks, rabbits with high cholesterol received 0.3 ounces (10 ml) of eggplant juice twice daily.

At the conclusion of the trial, they had lower levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, two blood markers that, when elevated, can increase the risk of heart disease. In other studies, eggplants were found to have a heart-protective effect. In one study, animals were given eggplant either raw or grilled for 30 days, and both improved cardiac function and lessened the severity of heart attacks.

When should you Not Eat Eggplant?

Never eat eggplant that has gone rotten since the flavor and aroma are unpleasant. Eaten eggplant should not have any bruising on the meat or fractures in the skin or peel. Over-a-year-old eggplant will have less firm flesh that could separate from the peel.

Being a part of the nightshade family, eggplants contain the dangerous alkaloid solanine, which should only be consumed in small amounts. Eating the leaves and tubers of nightshade plants can be fatal due to the high alkaloid levels found in plant parts that are not often ingested.

Is Eggplant Beneficial for Weight Loss?

Low in calories and high in fiber, eggplants are a great addition to any diet that aims to lose weight. Fibre promotes fullness and satiety while reducing calorie intake since it moves slowly through the digestive system. 3 grams of nutritional fiber and only 23 calories are present in 100 grams of raw eggplant. Additionally, meals regularly substitute eggplants for higher-calorie ingredients with high-fiber, low-calorie alternatives.

Because they are low in calories and high in fiber, eggplants are a great addition to any weight-loss diet. Fiber can improve feelings of satiety and fullness, which can help you eat less and lose weight because it moves slowly through your digestive system. Per cup of 100 grams of raw eggplant, there are only 25 calories and 3 grams of fiber.

Despite not having the highest nutritional content of any vegetable, eggplant is a rich source of fiber and potassium. As long as you don’t dip it in oil before eating it, it’s a relatively guilt-free snack with only 25 calories and less than 3 grammes of dietary fat per 100 grammes portion.

How can I Eat Raw Eggplant?

You may have noticed that there aren’t many recipes that call for raw eggplant if you’ve been wondering whether or not to eat it. Although raw eggplant can be consumed without being cooked, it tastes harsh. Consequently, it doesn’t typically rank highly on dish makers’ lists. There are ways to alleviate the hurt or make it work in your favor, though.

Start by choosing smaller eggplants or choosing Asian eggplant cultivars like Thai or Japanese eggplants, which are less bitter than the common purple-black kind grown in your production area. After that, take caution when peeling them because the peel is very bitter. In order to reduce some of the bitterness and superfluous water and to enhance the texture and flavor, salt the peeled eggplants and drain them.

How to Spot Bad Eggplant?

When you’re ready to use the eggplants, double-check that they’re still good if you’ve never worked with eggplant flesh before. You should be knowledgeable about the signs of rotten eggplant.

One of the simplest ways to determine whether eggplant smells bad is to check it. There shouldn’t be a distinctive smell to eggplant. If the eggplant smells weird, it is either too old or rotten and once it has oxidized, it is no longer edible.

If it’s still available for purchase and consumption, you should keep it in the refrigerator. Just keep in mind that an eggplant’s flavor will not change if it is still fresh, even if it has gone bad.

The seeds of eggplant should be glossy and dark. Young Thai eggplants have yellowish seeds, which advises that you should if required, toss the seed. A healthy eggplant should also have stems that are green and skin that is smooth and glossy.

There should be no mold or deterioration on the stems. Additionally, despite its diminutive size, it ought to feel substantial. It must be solid meat. The eggplant is rotting and should not be consumed if the seeds are black.

Another sign that eggplant has gone bad is when it becomes brown and rusty. This is a sign of oxidation, which happens when the chemical components of an object are exposed to air. This process causes the eggplant to deteriorate, and when the skin turns brown, it is considered rotten.

To determine whether an eggplant is edible, look at its looks. There ought to be no smell at all. If it does, it’s either too old or damaged, and if it’s too soft or wrinkled, it’s probably wrong. It needs to smell strong as well. If it smells bad, it’s better to throw it away because it’s already spoiled. It is best to throw away this unfit eggplant and save the remaining pieces.

Reference: How to Help Your Child Learn to Eat Eggplant

The majority of us assume this purple gem to be a vegetable, however since it comes from a flowering plant and has seeds, eggplants are actually classified as fruit! Additionally, eggplant is referred to as “aubergine” or “brinjal” in other places.

Perhaps you’re unsure if eggplants are healthy for you and your children. The good news is that eating eggplant can be really healthy! In addition to passing for veggies, eggplants cover a lot of nutrients that are vital for our developing kids and toddlers. Three grams of fiber can be found in just one cup (28 grams) of eggplant. Because it helps to control blood pressure and transport food through the digestive tract, fiber is important for our children.’

Conclusion

Before freezing, eggplant parmesan should be thoroughly cooled. The longer the eggplant is allowed to sit out, the more likely it will become soggy. It’s best to make it a few hours before freezing to avoid soggy eggplant. In addition, avoid using cottage cheese or ricotta cheese in the mixture. It’s also a good idea to salt the eggplant before baking.

In addition to wrapping the eggplant parmesan in a freezer-safe plastic bag, it’s best to partially cook the eggplant before storing it. This will help to prevent overcooking and prevent it from turning soft. It’s also a good idea to write the date on the bag to remind yourself of the amount of time it needs to stay fresh.