Exact Answer: 1 Hour (Room Temperature) and 1 Week (Refrigerator)
Have you bought a bunch of zucchinis and aren’t sure if you’ll be able to use them all before they go bad? How long does zucchini last once it’s been cut? Or perhaps you only buy zucchini on occasion and aren’t sure how to keep it or what to look for when it starts to spoil.
If either of these things sound familiar, you’ve come to the correct spot. In this post, we’ll address these concerns.
How Long Does Zucchini Last After Cut?
| State of Zucchini | In Refrigerator | At Room Temperature |
| Whole | 2 Weeks | 5 Days |
| Sliced | 1 Week | 1 Hour |
Zucchini is a seasonal summer squash that only comes around once a year. Because of their versatility, these veggies are particularly popular in the kitchen. Soups, stews, stir-fries, and baked items can all benefit from this squash.
Zucchini, like other vegetables, does not keep for long after it has been harvested. It’s crucial to know how long zucchini lasts and how to store them properly to keep them fresh.
The whole zucchini will keep for about 5 days at room temperature. They will begin to shrink and lose their texture after that.
Sliced zucchini should not be kept out for more than an hour at room temperature. When it’s cut or sliced, air causes oxidation of the meat, which causes it to spoil. It’s better to keep them in the fridge if you’ll be cooking them in more than an hour.
The whole fresh zucchini will keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Keep them in the crisper portion of the refrigerator to ensure they stay fresh. In the fridge, sliced or cut zucchini will keep for about a week. They should be refrigerated in an airtight container.
Zucchini can be preserved in the freezer for up to 6 months. It is suggested that you blanch them before freezing them. When fresh zucchini is frozen, it develops freezer burn.
Why After Cut Zucchini Does not Last?
Zucchini can spoil in a variety of ways. This can happen while the plants are still in the garden or after they have been harvested. If zucchini is not harvested when it is still young in the garden, it will begin to rot.
They will turn rough and lose their flavour if they are left on the plant for too long.Zucchini may decay before it can be harvested in some cases. This means the plant hasn’t been pollinated or is suffering from blossom-end rot.
Some locations will receive more rain than usual during the summer. Because bees and other pollinators are less active, they will not be able to fertilise the bloom. Blossom-end rot is caused by over-fertilization or frequent watering of the plant.
Zucchini will normally go bad in the kitchen if it is not consumed or cooked within a specific amount of time, or if it is stored incorrectly. After zucchini has been harvested, it normally has a shelf life of 1-2 weeks.
Check If It’s Rotten or not
When it comes to zucchini, it’s easy to detect when it’s past its prime. The skin would appear dull and wrinkled as one of the symptoms that they are rotting. However, just because the zucchini looks bad doesn’t mean you have to toss them out. On the inside, give them a closer look.
Check to check if the zucchini has gone bad or if it may be preserved by slicing it lengthwise. Examine the flesh for discoloured streaks or soft patches. If only a portion of the vegetable is damaged, simply cut it away with a knife.
If, on the other hand, the discolouration or soft patches are present throughout the veggies, it is advisable to discard them. Cooking rotten zucchini will not only make you sick, but it will also taste horrible.
Another technique to tell if the zucchini is fresh is to look at it from the outside. It’s a hint that it’s starting to lose its freshness if it’s little rubbery. It is not suggested to consume them raw. Cut them up and use them in soups, stews, and stir-fries instead.
Conclusion
Zucchini is a delicate fruit that should be handled carefully after harvesting. Never store a large number of them together in a basket. The weight could cause bruises and injury to individuals on the bottom. It’s better if you place them next to one another.
It’s a good idea to put the summer squash at the top of the supermarket bag to keep them secure when buying them at the store. Even a minor injury on the zucchini can reduce its shelf life.
Try to consume it within 4-5 days after cutting it. It won’t be edible after that