Summer Squash Facts
including Zucchini

Summer squash facts including zucchini

Learn fun summer squash facts and general information about summer squash and zucchini. This page includes how summer squash grows, how to choose and store it, nutrition facts, and easy recipe ideas.

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Fun Summer Squash Facts

  • Summer squash grows on a plant.
  • Zucchini is a type of summer squash.
  • One plant can produce a lot of squash during one season.
  • Summer squash can be cooked in many ways or shredded into breads.
  • It is often used in side dishes, pasta substitutes, and baked goods.

How Summer Squash Grows, Buying Tips, and Storage

When Summer Squash Is Available

Summer squash is commonly available in summertime.

How Does Summer Squash Grow?

It grows on a plant that can produce a lot through one season.

What to Look for When Buying Summer Squash

Pick squash that is firm, heavy for its size, and a good color according to the variety.

Summer Squash Storage Tips

Store summer squash in the refrigerator crisper.

Kid Tip: Smaller squash is often tender and easy to slice or shred for recipes.

How to Cook with Summer Squash

How to Use Summer Squash

  1. Wash the squash well.
  2. Slice, cube, shred, or spiralize it depending on the recipe.
  3. Cook it in side dishes, sauté it, stir fry it, bake it, or add it to quick breads.
Sauteed summer squash
Cooking Tip: Zucchini and yellow squash cook quickly, so they do not need much time in the pan.

Zucchini vs. Yellow Squash

Zucchini is usually green and often used for zoodles, breads, and baked dishes.

Yellow squash is yellow and often used in side dishes, casseroles, and simple baked recipes.

Both are summer squash and can often be used in similar recipes.

Food Science: Why Zucchini Has So Much Moisture

Why Does Zucchini Get Soft So Quickly?

Zucchini contains a lot of water. When it cooks, that moisture is released and the squash softens quickly.

That is why zucchini cooks fast and why shredded zucchini can add moisture to breads and muffins.

Mini Activity

Squash Seed Check

  1. Cut a zucchini or yellow squash with adult help.
  2. Look inside and find the soft seeds.
  3. Compare the seed area to the firmer outer part.
  4. Talk about how squash protects its seeds inside.

This activity helps kids notice how vegetables hold seeds and how different parts of a food can look different inside.

Summer Squash Nutrition Facts

Summer squash is high in manganese, vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin A. It also contains dietary fiber.

  • Summer squash contains manganese.
  • It is high in vitamin C.
  • It also provides magnesium and vitamin A.
  • Summer squash contains dietary fiber.

More Food Fact Resources




Summer Squash Recipes

Stuffed Zucchini

A baked zucchini recipe filled with onion, garlic, tomato, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese.

  • Category: Side Dish
  • Prep: 20 minutes
  • Cook: 25 minutes
  • Yield: Varies
Stuffed Zucchini 
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Ingredients

  • 3 zucchini
  • 2 tablespoons onions, diced
  • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes, cooked
  • Salt and pepper
  • Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Cook zucchini in boiling salted water for 10 minutes.
  2. Cut in half and scoop out centers. Set aside.
  3. Saute onion, garlic, and tomato for 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Mix center of zucchini with remaining ingredients.
  5. Fill zucchini shells.
  6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
  7. In the last 5 minutes, top with Parmesan cheese until slightly browned.
Serving Tip: Stuffed zucchini works well as a vegetable side dish or light meal.

Zucchini Bread

A moist quick bread made with shredded zucchini, eggs, sugar, oil, flour, cinnamon, and optional pecans.

  • Category: Bread
  • Prep: 20 minutes
  • Cook: 30 to 45 minutes
  • Yield: 2 loaves or muffins
Zucchini bread
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups shredded zucchini
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup oil
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 cups pecans, roughly chopped and divided, optional

Directions

  1. In a mixing bowl add eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Blend together.
  2. Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Blend together.
  3. Stir in zucchini and nuts if using.
  4. Pour into 2 greased 9-inch loaf pans or muffin liners.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes, or about 20 minutes for muffins, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Baking Note: If the zucchini has a lot of moisture, the loaf may need extra baking time.

More Summer Squash Ideas

Zucchini zoodles

Zucchini Zoodles

Turn zucchini or yellow squash into noodle-like strips for a quick side dish.

Zucchini pizza pie

Zucchini Pizza Pie

Try zucchini in a pizza-style baked dish.

Grilled zucchini

Grilled Zucchini

Use summer squash in an easy grilled side dish.

Zucchini fries

Zucchini Fries

Try zucchini in baked fries and fritter recipes.

Zucchini Zoodles

  1. Cut zucchini or yellow squash into strips with a spiral slicer.
  2. Add zoodles to a skillet.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon butter and saute until tender.
  4. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, Parmesan, or other seasonings.
  5. You can also add other vegetables like carrots.

Zucchini Pizza Bites Video

Zucchini Pasta Video

Summer Squash Facts FAQ

When is summer squash available?

Summer squash is commonly available in summertime.

How does summer squash grow?

It grows on a plant that can produce a lot during one season.

What should you look for when buying summer squash?

Choose squash that is firm, heavy for its size, and a good color for the variety.

How should summer squash be stored?

Store it in the refrigerator crisper.

What nutrients are in summer squash?

Summer squash is high in manganese, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin A, and dietary fiber.

How can summer squash be used in cooking?

It can be sauteed, stir fried, baked, shredded into breads, spiralized into zoodles, or used in side dishes.

Keep Learning with Summer Squash

Food Facts hub

Food Facts Hub

Explore more ingredient pages and food learning ideas.

Kids cooking lessons

Kids Cooking Lessons

Build more kitchen skills with hands-on lessons and activities.

Stuffed zucchini

Stuffed Zucchini

Use zucchini in a baked stuffed vegetable recipe.

Zucchini bread

Zucchini Bread

Shred zucchini into a sweet quick bread.

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Reader's Submitted Recipes

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Zucchini Pizza Pie  
Zucchini Pizza This Zucchini Pizza uses shredded zucchini to create a delicious pizza crust that's packed with vegetables. Topped with sauce, cheese, …

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Explore More Food Facts

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Vegetable Facts:
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Food Group Facts:
Beans Eggs Nuts Seeds Meat Dairy Grains



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