The Best Zucchini Size For Stuffed Boats
A food boat is a type of preparation that involves adding a "stuffing" element to the interior of sliced fruits and/or vegetables, via MasterClass. The flesh inside is removed so there's enough space for such sweet or savory stuffings, which are then topped with crunchy or smooth condiments. Such examples of food boats include stuffed butternut squash, a breakfast-inspired potato boat, and the ever-popular pineapple boat, per My Fitness Pal. But perhaps one of the most well-known ones is a stuffed zucchini boat.
Zucchinis make tasty boats because of their sturdy exterior and "long" shape, which bears some resemblance to a long boat (minus the sail on top). Tons of fillings can be added to the interior of zucchinis, like beans, grains, potatoes, meat, cheese, and lots of herbs and spices for flavor. Not only does this style of preparation kindle a creative fire, but it's also a popular choice for those on a low-carb diet, as a medium-sized zucchini contains 6.57 grams of total carbs, via Fat Secret. The fillings can also be modified to such low-carb preferences.
But when it comes to choosing the right zucchini, should you opt for small, medium, or large ones? Hint: the answer is not "D: all of the above," because size really does matter with this type of fruit. Yes, zucchini is a fruit, according to MyRecipes.
Why medium-sized zucchinis are best
So here's why you don't want to use a too-small or too-large zucchini. With small ones, there's not going to be enough room for the filling, so you'll likely taste more of the zucchini than any other element. And if you do try to smush all that filling into a small zucchini, it might spill over and cause a mess. as well as potential food waste.
Large summer zucchinis, on the other hand, are great for stuffing ratios. But when it comes time to bake the boats, good luck trying to arrange everything in your baking vessel of choice. In other words, you might have to bake these large zucchinis in batches, which makes the whole process take longer than it should.
It's best to go for a medium-sized zucchini. As The Kitchn explains, they're the perfect size for both stuffing and sheet tray assembly. Granted, if you're looking to make zucchini boats as an appetizer, then MasterClass suggests using smaller sizes. In this case, you could opt for fillings that contain small ingredients, like quinoa or finely chopped herbs and vegetables. Conversely, you could make about two or three large zucchini boats for one baking tray if you're feeding just yourself and/or another person.
So in short, medium zucchinis are the best choice here. But if you can only find small or large ones, don't sweat it, you can still make great-tasting zucchini boats.