By Alice K. Thompson for Food Network Kitchen

Alice is a contributing writer and editor at Food Network.

Making zucchini bread or muffins? Or thinking of freezing extra squash from your garden? There’s a good chance you’ll want to shred a zucchini or two. Here are the best ways to grate zucchini, whether you have just a few lying around or a bounty of squash.

How to Grate Zucchini

The easiest ways to grate zucchini are by using a box grater or a food processor.

These instructions work for yellow squash or patty-pan squash as well.

How to Grate Zucchini on a Box Grater

Step one: Wash and trim. Rinse the zucchini under cold water, rubbing the skin gently to remove grit. Trim the ends.

Step two: Grate. Place a box grater or cheese grater on a plate or cutting board. Shred the zucchini on the large holes.

Step three: Remove excess liquid. If you're freezing zucchini, or plan to use it in a recipe that requires you to remove some of its liquid, put a double layer of cheesecloth or a thin kitchen towel on your counter. Dump a few cups of grated zucchini in the center, gather up the edges, and take it to the sink, twisting the top to force out liquid.

How to Grate Zucchini with a Food Processor

Step one: Wash and trim. Rinse the zucchini under cold water, rubbing the skin gently to remove grit. Trim the ends.

Step two: Use the shredding blade. Fit your food processor with the shredding blade. Cut the zucchini if necessary so chunks of it fit through the feed tube, then feed it through with the motor running.

Step three: Remove excess liquid. As with the box grater method, remove the extra liquid if you're making a recipe that calls for it or plan to freeze your zucchini. Lay a double layer of cheesecloth or a thin kitchen towel on your counter. Dump a few cups of grated zucchini in the center, gather up the edges, and take it to the sink, twisting the top to force out liquid.

How Much Shredded Zucchini Will You Get from One Squash?

Exact amounts can vary based on squash sizes, but here’s a general rule: One medium (6-ounce) zucchini will yield a generous 1 cup squeezed shredded zucchini, while a large (8-ounce) squash will give you about 1 1/2 cups.

What to Do with Grated Zucchini

Everyone knows quick breads like zucchini bread and zucchini muffins for using up extra summer squash. But a lot of other foods can benefit from this vegetable’s moisture, nutrients and mild flavor. You can also add grated zucchini to:

Smoothies

Pancakes

Frittatas

Veggie burgers

Turkey burgers

Meatloaf and meatballs

Lasagna

Fritters

Soups

Casseroles

Rice pilaf

Recipes with Grated Zucchini

Zucchini Bread

A generous amount of shredded squash plus whole-wheat pastry flour make this a feel-good treat. Apple butter adds richness and moisture while keeping the amount of added fat low.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Chocolate morsels add a decadent dimension to this melt-in-your-mouth zucchini bread. You could also add your favorite chopped nuts for flavor and texture.

Greek Turkey Burgers with Tomato Salad

Shredded zucchini is a favorite for adding moisture to burgers and meatloaf. Here, the zucchini mixes seamlessly into classic Mediterranean flavors like mint, feta and oregano.

Zucchini Fritters

Grated zucchini, scallions and lots of herbs give these deep-fried treats fresh flavor. Once shredded, the zucchini in this recipe is tossed with salt in a strainer to remove excess liquid, so you can skip wringing it out first.

Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

This batter has deep flavor from cocoa powder and chocolate chips, and gets moisture and tenderness from shredded zucchini, meaning less added fat is needed. An easy glaze of melted chocolate chips makes it even more irresistible.

Related Links:

59 Zucchini Recipes to Use Up Your Bounty

Vegetable Sides That’ll Have Everyone Grabbing Seconds

Quick Bread Recipes