Freezing basil is a great way to preserve it for use in recipes later on. By freezing it, the basil will be able to last for up to six months in the freezer. This means that you will have plenty of basil available in your recipes without worrying about it going bad.
How to Freeze Basil?
Basil can be frozen, either whole or chopped. To freeze whole basil, place the leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 3-4 hours. To freeze chopped basil, place the leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours.
To get the most benefit from the herb, this blog post will go into detail about freezing basil in various ways. Continue reading to learn more.
See Also: How Store Basil?
Method to Freeze Basil
Two popular methods for freezing basil are whole leaves and chopped leaves.
To freeze whole leaves, wash the basil and pat it dry. Then, place the leaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the leaves to a freezer bag or container.
To freeze chopped leaves, first, wash and dry the basil. Then, chop the basil into small pieces and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put the baking sheet in the freezer and once the basil is frozen, transfer it to a freezer bag or container.
What is the best way to freeze fresh basil?
The best way to freeze fresh basil is to wash the leaves and then dry them completely. Next, you will need to chop the leaves into small pieces.
Once the leaves are chopped, you can place them in a freezer bag and seal them tight. Then, when ready to use the frozen basil, take out the desired amount and thaw it in a bowl of warm water.
How to freeze basil in ice cube trays?
Assuming you have already picked or purchased your basil, the next step is to clean it. Gently rinse the leaves under cool water and then dry them with a paper towel or clean dishcloth. Once the leaves are dry, it’s time to start chopping.
You can chop the basil by hand or use a food processor fitted with a metal blade. If you are using a food processor, add the leaves in small batches, so they don’t get overwhelmed.
Once all of the leaves are chopped, it’s time to start filling up your ice cube trays. Again, you can do this by hand or use a spoon or utensil to scoop the chopped basil into the tray.
Make sure each compartment is filled as much as possible, so you end up with nice, full cubes. Once all of the compartments are full, gently tap the tray on your countertop a few times so that the basil settles down.
Then, carefully transfer the tray to your freezer and let it freeze for several hours or overnight.
When the cubes are frozen solid, you can pop them out of the tray and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
And that’s it! Now you have beautiful, fresh basil cubes that will last for months in your freezer.
How to freeze basil in olive oil?
If you’re looking for a way to keep your basil fresh for longer, freezing it in olive oil is a great option! Here’s how to do it:
- Start by washing your basil leaves and patting them dry.
- The leaves should then be placed on a baking sheet in a single layer and placed in the freezer for about an hour.
- Once the leaves are frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.
- Finally, pour olive oil over the leaves, so they’re well coated. Be sure to use enough oil so that they don’t stick together.
And that’s it! Your frozen basil will keep for several months in the freezer. Then, when ready to use it, take out as many leaves as you need and chop them up as usual.
How to freeze basil leaves without blanching?
Basil is a delicate herb that can lose its flavor quickly when exposed to heat. Blanching (boiling for a short time) the basil before freezing helps preserve its flavor.
However, if you’re in a hurry or don’t want to deal with blanching, you can still freeze your basil without it.
To freeze your basil without blanching, wash the leaves and pat them dry. Then, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer.
Once they’re frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to use them, take out as many leaves as you need and chop them up. There’s no need to thaw them first!
Can fresh basil leaves be frozen?
Basil is a very popular herb that can be used in many different dishes. It has a strong flavor that some people love, and others find to be too overwhelming.
If you have fresh basil leaves and are unsure what to do with them, you may wonder if you can freeze them. The answer is yes. You can freeze fresh basil leaves.
There are a few different ways that you can freeze basil leaves. One way is to place the leaves in a freezer bag and put them in the freezer. Another way is to chop the leaves and place them in a freezer bag.
Finally, you can also puree the leaves and freeze them in an ice cube tray. Whichever way you freeze the basil leaves, they will last for several months in the freezer.
When ready to use the frozen basil leaves, take them out of the freezer and thaw them at room temperature or in the refrigerator. You can then use them as you would fresh basil leaves.
However, keep in mind that the flavor of frozen basil may be slightly different than fresh basil, so you may want to adjust your recipe accordingly.
Can you freeze basil vinaigrette?
Basil vinaigrette is a great way to add flavor to your dishes, and it can be easily frozen for future use. To freeze the basil vinaigrette, pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze.
Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then, when ready to use the vinaigrette, thaw a cube or two in the refrigerator and add it to your dish.
Conclusion
There you have it! Three simple methods for freezing basil so you can enjoy its fresh flavor all year.
Whether you chop and freeze it in ice cube trays, make pesto or infused oil, or dry it for later use, you’ll be glad you took the time to preserve this delicious herb.
I am an accomplished tech writer with a passion for simplifying complex technology concepts. With a background in Tech, James has dedicated their career to making the intricacies of the digital world accessible to a broad audience.
