Freezing and preserving herbs

arkonite_babe

Has anyone ever frozen basil leaves before or do they know if it can be done? My 89p basil plant is producing leaves faster than I can use them and I'd like a way to keep them. Our household isn't a lover of pesto btw or I'd make a glut of that. Ideas appreciated.

a_b

Addy

Yep, no problem. OH grows masses and what we can't use fresh, he freezes for using in cooking later. What I THINK he does is freeze it, then crushes it so it's in loose in bits. Doesn't need thawing either, just chuck a handful at the very end. Yummy!

trafalgar_2

I chop it up ,put it in ice-cube tray and add a tweeny bit of water.........when it's frozen you can put the cubes/portions in a bag and you'll have portions of it ready at hands...................just pop out a cube and chuck it in the pot

most herbs will freeze easily

arkonite_babe

oh goody, I won't lose all my basil plant then. Thankyou all!

sarahmelita

Thought this was quite MSE and am also proud of myself for thinking of it, so thought I'd post it!
Instead of pulling my poor herb plants to pieces every day, ( I use herbs a lot) I've started buying the huge bunches of them that you can get at the supermarket for about 99p, chop them up and freeze them in a container 'til you need them, they keep all the flavour and last for ages! You can use them from frozen, just chuck them into whatever you're cooking. I do the same with chilli's too.

squeaky

I've always been put off from buying fresh herbs like that because I wouldn't be able to use them all. It never occurred to me that I could freeze them.

MrsMW

I freeze herbs in ice cube trays with a drop of water or leftover wine, then just chuck a few cubes in as required.

apprentice_tycoon

Root ginger freezes well too, you can grate it from frozen

squeaky

Yeah I've got mine in the freezer already.

Ain't MSE wonderful?

catznine

I have always dried my herbs in the mcrowave but have to say that the frozen ones I have bought do keep their taste and aroma so will go and give that a try.

Queenie

MrsMW wrote:

I freeze herbs in ice cube trays with a drop of water or leftover wine, then just chuck a few cubes in as required.

I do that (minus herbs) with any left over gravy and any wine that is in danger of not being used/poor quality, then decant all the 'cubes' into a poly bag.

:hello: Welcome to old style, great tip sarahmelita :T