Freezing Herbs

Drying and freezing are two most effective ways for preserving herbs for future use. Though drying is the traditional and the common method employed for preservation, some herbs have been found to do better and retain their rich aroma, when they are preserved by freezing. Usually, herbs with high water content and soft leaves do well when they are preserved by freezing. Such herbs can sometimes mold, if they are tried to preserve by drying. But, when preserved by freezing, they are found to retain their color and flavor to a great extent. Herbs like, basil, coriander or cilantro, lemongrass, mint, parsley, chives, sage, tarragon and lemon balm are ideal for preserving by freezing.

Preserving Herbs from the Garden Through Freezing

Freezing plants and their vital parts like leaves, roots etc. from your herb garden is quite simple and easy, provided you choose the fresh and the healthy leaves. So, be sure to pick only the fresh herbs, discarding the dry and diseased leaves or stems. Then, wash the herbs properly to remove dirt and pat them dry. Use soft paper towels to dry the herbs, after which take a small tray and spread the leaves on it. You can also chop the leaves and then spread them on the tray. Now, cover the tray and put it into the freezer. Once frozen, take out the tray from the freezer and transfer the herbs to an airtight plastic container or sealable freezer bags. But, be sure to suck out all excess air from the container or bag, before placing the herbs in it.

Another method is to blanch them before putting into the freezer. This method is especially suitable, if you want to preserve herbs for a longer time period. The method is also employed for certain herbs like basil, which when directly frozen have been found to turn black. This method involves dipping the herbs to be preserved first in boiling water, followed by a dip in iced water. Then you can dry the wet herbs with soft paper towels, after which they can be placed in a freezer bag and then in the freezer for preservation.

Freezing Methods

Keeping herbs frozen in the form of ice cubes is yet another popular method. The process begins with selecting the freshest herbs with the healthiest leaves. The next step is to wash them with clean water to remove any kind of dirt, which is followed by drying the leaves with paper towels. Now, you can chop the leaves, put them in the ice cube trays and fill the cubes with water. Place the tray into the freezer until the ice cubes have frozen completely, after which take it out and remove the individual cubes. Place these cubes in a proper sealable freezer bag and then put the bag in the freezer.

Another way is to blend the herbs with oil. This method slightly differs from the first method. In this method, the fresh and healthy herbs are washed and then dried with paper towels, after which about 1/3 cup of oil (if possible olive oil) for each 2 cups of herbs are put into a blender or food processor. Now, transfer the herbs to the ice cube tray and freeze it for a complete night. Next day, when the ice cubes have frozen, take out the tray from the freezer and separate the ice cubes. Put these ice cubes in sealable freezer bags, after removing excess air from the bag with a straw. Otherwise, you can place the entire tray in the freeze bag or wrap it thoroughly to make it airtight.

Such frozen herbs can work well for dishes like, soups, cooked dishes and sauces, though they may not so good for garnishing. However, the most crucial part for preserving herbs in this way is to make sure that they are placed in completely airtight containers or freezer bags.