You love basil, but hate cooking with it.
Can you freeze basil?
Basil is a common ingredient in Italian dishes.
It adds flavor and aroma to sauces, soups, pasta, pizzas, salads, and other dishes.
While fresh basil has a short shelf life, frozen basil lasts much longer.
In fact, freezing basil makes it easier to store and transport.
If you want to freeze basil, follow these simple steps
How to Freeze Basil
You can freeze basil just like any other herb. To do this, simply place the herbs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the pan in the freezer until frozen solid. Then transfer the herbs to an airtight container. Store the herbs in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Freezing Unblanched Basil
Unblanched basil has a stronger flavor than blanched basil.Blanching basil removes its color and leaves it white. It also softens the texture of the leaves. When you blanch basil, you remove much of its flavor. Therefore, freezing unblanched basil retains its flavor and texture.
Step 1: Washing and Picking the Basil Leaves
Wash the basil leaves thoroughly under running water. Pick off any stems and discard. Step 2: Blanching the Basil Answer: Place the washed basil leaves in boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and immediately place in an ice bath. Repeat this process until all the basil leaves are blanched.
Step 2: Pre-freezing
Place the blanched basil leaves in the freezer for 15 minutes. Step 3: Freezing Answer: Place the frozen basil leaves in a plastic bag and freeze for 6 hours. Step 4: Storing Answer: Store the basil leaves in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Step 3: Storage
Store the basil leaves in the freezer until needed.
Freezing Blanched Basil
Blanched basil is easier to use because it doesn’t require any cooking. You can freeze blanched basil just like frozen spinach. To do this, place the basil leaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer for about an hour. After freezing, transfer the basil to a storage container. The leaves will keep in the freezer for several months.
Freezing Basil into Cubes
You can freeze basil cubes in ice cube trays. Place the basil leaves in the center of each tray and cover with plastic wrap. Put the trays in the freezer until the leaves are frozen solid. Remove the trays from the freezer and remove the plastic wrap. Cut the basil into cubes using a sharp knife. Store the cubes in an airtight container in the freezer.
How to Defrost Frozen Basil
Defrosting frozen basil cubes is easy. Just place the cubes on a plate and put the plate in the microwave oven. Microwave the cubes for about 2 minutes. After two minutes, check the cubes.If they are still hard, continue microwaving for another minute. When the cubes are soft enough to handle, transfer them to a bowl and let them thaw completely.
How to Recognize Spoiled Basil
Spoiled basil has an unpleasant smell. It smells like rotten eggs. You can tell if your basil is spoiled because it looks wilted and brownish. The leaves look dry and brittle.
frozen blanched or unblanched basil leaves
12 to 24 hours
frozen basil leaves
Blanching is a process where fresh herbs are boiled in water for about one minute. This removes the chlorophyll from the plant, making it white. It also kills any bacteria on the surface of the herb. The blanching process helps retain the flavor and nutrients of the herb. You can use this method to freeze basil leaves. To do this, place the basil leaves in a freezer bag or container. Make sure the leaves are tightly packed together. Then, seal the bag or container and leave it in the freezer overnight. When you remove the leaves from the freezer, let them thaw completely before using.
Can basil go in the freezer?
Yes, you can freeze fresh basil without blanched. You just need to remove the leaves from the stems before freezing. After thawing, the leaves will be fine.
What is the best way to freeze basil leaves?
You can freeze fresh basil in ice cube trays. Put the cubes into a baggie and then put the baggie into a ziploc bag. Then, place the ziploc bag into a container that has been labeled “freezer”. The label should say something like this: “Freeze Basil Ice Cubes”. When frozen, remove the cubes from the baggie and transfer them to an airtight container.
How do you store fresh basil in the freezer?
You can freeze basil leaves in ice cube trays. Put the frozen cubes into freezer bags. Then you can use them when needed.
Can I freeze fresh basil without blanching?
Basil is an herb that has a strong flavor. It can be used fresh, dried, or frozen. You can freeze it in ice cube trays and then transfer the cubes to bags when needed. To use frozen basil, simply thaw it first before adding to recipes.
