Introduction
Fresh basil is the best herb that has the ability to improve the taste of any dish. It is a rich, light, and summer salad. Basil is one of the most delicate herbs, and the first thing that it does after harvesting is lose its quality, which is why knowing how to freeze fresh basil becomes essential. How to freeze fresh basil is a wonderful way to keep its beautiful color, aromatic smell, and flavor even if the harvest season is over. This article will provide you with various methods of freezing basil, such as whole freezing, water or oil freezing, or even making pesto for winter storage.
Freezing Basil Is a Smart Choice
Freezing not only preserves the taste and texture of the basil but also leads to the loss of its freshness, the sweetness of the pepper, and the richness of the perfume. Knowing how to freeze fresh basil allows you to store it all year and still experience the summer garden flavor with no waste!
Freezing basil, on the other hand, ensures that its unique taste and green color are preserved, as the flavonoids that are responsible for these are also retained. Freezing makes basil always fresh, thus saving you time and money, whether you grow it or buy it from the grocery store.
Basil Preparation before Freezing
The preparation of basil for freezing is an important procedure that must be done before freezing. If you want good results from freezing basil, then you must follow the following steps:
- Choose the fresh leaves: Pick green basil leaves that are alive and no symptoms of wilting are present on the leaves.
- Cleaning: Use cold water to wash basil leaves and also to eliminate dirt and bugs.
- Pat Dry: Use either a paper towel or a soft towel to dry the leaves thoroughly. Freezer burn is one of the problems that moisture can cause.
- Remove Stems: To make freezing and later use easy, remove the leaves from the stems.
Method 1: Freezing Basil without Blanching
The process of freezing basil without blanching the leaves is one of the easiest methods. If you prefer a more straightforward option, then disregard the boiling and cooling steps involved in the blanching method.
Steps:
- Get a baking sheet and spread non-infected basil leaves on it flatly.
- The freezing of basil leaves will take almost two hours.
- When leaves have been frozen, they can be added, placed in an airtight container, and stored.
- This procedure will not only be used for preservation but also improve the production of the best quality basil powder. Thereafter, water is poured in to ensure that the leaves are fully submerged.
- Basil cubes are to be frozen until they are solid, then they are to be placed into a marked freezer bag.
- When needed, a basil cube can be incorporated into any dish of soup, sauce, or stew. Its lively taste will be very quickly released when it melts.
Method 2: Freezing Basil in Olive Oil
The method of how to freeze fresh basil along with olive oil is one more remarkable alternative for preserving its freshness. Besides this choice, the herb can also be used in an easier manner for pasta sauces or frying, and the aroma of the herb is also enhanced.
Procedure:
- Cut the basil leaves into small pieces and put them in a spoon.
- Use another spoon, fill each section of the ice cube until half is half-filled with basil.
- Then, wrap the basil with olive oil.
- Next, the cubes should be kept in a freezer bag.
These basil oil cubes are ready for cooking. They can be added to vegetables, pasta sauces, and salad dressings.
Method 3: Freeze Fresh Basil Without Oil
In case you do not fancy the oily feeling of basil oil, you can easily freeze basil without oils. Apart from being fat-free, this method retains the basil’s flavor.
This is how the process goes:
- First of all, the basil leaves should be chopped finely.
- After that, the minced basil can be placed in a food processor or rotary blender, where only a little water can be added, and blending will continue until a uniform mixture is obtained.
- Then, this uniform mixture will be put into the ice cube tray.
- When you feel the cubes are formed, they will be removed from there and shifted to a container for the freezer.
Knowing how to freeze fresh basil is very important, If you want to use this basil in dishes such as soups, then they do not need any oil, and this method is perfect and helpful.
Method 4: How to Store Basil Without Freezing it
Basil can still be stored for a few days as fresh if there is no freezer available. In case you have no freezer, the cut flowers method can be used to store basil.
There are several steps involved:
- First, cut off the basil stems’ ends.
- After this, please place them in a glass containing water at the temperature.
- Then, in order to maintain the moisture, wrap them with a plastic bag, but loose.
- Lastly, do not store the basil in the fridge; if not, the cold air will very soon turn the leaves black.
This technique will guarantee the basil’s freshness for five days.
Preparing pesto basil is always preferable for natural preservation.
Pesto’s taste remains quite powerful even after several months of its production, and thus, it is the best choice for preservation through freezing.
Basil Pesto Classic Recipe:
- 2 soft basil leaves cups
- 0.5 cup grated cheese
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 2 garlic cloves
- 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt can be added as per your taste.
Instructions:
- Cheese, nuts, garlic, and basil must be finely chopped and mixed.
- The speed of the mixer should be slow during the pouring of olive oil.
- Pesto will be placed in small freezer containers for later use.
- Please take out the required amount and use it after it is frozen.
Pesto is definitely the right option if you are looking for a summer flavor explosion at any time. It can be used as a marinade, pasta toss, or just a sandwich spread.
How to Store Frozen Basil
Below are the best practices to keep your frozen basil powerful and tasty:
- Mark each bag or container with the date and method used.
- The best quality frozen basil will last up to 6 months.
- Refreezing and thawing will result in a loss of its texture and taste.
To protect this, put these cubes further back in the freezer, where consistency in temperatures is maintained.
Conclusion: How to freeze fresh basil
The method of how to freeze fresh basil that is considered correct will not only let the herb, which is your favorite, keep its flavor and aroma, but also enable you to have it ready for cooking all year round. Though it is a matter of whether the leaves are frozen without blanching, in water or olive oil, or simply one of these methods, along with a quick pesto recipe, the essence of basil would still be there. Thus, again, fresh-tasting basil would not be out of stock for your favorite dishes.
