How to Freeze Basil

How to Freeze Basil: A Gardener’s Guide to Preserving Your Harvest

For gardeners and home cooks, basil is a summertime staple. However, when the cold weather hits, it can be challenging to grow fresh basil. Freezing basil is a simple and effective way to ensure you have a steady supply of this flavorful herb throughout the year. In this guide, I’ll detail all the steps to freeze basil so you can enjoy its delicious taste all year round.

1. Harvest fresh basil: 

Harvesting fresh leaves is the first step to freezing basil. It is best to use fresh leaves as wilted or yellowed leaves will not taste good. Harvest the leaves early in the morning for the freshest taste.

2. Remove leaves from the stem: 

The next step is to remove the leaves from the stem. You can do this by pinching off the leaves with your fingers or by using a pair of scissors. Discard any yellow or wilted leaves, stems, and flowers. 

If you’re growing my favorite variety of basil, Emerald Towers basil, removing the leaves is simple. This variety of basil grows on long, slender stems. Pull down on the stem with one hand while lifting with the other, and the leaves will come right off the stem (similar to rosemary). 

3. Wash basil leaves: 

After you have removed the leaves, wash them in a bowl of water to remove any dirt, debris, or pests clinging to them. Agitate the basil leaves lightly with your hand while they are in the water to make sure that you remove everything.

4. Dry basil leaves: 

Once the basil leaves are clean, you will want to let them dry. Spread them out in a single layer on a clean dish towel and let them dry until they are mostly dry. Take care not to bruise the leaves.

Alternatively, you can put them in a salad spinner to eliminate the excess moisture. Dry basil leaves will freeze better than wet leaves, so make sure that the leaves are mostly dry before moving on to the next step.

5. Freeze basil leaves: 

When the leaves are dry, add them to a freezer-safe ziplock-style bag.  Remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing it.

The frozen basil will last for about a year, but the best flavor is in the first six months. (Usually about the time next season’s basil harvests begin!)

6. Use frozen basil similar to fresh

To use, crumble the bag’s contents and then sprinkle in soups, pasta salad, or however you like to use basil. The texture changes, but the delicious flavor remains. Use the same amount as you would fresh basil.

I also like preserving basil by freeze drying, but freezing basil is the quickest way to preserve basil and gives me a constant supply until next year’s harvest is ready! 

Freezing basil is an easy and cost-effective way to preserve the flavor of this herb throughout the year. Following the steps above, you can ensure your frozen basil stays fresh and delicious. So next time you have a bountiful basil harvest, don’t let it go to waste. Freeze it! Happy gardening and happy cooking! 

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