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Basil, also known as king's herb, is a popular kitchen herb and an indispensable part of Italian dishes in particular. We show you step by step how to freeze fresh basil.
In a nutshell
- wash and dry before freezing
- Blanch beforehand if possible, improves shelf life
- Freeze immediately after harvest, whole leaves or chopped
- Mix in portions with oil or water and freeze in ice cube trays
harvest
Before freezing, however, comes the harvest of the basil. This should be done at a time when the herb has already fully developed its aroma. This is usually the case in the early morning, preferably on sunny, warm days. Leaves of plants that are about to flower are particularly aromatic.
- pick off individual leaves
- optionally cut off whole branches
- leave at least two leaves
- rinse under running water
- then pat dry
It is very important not to chop the basil at this point, otherwise it will quickly lose its aroma and become bitter. It is therefore best to leave the leaves whole. You should also sort out brown or spotted basil leaves and dry twigs.
Tip: Larger quantities of washed basil can also be easily spun dry in the salad spinner.
preparation
Ideally, before you freeze the basil, you should blanch it first. H. toss in boiling water for a few seconds. This kills harmful microorganisms, improves shelf life and preserves the typical aroma. Proceed as follows when brewing:
- Boil water in the pot
- Prepare a bowl of cold, lightly salted water and ice cubes
- Add the basil leaves to the boiling water for two to three seconds
- take out with a slotted spoon
- immediately into the ice water
- drain in a sieve
- dry carefully
This step is not mandatory for freezing basil. If you're in a hurry, you can freeze the basil leaves without blanching them first.
Freeze basil
Now the prepared basil can be frozen. You have various options for this. You can:
- Freeze the basil leaves whole
- chop just before freezing
- Freeze as pesto (i.e. mixed with oil).
- Freeze in portions (e.g. in ice cube trays)
To prevent the basil leaves from sticking together when freezing, you should prefreeze them flat on a board or tray. Then fill the leaves in an airtight sealable freezer bag or freezer box. Basil cubes, where you mix finely chopped basil with water or oil and freeze in ice cube trays, are particularly practical. So you always have ready-made portions of the kitchen herb at hand. Frozen in various ways, basil can be kept for up to 12 months.
Tip: Do not leave basil for too long, but process it immediately after harvesting. The longer you leave the herb, the more it loses its aroma - even when stored in the refrigerator.
frequently asked Questions
How can I preserve basil?Basil can also be dried very well, for example in the oven, in the air or in a dehydrator. You can also pickle it in vinegar or oil, for which olive oil, sunflower oil or white wine vinegar are particularly suitable. Even preserving with salt works well, mixing about 1 part chopped basil to 2 parts sea or rock salt. The basil salt has a shelf life of about a year. Last but not least, the herb can of course also be preserved as pesto.
How long does basil in oil keep?Fresh basil preserved in olive or sunflower oil has a shelf life of around four to six months. Make sure that the previously washed and carefully dried leaves are completely covered with the oil. In addition, you should only pickle healthy, green herbs. The jars used should be airtight. Glasses that are also used for preserving are therefore particularly well suited.
Can you freeze Thai basil?Thai basil is a subspecies of the well-known shrub basil, but tastes much more intense and more aniseed-like. However, you can freeze this herb just like regular basil and preserve it that way.