Freezing Herbs

I always have so much basil in my garden and it can turn black so fast. Here's what I do to have that garden-fresh basil flavor all year. I put fresh, cleaned basil leaves in the blender with just enough water to blend it to a thickened paste. I then pour the paste into ice-cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, I transfer cubes into zip-lock bags and store in the freezer. One cube equals about a small handful of basil leaves. I keep a couple of extra ice cube trays just for this.

I do a lot of Indo-Pak cooking so I also make a spice paste that is integral to that cuisine called "green masala" (which is a combination of cilantro, green chiles, mint, and fresh ginger root) using this same method.

Hint: Get odors out of ice-cube trays by soaking in hot water with a bit of dishwashing liquid and a few drops of bleach. Rinse well. No more blackened, wasted basil!

By douet from Clifton, NJ

Selecting High-Quality Herbs:

The leaves of most herbs will appear limp and discolored after being frozen, and are not suitable for use as garnishes. However, they are still excellent when used in soups, sauces, salad dressings and cooked dishes. Seeds and flowers are best preserved by drying. Harvest leaves at the peak of growth, just before the plants starts to flower. Parsley, chervil and savory should be harvested while leaves are still young and tender.

Preparing for Freezing:

Wash, drain and pat dry with paper towels. Strip leaves from stems, discarding any that show signs of disease or damage. Chop leaves or leave them whole as desired.

Best Freezing Method(s):

• Dry Pack: Pack prepared leaves into suitable containers. Seal, label and freeze.

• Herb Butters: Prepare desired herb butter according to recipe directions. Transfer into suitable containers and freeze. Slice off portions as needed.

• Herb Pastes: Wash and prepare leaves. Chop leaves coarsely. Blend 2 cups of leaves and 1/3 of a cup of olive oil in a food processor to make a paste. Transfer into suitable containers, seal, label and freeze.

• Ice Cubes: This is a great way to freeze herbs for soaps and stews. Chop prepared leaves and spoon into ice cube trays. Cover with water and freeze. Transfer cubes to plastic bags, label and freeze. Drop into soups and stews as needed.

Suitable Packaging:

Freezer containers should be moisture and vapor resistant and should not be prone to cracking or breaking at low temperatures. Containers should provide protection against absorbing flavors or odors and should be easy to label. Suitable packaging for freezing includes freezer-grade plastic bags, rigid plastic containers or glass containers and ice cube trays.

Maximum Storage Time:

At 0ºF, leaves will last up to 1 year and butters and pastes will last up to 6 months.

Thawing:

Leaves and pastes can be added directly to dishes without thawing. Thaw herb butter in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

Tips & Shortcuts:

Herbs that make great pastes include chervil, cilantro, dill, fennel, marjoram, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory and tarragon.

Refrigerating Herbs:

Fresh herbs should be used or processes as quickly as possible after harvesting. Pastes and butters will last up to 3 months in the refrigerator. Warning: Pastes made from garlic and oil should be used immediately and not stored due to danger from Clostridium botulinum.

By Ellen Brown