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The Deep Freeze: Freezing Herbs

frozen basil2

It just takes one overnight frost to kill my beloved herbs in the garden, but I was smart this year.

Instead of waiting for the quick death of my basil plant, I froze it before Mother Nature could get to it.

It was simple.
I harvested all the leaves and pulsed them in a food processor.
I added just a little olive oil to bind.



Put a tablespoon of this basil compound into plastic ice cube tray compartments.
Freeze until hardened, then you can store them in a ziploc freezer bag.



Now I can have a taste of summer for my winter stews and sauces whenever I want!

Hurry up and do it!

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Unknown said…
Being that I live in NJ also, I have this problem every year. Thanks for the great idea .. have you done it with parsley also? My rosemary , oregano, and sage survive the winters, yours?
October 6, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Ciao Chow Linda said…
great tip. I've got pesto in the freezer but need to do this with my remaining basil.
October 6, 2009 at 8:57 AM
kat said…
I didn't get enough basil this year to save :( I wanted to dry my thyme, sage & oregano but it won't stop raining.
October 6, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Kim said…
I also didn't get enough basil to save. I have seen frozen herbs at The Fresh Market and have used them with great success though. The frozen herbs are much better than dried.
October 6, 2009 at 9:18 AM
The JR said…
Great way to save your basil. You sure will enjoy it later on.

Ramona
October 6, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said…
Stacey, what a great idea. I've got four pots of basil and I better get with it before our first frost comes to the mountains.
Sam
October 6, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Julia said…
I did this last year and it was great! I need to hurry up and catch this year's harvest before it's too late.
October 6, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Foodiewife said…
When my basil dies, I grieve the end of summer. I made pesto with mine. Silly me, I should have frozen plain basil. D'oh!
October 6, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Proud Italian Cook said…
You're so smart! I'm in mourning over my fresh basil that I will no longer be able to have. I still have some left and I will do this. What can I do with sage, I have a big bush?
October 6, 2009 at 2:07 PM
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said…
I swear, I am going to get better at managing my herbs next year. It's like my lack of a green thumb extends to failing to get the most out of my fresh herb supply.
October 6, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Sarah Caron said…
Oh, this is just what I needed -- I want to freeze up some basil for winter but wasn't sure how or whether to use water or oil to bind. Does it come easily out of the ice cube tray?
October 6, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Colloquial Cook said…
Excellent idea! Henry did a great job growing all this basil (there seems to be tons of it!)
October 7, 2009 at 3:11 AM
Anonymous said…
What an amazing idea. I have seen this trick around, but completely forget to use it!
October 7, 2009 at 11:16 PM
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