3 Ways to Freeze Basil

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3 Ways to Freeze Basil
3 Ways to Freeze Basil

Video: 3 Ways to Freeze Basil

Video: 3 Ways to Freeze Basil
Video: 2-Ingredient Truffles! tutorial #Shorts 2024, March
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Basil leaves are famous for their medicinal properties as well as their culinary properties. Basil is a rich source of nutrients and is a great addition to a variety of dishes. You can freeze fresh basil and have it handy for your favorite recipes year-round.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Freezing Puree Basil

Freeze Basil Step 1
Freeze Basil Step 1

Step 1. Pluck or cut stems from each basil leaf and discard

You won't need them. If you harvest basil from your garden during the middle of the growing season, cut or break 13 or 15 cm for some stems and leaves to keep maturing.

Freeze Basil Step 2
Freeze Basil Step 2

Step 2. Wash the basil under cold, running water

You can also put it in a bowl of cold water and let it soak. Drain the water from the basil. Put it in a colander and let it drain completely.

Gently press the drained basil with paper towels. Basil is brittle, so press the leaves gently or let them rest between paper towels until they are dry

Freeze Basil Step 3
Freeze Basil Step 3

Step 3. Place one or two handfuls of basil in your food processor

Fill the food processor bowl, but don't put the sheets too tightly together.

Freeze Basil Step 4
Freeze Basil Step 4

Step 4. Use the "pulse" button to chop the basil

This will result in chopped leaves; if you want to make a folder, use your equipment manufacturer's suggested settings. This should only take a few seconds. The finer you want the basil, the longer you have to process it.

Freeze Basil Step 5
Freeze Basil Step 5

Step 5. Spread olive oil over the basil as you process it

Olive oil keeps the basil from turning dark when it's frozen and makes it taste better. You should use about two to three tablespoons of oil for every handful of basil. Using olive oil is optional. If you don't want to, but still freeze the basil in ice cube trays, you can add enough water to make a paste in the food processor.

Freeze Basil Step 6
Freeze Basil Step 6

Step 6. Spoon the chopped basil into ice cube pots or trays in the freezer

If using ice cube trays, you can transfer the basil cubes to larger containers after freezing them for 12 hours.

Freeze Basil Step 7
Freeze Basil Step 7

Step 7. Use the frozen basil

You can leave them in the freezer for months and take them out and use them for recipes whenever you like, especially in the winter months. They will detach from each other easily, so you won't have to separate them. If you're putting them on a hot plate, then just throw in the frozen leaves and wait for them to thaw.

If you have a lot of frozen basil, give some to your friends -- they'll love you for it

Method 2 of 3: Freezing fresh basil

Freeze Basil Step 8
Freeze Basil Step 8

Step 1. Remove all leaves from the stems

You can cut or tear them off.

Freeze Basil Step 9
Freeze Basil Step 9

Step 2. Wash the leaves well in cold water

Use a salad mixer for more effective work. If you don't have one, wash the leaves in a basin and use paper towels to dry them.

Blanch Beans Step 4
Blanch Beans Step 4

Step 3. Put some ice in a bowl of cold water

Freeze Basil Step 11
Freeze Basil Step 11

Step 4. Boil a pot of water

It should be big enough to support the basil leaves.

Freeze Basil Step 12
Freeze Basil Step 12

Step 5. Add the basil leaves to the water and blanch for five to ten seconds

Be very careful to make sure you don't scald them any longer. Move the pan to a different burner to cool down as quickly as possible.

Freeze Basil Step 13
Freeze Basil Step 13

Step 6. Place the leaves in ice water using a slotted spoon

Do this as soon as possible so the basil stops cooking.

Freeze Basil Step 14
Freeze Basil Step 14

Step 7. Place the sheets on a paper towel

This is the part that takes the most time, so be patient. Simply use your hands to place each sheet individually, then use a paper towel to dry them. You can also let them dry naturally for five to ten minutes if you like.

Freeze Basil Step 15
Freeze Basil Step 15

Step 8. Place leaves on baking sheets or plates

Place them individually so they don't touch each other too much. More than one container may be needed.

Freeze Basil Step 16
Freeze Basil Step 16

Step 9. Freeze the sheets

Place the pans in the freezer and wait until they are completely frozen. Then remove them from the freezer.

Freeze Basil Step 17
Freeze Basil Step 17

Step 10. Place the leaves in a container

You can use a zip-lock bag, Tupperware, an empty milk carton, or other container that can seal easily.

Method 3 of 3: Freezing Fresh Basil Quickly

Freeze Basil Step 18
Freeze Basil Step 18

Step 1. Cut the leaves off the stems

Freeze Basil Step 19
Freeze Basil Step 19

Step 2. Wash the sheets well

Freeze Basil Step 20
Freeze Basil Step 20

Step 3. Spread them out on a surface and let them dry for at least 30 minutes

You can use your own sink, a baking sheet or a plate. As stated earlier, you can also use a paper towel to speed up this process.

Freeze Basil Step 21
Freeze Basil Step 21

Step 4. Place the basil in a storage bag

You can layer them loosely, making sure they're completely dry so they don't stick together. A zip-lock bag, Tupperware, or any zippered container will do.

Tips

  • You can use a finer setting on your food processor if you want to make a basil paste, which can be frozen and used as a sauce. When it reaches the desired consistency, simply place the dough in a sealed plastic bag and place it in your freezer. You can break any size of frozen basil when you want to make the sauce.
  • Ice trays work great for frozen basil; each cube is about a tablespoon (15 ml). This gives you the right amount when making sauces and soups. (If the recipe calls for three tablespoons (45 ml) of basil, simply place three cubes in the pan.)
  • Use about three tablespoons (45 ml) of oil for every handful of basil you put in the food processor.
  • Freezing whole or chopped basil is quicker by placing it with water inside the ice trays. The leaves will be dark after freezing, but will still be tasty.

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