Nothing quite compares to the taste of fresh garden basil. Its aromatic flavor is a staple in Italian cooking and livens up many dishes. But basil’s growing season is short, leaving you with an abundance to preserve when harvest time arrives. Freezing basil in ice cube trays is an easy way to capture that just-picked flavor to savor all year. This article covers the simple process, plus tips for using your frozen basil cubes.
Why Freeze Basil in Ice Cube Trays?
Freezing basil in ice cube trays offers several benefits
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Convenient basil portions – Each cube provides the ideal amount for cooking No need to thaw an entire bag
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Locks in flavor – The olive oil coating prevents air exposure and oxidation. Frozen basil tastes closer to fresh vs. dried.
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Easy to use – Toss a cube straight into sauces, soups, etc. No thawing required.
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Saves space – Compact cubes take up less room compared to bags of leaves.
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Long storage life – Frozen basil cubes stay fresh up to one year in the freezer.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Freezing basil in ice cube trays takes just a few easy steps.
1. Harvest and Prep the Basil
Select fresh, perky basil leaves. Gently wash and dry the leaves thoroughly. Remove any thick stems.
2. Chop the Basil
Chop the leaves and tender stems into small pieces. This allows the basil to be evenly distributed.
3. Add Basil and Oil to Trays
Place chopped basil in each compartment of the ice cube trays. Top with olive oil to coat – about 1-2 Tbsp per cube.
4. Freeze the Basil Cubes
Put the filled trays in the freezer for several hours. Once frozen solid, transfer cubes to an airtight freezer bag.
That’s all it takes! Now you have perfect one-tablespoon portions of basil whenever you need it.
Tips for Using Frozen Basil Cubes
Frozen basil cubes add convenience to cooking. Here are some tips:
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Toss cubes into simmering pasta sauce, soup, stew, etc. near the end to retain maximum flavor.
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Add to stir fries, scrambled eggs, and sautéed veggies. The oil in the cubes helps coat the pan.
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Mix into dips, salad dressing, pasta salad, rice pilaf, and other room temperature dishes after thawing for 10-15 minutes.
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For a more intense basil flavor, defrost the cube first and pour off oil before using just the basil.
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Use within 6 months for best quality. Frozen basil cubes keep up to 1 year.
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Switch up the oil – try avocado, walnut, or infused herb oils for different flavor profiles.
Other Ways to Freeze Basil
In addition to ice cube trays, here are a couple other methods for freezing basil:
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Whole leaves – Wash, dry, and pack leaves in freezer bags in a single layer. Keeps for 2-3 months.
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Pesto – Blend basil, oil, nuts, garlic, and cheese into a paste. Freeze in bags or ice cube trays.
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Dehydrate – Dry whole leaves or chopped basil at 95°F. Store in airtight containers up to 1 year.
While nothing beats fresh, frozen basil still packs a flavor punch. Freezing it in handy ice cube trays lets you enjoy garden-fresh taste no matter the season. Give this simple tutorial a try next basil harvest!
How to Use Frozen Basil Cubes
There are a lot of different ways to use frozen basil cubes. You can add them to any dish or meal that you’d use fresh or dried basil in, such as:
- In homemade salad dressing
- Added to tomato sauce, soup, stew, casseroles, and other foods (best when added near the end, when food is almost done cooking).
- In the pan with stir-fried or sautéed vegetables I love how it makes our sautéed cabbage, green beans, bok choy, zucchini, and other garden vegetables taste.
- Put a cube in the pot with rice, quinoa, lentils, or dry beans while they are cooking.
- To use up leftover cooked pasta, cold pasta salad, or potato salad (defrosted first is best),
I usually add frozen basil cubes with olive oil right from the freezer, so I don’t have to deal with defrosting them first. This way, they melt right into the dish.
If you freeze basil cubes in water but don’t want water or oil in your dish, just put the basil cube in a small bowl or cup to thaw. Once the water or oil melts, strain it out, leaving only the basil bits.
Instructions: Freezing Basil in Ice Cube Trays
For the best results, use the freshest basil possible. Pick basil from your own garden in the cool morning when it’s at its healthiest if you want to store it. Leave cut basil stems in a glass of water until you’re ready to use them. This will keep them fresh longer.
- Take the basil leaves off the stems and pick off any flowers. Some small, soft stems are fine, but stay away from the old, tough, woody stems.
- Clean the basil leaves and let them dry at least a little. I like to soak and stir my basil in a bowl of water, then strain it through a colander and dry it in my trusty old salad spinner. You could also spread the leaves out on a clean towel and dry them by gently pressing on them.
- Next, chop the basil into fine pieces. The internet told me to chop basil in my food processor, but it didn’t work at all. It made the basil more bruised, oxidized, and mushy than anything else. Maybe your food processor will work better than ours, but for now I like to chop my basil by hand with a sharp chef’s knife.
- Use an ice cube tray of your choice to put the chopped basil into portions. Lightly pack the basil into the cubes until they are almost full to the top. Instead of too much olive oil or water, you’ll get mostly basil this way.
- Pour olive oil or water over the chopped basil until the ice cube trays are almost full. It might take a while for the thick oil to settle and soak into the basil. Top off as needed.
- Put the ice cube trays with basil in them in the freezer. Freeze for several hours or overnight, until the basil is solid.
- Lastly, put the frozen basil cubes in a freezer container that won’t let air in. This could be a ziplock bag, a reusable silicone food storage bag, or one of these strong freezer containers. If you don’t use ice cube trays, store frozen basil cubes in a sealed container. This will help keep them from freezer burn. The cubes shouldn’t stick together because they were frozen one at a time, so you can easily take one out when you need to.
How to Freeze Basil in Icecube Trays for Winter
FAQ
What is the best way to freeze fresh basil?
How long does fresh basil last in the freezer?
Can you freeze fresh herbs in ice cube trays?
Can fresh basil be vacuum sealed and frozen?
Can you freeze fresh basil in ice cube trays?
Freezing fresh basil in ice cube trays is a great way to preserve it for use during the winter months.
Can you freeze basil in ice cubes?
Yes, you can freeze basil in ice cubes. Using a spoon or small cookie scoop, fill each hole of an ice cube tray. Freeze the basil cubes until solid. Remove the cubes from the tray and place them in a ziplock freezer bag. They will keep well in the freezer for at least up to a year.
Can Basil be frozen?
Basil is easy to grow and with the help of some plastic ice cube trays, it’s easy to freeze as well. That’s literally all you need – fresh basil and ice cube trays. In this post I’ll provide step by step instructions so you too can freeze your basil. If you’ve never grown fresh basil, check out my article for how to grow your own basil at home.
How do you store frozen Basil cubes?
Finally, transfer the frozen basil cubes into an airtight freezer container, such as a ziplock bag, reusable silicone food storage bags, or these durable freezer containers. Storing frozen basil cubes in a sealed container (instead of the ice cube trays) will help prevent freezer burn.