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What a wonderful idea it is to preserve herbs! Not only does it keep them fresh, but they won’t need thawing. I will show you how to freeze herbs in olive oil. You will be dazzled!
Freezing herbs in olive oil is one of my favorite kitchen hacks. They come in handy whenever I need them. This is very efficient when I need an out-of-season herb. A Genius Idea!
A Clever Idea to Preserve Herbs!
When I need a certain herb, it is so easy to take it out of the freezer. Get the cube and toss it in the pan. Bam! It is ready.
What makes this hack even better is that I do not need to pour olive oil in the pan. It is already there, infused with the great flavors of fresh herbs!
Why Should You Freeze Herbs?
You will not throw away any of these fresh green herbs that you bought. You will preserve them in your fridge and save them from browning or wilting before you get the chance to use them. Therefore, you will save money and time.
In other words, you will not pay money for additional herbs when you need them. You will also save the time needed to leave your house and get the herbs that you need.
Last year, my husband planted herbs in our backyard. They looked amazingly healthy and fresh. But, I could not use them all. So, I decided to freeze them in cubes. I have actually kept the herb harvest that my dear husband has planted in my freezer fresh all year long.
Indeed, freezing herbs is a genius idea. You will have fresh herbs with intense flavor for your winter stews, soups, roasts, and potato dishes. You will also need them for salads, pastas, and even marinades.
Instead of Dying in 3 Days, Let Us Freeze them for Long!
Why Should You Use Olive Oil to Freeze Herbs?
Olive oil has a bold taste rich with olive flavor that perfectly pairs with thyme, basil, and rosemary.
It can trap the intense flavor in fresh herbs for almost a year. So, you will enjoy the same freshly-picked flavor of the herbs in your recipe.
It also prevents herbs from discoloration or getting freezer burn. Olive oil has the ability to infuse with the flavor of the herb and trap it inside for a long time.
What Herbs Can You Freeze in Olive Oil?
Let’s start by going to the grocery store. It is the day when they get all the fresh, shiny green herbs. Collect whatever you want. Make sure to choose fresh herbs, not soggy and wilted bunches.
If not for today, you will lose it later. Get some parsley, cilantro, and basil. You can also freeze that bunch of fresh thyme to use it later in December. Do not forget rosemary, dill, and mint. You never know when you will need them!
Do Not Miss these Tips!
If you do not have ice cube trays, or you are using them for ice, do not worry. You can use a cupcake tin. Then, you cover it with plastic wrap.
You can keep frozen herbs fresh all year. After you freeze the herb cubes, take them out and place them in a plastic bag for food. Then you can use a food saver. It is a vacuum pack machine to suck the air from the bag.
Use small zip-lock bags. They will make the space manageable in your freezer. Try to fill the bag to the max and let out as much air as possible before you seal it. You will save some space in your freezer.
Do not forget to label the bags of herbs. When they are frozen herbs tend to be similar. You do not want to add thyme to your Middle Eastern Chicken Kafta Burgers instead of parsley.
In the instructions, I suggested using olive oil to freeze herbs for a long time. But it is not the only way. You can choose any oil you use to cook your recipes. You can even use melted butter or ghee. But make sure to label the bags with the herb’s name and the oil that you have used.
Save Fresh Herbs!
Frequently Asked Questions
The first choice is olive oil. If for any reason you do not want to use it, you can use butter. You can melt it first and then pour it in the ice cube tray. You can also use coconut oil.
Good question! Herbs with a high level of moisture content tend to go bad quicker. You can see that spinach becomes mushy and smells bad quicker than thyme.
If your frozen herbs are in the ice tray, they may last till 3 months. If you set them in a zip lock bag and you suck the air out of the bag using a food processor, they mat last up to a year.
You can freeze herbs in water. But, you need them to thaw if you are using them fresh for salads or to garnish a dish. If you want to cook them, you need to dry them well; otherwise, they will sizzle all around if you put them in a pan. So, it is preferable to freeze in olive oil, especially since you will need oil in your recipe, ready with the herbs you are using.
How to Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil
Do you miss the smell of fresh thyme in winter? Are you fond of fresh rosemary with a slice of moist steak? Save fresh herbs in your freezer to make FRESH BASIL PESTO or to garnish Chicken and Rice Soup. Get ready!
Ingredients
- Celery
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Mint
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Clear and Easy Instructions
First, you have to wash fresh herbs under running cold water for at least 20 seconds. You can also soak them in cold water or even ice cubes for a few minutes. Then, take them out and gently shake them to remove excess water.
Leave them dry for a while or pat them dry with a towel.
Next, chop the herbs down to the size you like when using herb cubes. You can also puree them or keep the whole leaves.
Then, put chopped, pureed, or whole herbs in ice cube tray molds (silicone tray recommended). Do not overfill it to keep some space for olive oil.
After that, pour olive oil on top of the herbs. Press the herbs down to make sure they are covered with oil to prevent freezer burn.
Finally, you can leave them in the tray or you can move them into a zip-lock bag. Do not forget to label each bag with the herb inside.
Great Recipes You Should Try
- Easy Stovetop Lasagna Skillet
- Best Boiled Potatoes with Dried Herbs
- Seasoned Air Fried Rotisserie Chicken
- Lebanese Veggie Pizza (Pie)
- Viral Air Fryer Pasta Chips (with zaatar)
- BEST Fattoush Salad with Dressing
- Middle Eastern Chicken Kafta Burgers
- Creamy Brown Lentil Dahl (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
- Easy Chicken Tikka Masala with Coconut Milk
- Spicy Potato and Cilantro (Batata Harra)
How to Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil
Ingredients
- Celery
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Mint
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Instructions
- Wash fresh herbs under running cold water for at least 20 seconds. You can also soak them in cold water or even ice cubes for a few minutes. Then, take them out and gently shake them to remove excess water.
- Leave them dry for a while or pat them dry with a towel.
- Chop the herbs down to the size you like when using herb cubes. You can also puree them or keep the whole leaves.
- Put chopped, pureed, or whole herbs in ice cube tray molds (silicone tray recommended). Do not overfill it to keep some space for olive oil.
- Pour olive oil on top of the herbs. Press the herbs down to make sure they are covered with oil to prevent freezer burn.
- You can leave them in the tray or you can move them into a zip lock bag. Do not forget to label each bag with the herb inside.
