Basil leaves have been an important part of culture in and outside food all around the world. Be it its use as a medicinal herb in the East or its popularity in pasta and pizzas in the West, we are often in need of its green leaves.
Despite being quite popular, you might not find fresh basil throughout the year. So it is a smart idea to freeze basil if you want to enjoy them all year. Here, you will learn the ways to freeze basil leaves so that you have a fresh batch every time you need one.
Can You Freeze Basil Leaves
People might think that they cannot store basil leaves in the long run. They are mostly available throughout the year. Answering the question of whether you can freeze the leaves or not. The answer is definitely yes. They can be kept in the freezer for a long time. The basil leaves are known to smell fresh throughout the season.
When kept in the freezer, these medicinal herbs might lose their authentic natural smell. But they can be kept in plastic bags or airtight containers. If preserved properly, they can be stored for a long time.
They are rich in moisture. So, it is not an ideal choice to dry them out. Better to keep them in the freezer. Make sure you retain the color by storing them in the right way.
You can freeze the plants by plucking the leaves or even you can make the paste. The blended basil leaves can be kept in an airtight container. The leaves need to pluck green and avoid drying. The green basils can be stored for a long time.
How to Freeze Basil Leaves
As mentioned earlier, freezing basil leaves is very easy. The leaves do not require a large space or more time. The basil leaves can be prepared in a short time to keep in the freezer. The first thing you have to be aware of is to pluck them green.
The most common ways of freezing the basil leaves have been listed here. You can go through them in detail.
1. Harvesting
You would not think about the other steps of freezing the basil leaves without harvesting them. You don't have to be an expert in harvesting. Just grow the plant and harvest it in your home. People are seen utilizing the kitchen garden or flower garden to plant them.
It is suggested to harvest them in the morning time. This will give you the sweetest leaves. Water the plant regularly which will make them fresh and green throughout the year. After they start getting dry, pluck them out and plant the new ones.
Trimming the basil leaves will help them to grow faster. These plants are mostly available in the summer. So, you should always trim them in the summer and freeze them for winter. When the basil leaves are trimmed properly, they will grow better.
You can keep the trimmed basils in the freezer for a long time. This will help you to consume them throughout the season. Don't worry you don't have to be a professional trimmer to cut the basils. But remember that the more you trim them, the more they will grow.
After trimming the leaves don't make a mistake by throwing them. If you do so you are throwing away your food seasonings. Wash the basil leaves properly and let them dry for a few minutes or hours. The leaves are already rich in moisture. So, it is suggested not to freeze them wet. When the leaves with water are stored then they can be degraded in a short time.
Wash them with clean water and dry them. However, it is not recommended to freeze the completely dried leaves. Just make the green and fresh leaves free from water and freeze them.
You can cut the basil leaves of your preferred size. It is easy to use the food processor. People these days find it easy to blend them into the mixture. Small leaves or pastes can be properly stored in the ice cubes. However, cutting the leaves or not is completely your choice. The basil leaves naturally are small in size.
It is always recommended to use the olive oil. Adiing it will prevent the basil leaves from being black. The leaves should always be fresh and green. When they turn black in color they will lose their natural fragrance. Why not put a healthy oil to retain the color? You can enjoy the natural taste throughout the year.
Olive oil doesn't harm like other oils consuming high amount of fats. So, do not hesitate to use them. You can put them in an ice cube or air-tight container before freezing them. While you chop them in the food processor, it is better to put 2 to 3 spoons of olive oil.
You now have to put the chopped or the collected basil leaves in the containers. If ice cubes are preferred then they will also work well. Make sure to use an airtight container. This will not allow the air to pass inside. It will protect the leaves from being damaged. The basil leaves can be kept in plastic bags as well. Again, it is your choice to choose the containers or plastic bags.
But make sure the leaves freeze for a long time. The color of the basil leaves shouldn't be changed. Degraded leaves will make your whole kitchen smell bad. They will affect the overall fragrance of the freezer too.
It is now the time to free the basil leaves in the container or plastic bags. Make sure to freeze them in the right way. If you are using ice cubes then clean them properly before using. The leftovers in the ice cubes may affect the fragrance of the leaves. Also, clean the plastic bags.
The basil leaves are frozen to use them in the long run. When they are stored in the freezer they can be used for several purposes. There are many reasons to preserve them.
Extend the Life
The main reason for storing the basil leaves is to keep them safe for the future. When kept in the freezer, the life of these leaves will be increased. They should be kept in the freezer bags or airtight containers.
If the freezing process is not followed properly, then might be degraded. So, you need to follow the right process of freezing them.
The basil leaves can be stored in ice cube trays. This saves the space in the freezer. These trays are already there in the freezer. So, they don't take much of your freezer space.
You wouldn't be surprised to see the green ice cubes in your refrigerator. These cubes can also be used for medicinal purposes. When used in the right way they can be stored in the freezer without disputing their space.
Versatile
The basil leaves can be used for different purposes. They are the most versatile holy plant. The medicinal plant is used to cure many stomach and other diseases. All of us want to look good right? So, you shouldn't be surprised to see the positive effect of these leaves on your skin care.
Basil leaves have anti-aging qualities. They are rich in antioxidants which help to prevent different skin problems. The frozen basils can be used as a cleanser. The cleansing effect of these helps to prevent acne and other scars. After hearing this, you must want to try it as your skincare routine right?
Easy to Use
You would definitely want to know the use of frozen basil leaves. The best part about freezing these leaves is they can be directly used. People can use the frozen basils from ice trays while cooking food. They do not necessarily have to be thawed. The cold and frozen cubes can simply be put in your food.
The dried basils are not tasty. They don't even smell good. So, it is recommended to use the fresh or frozen basil leaves. All you have to do is to keep the fresh green leaves or blend them. Blending is the easiest option. You would definitely rush and store basils after reading this article.
Easily Available
People don't even have to go far away to collect the basil leaves. They are easily available in homes and kitchen gardens. Why not store them if you can collect them nearby? After collecting the leaves freeze them. You will be able to enjoy the amazing basil every time of the year.
If it is available at your own home, then collect them fresh. Instead of waiting for them to become dry, collect the fresh green leaves. Store them in the freezer. This will allow you to enjoy the freshness and health benefits of the leaves all year round. Why fear when the medicinal herb is easily accessible to you?
How Long Do Frozen Basil Leaves last
Basil leaves are the green plants. They are different from that of other fruits and vegetables. People do not think of freezing them. But to everyone's surprise, they can be frozen. The leaves can be kept in the freezer during winter. This is mainly available in abundant amounts in summer. So, freezing them for winter will help to enjoy them throughout the year.
Simply freezing anything and storing them doesn't work. You must be aware of the time and quantity to freeze. The basil leaves are mainly recommended to freeze for 3 months. There is a high chance of them being black in the long run. So, better to freeze them for three or less than three months.
It doesn't take much time to harvest. So, instead of freezing them for a long time, grow them in summer. You can enjoy the fresh leaves. If stored for a long time, the leaves might have mold in them. This is not healthy for anyone.
Reheating the Frozen Basil Leaves
The basil leaves do not have hard and fast rules for reheating. You can reheat the ice cubes and use them in different food items. Just take them out of the freezer and let them defrost. It was said earlier in the article, that you freeze both the chopped and whole basils. The thawing time also depends upon the size and quantity of basils.
The leaves coated in olive oil will take longer to defrost than the whole basils. This might take around 10 to 15 minutes. If you want to reheat them then reheat for 2 to 3 minutes. However, it is not mandatory to boil and steam them.
They do not require a long process to thaw. Basil leaves can be consumed directly. These frozen leaves can be directly poured into the soups as they are already very hot. If required you can take your own time and ideas to defrost them.
What to Make With Frozen Basil Leaves
Basil leaves are versatile herbs. They are used for different purposes. You can cook different food items by using these leaves. These leaves sometimes work as the seasoning and toppings. The medical plant is used to make healthy food items.
When frozen they can be consumed as ice cubes. After thawing them, these leaves can be used in a side dish as well as a main course. Here are some of the serving suggestions for you all. You would definitely want to follow these food recipes.
Who doesn't love butter? This milk-based product has caught the attention of people all over the world. People have become very health conscious. They want the best food to be on their plates. Some might not want to have butter thinking they contain more fats.
But basil butter is the healthiest choice for all. The green butter is fresh and healthy. You can add the garlic, chop the basil leaves, and use other seasoning such as pepper and salt. This will enhance the flavor. Your basil butter can be served with slices of bread and other food choices.
Can a cake be healthy? the answer is yes. It is up to you what type of cake you prefer to have. Basil leaves can be blended and baked properly to have a healthy cake. The leaves go well with mint. Both of these leaves look similar but they are different in taste. The mint and the basil leaves complement each other perfectly.
Basil mint cake is the healthiest choice to celebrate any occasion. You don't have to fear about being sick. Enjoy the tasty and healthy cake with your family and friends.
