Fresh herbs give every dish the finishing touch and provide extra flavor. However, not everyone can grow and care for culinary herbs at home, especially if you live in the city. If the herb garden is not an option, you can freeze the fresh greens and thus preserve them for longer. This is also a good idea for the winter when the herb bed is threatened with death from the cold. In the article we reveal how you can freeze fresh herbs and best preserve their aromas and taste.
Herbs are widely used in the kitchen, especially in cooking. This can be used to refine the food and add a fresh kick. However, if you don't grow the fresh herbs yourself but buy them from the market, you can't keep them for longer than a few days. Over time, they lose their freshness and flavor and begin to wilt. So that theHerbs last longeryou can freeze them.
There are three options for this: either freeze the herbs in a freezer bag, or make herb cubes with water or oil. If you put the greens fresh in the freezer, the flavors are not always fully preserved. Therefore, for some herbs it is recommended to choose one of the other methods.
olive oilis often used in cooking, so it is worth freezing various herbs in oil. The positive properties of the two products are not changed and you always have an aromatic addition to the dish at hand.
Which herbs are suitable?
Not all fresh herbs can be frozen in olive oil. The method works best for fresh spices that have hard leaves. These are, for example, rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano. As a rule, you should not freeze basil because it turns brown and loses its aroma. A suitable alternative is to use dried basil.
Herbs with softer leaves, such as mint, parsley, lemon verbena and dill, are usually added fresh to the finished dish, so they should not be frozen in oil. Instead, put these in a dry freezer bag and freeze them just like that. This way, their color and flavor can be preserved for longer.
Tip: If you often use certain herb mixtures in cooking, you can also freeze them. So they are ready for your favorite dishes at any time. However, don't forget to label each herbal blend.
Make your own aromatic herb cubes
Below we will show you how to freeze herbs and make aromatic cubes for delicious dishes yourself. Only choose fresh culinary herbs, ideally those that have been harvested straight away, and remove any brown spots if there are any.
What you need:
fresh rosemary, oregano, thyme or sage
olive oil
cling film
Ice cube tray
Here's how:
1. Wash the selected herbs, pat dry and cut into small pieces. Tip: You can freeze the rosemary in small branches.
2. Fill the ice cube trays up to 2/3 full with the herbs and cover with olive oil.
3. Cover the ice cube tray with cling film and place it in the freezer. It's best to let it freeze overnight.
4. Remove the herb cubes from the mold and store them in suitable labeled freezer bags in the freezer for up to a year.
Tip: If you prefer to cook with butter, you can also use melted butter to fill the ice cube tray instead of olive oil. Thehomemade herb butterCan be used either when cooking or as a spread after briefly thawing.
