How do I freeze Thai basil?
Wash & dry basil leaves. Lay out on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Freeze until firm, 12-24 hours. Transfer leaves to a freezer bag, pressing out as much air as possible.
Can Thai basil leaves be frozen?
See Recipes with Thai Basil
Basil can also be preserved in oil or frozen to maximize its shelf life. Chop fresh basil leaves and place in clean ice cub trays. Cover with oil, water, or stock and freeze. When ready to use, simply remove a few cubes and keep the rest in the freezer.
What is the best way to store Thai basil?
Store basil for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Leave it in its original plastic container or rinse the leaves, roll them up in paper towels, and place them in a resealable plastic bag for up to about 4 days.
Can you freeze dry basil?
You can dry it or freeze it, but freezing retains the fresh taste better. Before you start, wash basil in cold water and dry; a salad spinner works well for this step. To freeze your basil, pull leaves from stems.
How do you freeze basil without turning it black?
Chop and Freeze
Add a drizzle of olive oil and pulse to lightly coat the leaves with oil; this will keep the basil from turning black in the freezer. Scoop the resulting mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. Transfer the finished cubes to freezer bags and use as needed.
How do you store fresh basil long term?
Go ahead and remove the leaves from the stems. Wash and dry the leaves, using either a paper towel or a salad spinner. Wrap the basil leaves in a dry paper towel and place inside a plastic bag. Seal and store for one to two weeks.
Can you air dry fresh basil?
Yes, you can air-dry basil! The best way to do this is to wash the basil leaves, dry them with a towel, and then tie them up using their stems. Then, hang them in a cool, dry place (ideally high in your kitchen). It’ll take 4 to 5 weeks to fully air-dry though!
Can you freeze basil leaves without blanching?
To freeze basil, blanch the leaves, flash freeze them separately, then combine and freeze them long-term in an airtight, freezer-safe container. If you don’t need to preserve individual leaves, you can also freeze basil without blanching and flash freezing it, or you can freeze basil in puréed form.
How do I freeze dry basil?
Freeze basil whole leaves in these 3 easy steps:
- Blanch: Remove the basil leaves from the stem and blanch them in boiling water for 2 seconds.
- Ice bath: Transfer the leaves to an ice bath.
- Dry & freeze: Dry completely and store in a freezer-safe container, separating the layers with wax or parchment paper.
Does frozen basil taste good?
The flavor does change just a tiny amount with freezing, but it has absolutely more fresh basil taste than other method I’ve used. You might have tried freezing basil in ice cube trays filled with olive oil.