Can You Freeze Fresh Thai Basil Leaves
Can You Freeze Fresh Thai Basil Leaves?
It’s possible to freeze Thai basil leaves without freezing them individually; you can simply place them straight into a freezer-safe bag to save yourself time. However, they will freeze together as a clump and are likely to rip when it comes to defrosting, so just bear this in mind if you want to freeze them quickly.
How do you freeze fresh basil leaves?
Simply chop leaves, stuff them into ice cube trays, cover with cold water, and freeze. The frozen basil bits will turn black as soon as they thaw, but they will still taste like basil. Frozen basil cigars are a great way to store basil with large leaves that can hold up to brief blanching.
Can I freeze fresh basil without blanching?
You can flat freeze basil without blanching. However, if your goal is to preserve garden fresh green basil then you should take the extra step to blanch. Fresh basil has enzymes on it that will decompose fresh plants. These enzymes will survive in the freezer and your basil will darken.
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.
Is it better to dry or freeze 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.
How long does frozen basil last?
about 4 to 6 months
Properly stored, fresh basil will maintain best quality for about 4 to 6 months in the freezer, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only – basil that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
What can I do with large amounts of basil?
Here are some other everyday ways to use it:
- Top whole leaves onto pizza.
- Finish pasta with whole or thinly sliced leaves.
- Blend it into sauces.
- Puree it into soups.
- Chop it up to add to a salad.
- Use it to garnish avocado toast.
- Turn it into an ice cream topping!
How do you 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.
Is it better to freeze or dry fresh 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 preserve basil for the winter?
Wash the leaves and dry them with a paper towel. Then gather them in bunches and wrap the stems with a twist tie. Hang them upside down for a week or two and then break the leaves off the stems into an airtight container and you will have dried basil for the winter. Basil lasts this way for about a year.
Is there a difference between basil and Thai basil?
But setting looks aside, Thai basil is spicy with an anise, or licorice-like flavor, while sweet basil has a more mild peppery and sweet taste (for reference, sweet basil is commonly used as a main ingredient in Genovese-style pesto).
What can I do with extra Thai basil?
Storage info. Thai basil is best used fresh. When you use it in recipes, harvest a few branches of the herb and then remove the leaves. If you happen to harvest too much Thai basil, you can store the cut stems in a jar in the refrigerator.
What is the best way to store fresh basil for future use?
Wrap a paper towel around the basil and place it in an airtight container or a ziplock plastic bag. Store it in the vegetable crisper alongside other salad greens. Basil should last about two weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Should you let Thai basil flower?
Check your basil plants frequently for flowers, and if you see any, pinch them off right away. If the flower stems are too woody to pinch (often the case with Thai basil), cut them off with shears. A plant allowed to flower will soon go to seed, stop growing, and die, so be vigilant about removing flowers.
Does Thai basil come back every year?
Is Thai Basil Perennial? According to seedaholic.com, Thai basil is a perennial but is usually grown as an annual. You can also continue growing Thai basil indoors all throughout the year successfully.
What is the best way to preserve Thai basil?
You can freeze it in ice cube trays or in a freezer bag. Another option is to store it with some olive oil. You can also dry it, but you’ll need to do this in a food dehydrator. If you’re growing your own Thai basil, you can also preserve it by harvesting the basil plants and hanging them upside down to dry.
What’s the difference between Thai basil and basil?
Appearance: Thai basil has purple stems, while sweet basil has green stems. The leaves of Thai basil are narrower than sweet basil leaves and have a slightly serrated edge. Sweet basil leaves also tend to be more delicate than sturdy Thai basil leaves.
How do you cut Thai basil so it keeps growing?
Thai Basil likes to be cut! You can start trimming your plants in about one month after planting. You may remove single leaves occasionally, however for more thriving growth pinching off the whole tip is recommended – it will grow two new shoots in a week. Cutting and pruning your plant will also delay its flowering.
Can Thai basil survive winter?
Basil plants are very sensitive to cold temperatures. They thrive in conditions between 72-85°F. During winter months, keep them away from drafty windows or frequently opened doors that let in cold air. Even a short dip down to 50°F will impede growth for a length of time afterward.
How do you store Thai basil long term?
Simply wash the basil leaves and dry them thoroughly. Then, place them in an ice cube tray and cover them with olive oil. Put the tray in the freezer and wait for the basil cubes to freeze solid. To use, just pop out as many cubes as you need and add them to your cooking pot or pan.
Can you use frozen Thai basil?
Thai basil can be frozen for around 6 months. People freeze Thai basil, as well as other herbs, in a variety of ways. Blanching isn’t essential but can help it to retain some of its colour and flavour. The other option is to use an ice cube tray.
