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how to freeze basil (basil in freezer tray + bag)
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5 from 8 votes

How to Freeze Basil

Want to preserve your fresh basil to use it all year long? This tutorial will walk you through how to freeze basil leaves (alone or packed in oil).
Prep Time5 minutes
Freezing Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Yield: 1 cup basil (approx)
Calories: 1kcal
Author: Sarah Trenalone
Cost: $3 (or free from garden)

Equipment

  • baking sheet or tray
  • freezer bags
  • silicone ice cube tray (optional)

Materials

  • 1 bunch fresh basil
  • olive oil (optional)

Instructions

Prepare Basil:

  • Remove basil from stems.
    Use a salad spinner to rinse and dry basil. Alternatively, rinse the basil and set aside to dry.
    Rinse + Dry the Basil

Freeze Dry Basil Leaves:

  • Lay basil in a single layer on a baking sheet or tray. Freeze for at least 30 minutes, or until each leaf is frozen.
    Move the leaves into an airtight freezer bag.
    Pull out the amount of leaves desired as you're ready to use them. If desired, slice or break apart the frozen basil before using.
    Leave in Freezer Until Leaves Harden

Freeze Basil in Oil:

  • Thinly slice the basil.
    Thinly Slice Basil
  • Divide the basil slices into a silicone ice cube tray.
    Drizzle a little oil over each cube, and then push the leaves into the oil.
    Freeze until hardened, and then pop the basil cubes out of the tray and move into an airtight freezer bag.
    Add Basil + Oil to Silicone Tray

Notes

Recipe amounts approximate.  Yield will vary based on how much basil is used.

Nutrition

Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 42IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg