If you’re a fan of using basil for pesto, soups, pasta and more, then you’ll definitely want to know how to freeze basil to retain its freshness and reduce waste.

Why You Should Know How to Freeze Basil

Time-saving: By freezing it, you can save time and effort as you won’t need to go to the store or farmers market every time you need some basil.
Freshness Locked In: When freezing basil, the essential oils that give it its unique flavor and aroma are locked in, so when you thaw it out for later use, it will be just as good as when you first froze it.
Affordable: Buying fresh herbs in bulk is often cheaper than buying smaller amounts of pre-packaged herbs. This can really add up and save you money over time.

How to Freeze Basil

If the basil leaves are blanched:

Wash the basil leaves. Discard any mushy or rotten leaves.
Transfer the basil leaves to the colander. Make sure the water is already boiling.
Dip the basil leaves in the colander with the boiling water. Keep the basil leaves in for no more than 5 seconds.
Take the colander out of the boiling water. Transfer to a bowl of ice water.
Dry the basil leaves. A salad spinner is fantastic for drying the basil leaves.
Transfer the basil leaves to the parchment paper.. Make sure none of the leaves overlap.
Freeze for 12 hours. The leaves shouldn’t crystallize if you dried them properly.
Transfer to a freezer-safe bag until ready to use.

If the basil leaves are unblanched:

Wash the basil leaves. Discard any mushy or rotten leaves.
Dry the basil leaves. A salad spinner is fantastic for drying the basil leaves.
Transfer the basil leaves to the parchment paper. Make sure none of the leaves overlap.
Freeze for 12 hours. The leaves shouldn’t crystallize if you dried them properly.
Transfer to a freezer-safe bag until ready to use.

For freezing basil in oil cubes:

Wash the basil leaves. Discard any mushy or rotten leaves.
Dry the basil leaves. A salad spinner is fantastic for drying the basil leaves.
Chop up the basil leaves. Try not to chop them too small.
Transfer the chopped basil leaves to an ice cube tray. Make sure each cube has roughly the same amount.
Add the olive oil. It should fully cover the basil leaves.
Freeze until solid.

For freezing basil in water cubes:

Wash the basil leaves. Discard any mushy or rotten leaves.
Dry the basil leaves. A salad spinner is fantastic for drying the basil leaves.
Chop up the basil leaves. Try not to chop them too small.
Transfer the chopped basil leaves to an ice cube tray. Make sure each cube has roughly the same amount.
Add the water. It should fully cover the basil leaves.
Freeze until solid.

Storing and Thawing Instructions:

To store: One of the best ways to store and freeze basil is through the use of ice trays. You can use different-sized ice trays depending on what you need in your cooking.
To thaw: It’s best to let the ice cubes thaw first. Take the ice cube/s out for at least 2 hours before using.

How To Freeze Basil

If you're a fan of using basil for pesto, soups & more, then you'll definitely want to know how to freeze basil to retain its freshness & reduce waste.

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Ingredients

▢ 1 large bunch of basil

Instructions

If the basil leaves are blanched:

Wash the basil leaves.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Place the basil leaves to a colander that fits the pot.
Dip the colander into boiling water for 5 seconds.
Transfer the leaves in a bowl of ice water.
Spin the leaves dry in a salad spinner.
Lay the leaves out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Freeze for 12 hours.
Transfer the leaves quickly in a ziplock bag and keep in the frizzer until ready to use.

If the basil leaves are unblanched:

Wash the basil leaves.
Spin the leaves dry in a salad spinner.
Lay the leaves out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Freeze for 12 hours.
Transfer the leaves quickly in a ziplock bag and keep in the frizzer until ready to use.

For freezing basil in oil cubes:

Wash the basil leaves.
Spin the leaves dry in a salad spinner.
Chop the basil leaves.
Place the chopped basil in ice cube tray.
Cover with olive oil and freeze.

For freezing basil in water cubes:

Wash the basil leaves.
Spin the leaves dry in a salad spinner.
Chop the basil leaves.
Place the basil in ice cube tray.
Cover with water and freeze.

Notes

Avoid using wilted or damaged basil leaves.
For the most vibrant color, blanched basil leaves are the best.
Unblanched basil leaves will be slightly darker in color.
Remove excess moisture from the basil leaves before freezing to prevent ice crystals from forming.
Label the container with the date of freezing to keep track of its freshness.