Basil greens are an aromatic, healthy and tasty spice that is often used in cooking, as an additive to sauces, meat and fish dishes, soups and side dishes. To ensure that the herb retains its freshness and original qualities for a long time, some people prefer to freeze basil in the freezer. Read on in the article about what methods of storing fragrant herbs exist, what is the shelf life of the prepared spice and what conditions need to be provided to increase the storage time.
- 5.1. Video: How to freeze GREENS FOR THE WINTER? 3 WAYS to freeze greens. Quick, easy and simple!
Method 1 - whole leaves
Basil from the market or your own garden can be stored frozen for up to a year, just before the new harvest.
How to freeze whole leaves:
- Freshly picked leaves should be washed thoroughly. Many housewives recommend soaking basil for a short time so that the water draws out as much contaminants as possible. One hour of “bathing” is enough. Miss Clean magazine recommends changing the rinsing water 2-3 times.
- Now the branches need to be dried. Place them on a tray in an even layer, turning them over periodically. You should not dry it at elevated temperatures, otherwise the basil will become fragile and will only be suitable for further drying for seasoning.
- Dried basil sometimes looks a little limp, but that's okay. Just put them in bags and tie them tightly.
- It is better to freeze fragile basil leaves in containers, placing them loosely. This way they won’t break and will look beautiful in the salad.
- If you prefer bags, take two layers so that the bright aroma of greens does not affect the neighboring products in the chamber. This measure will also protect the basil itself from the penetration of foreign odors.
- Be prepared that the greens will darken a little during storage. But if you did everything correctly, then it will remain just as fragrant and healthy.
Advice Basil cuttings should not be woody! Use only soft herbaceous ones, or do without these parts altogether. Cut leaves from the main branch using scissors. By the way, it is also more convenient to chop leaves with scissors.
Storage conditions and periods
You can keep frozen basil fresh for up to 1 year; if the method involved the use of oil, then this period is reduced. Even with careful observance of all storage standards, the spice is suitable for food for no more than one year, since in the future the herb completely loses its beneficial properties.
Attention! It is not recommended to keep frozen basil together with meat or seafood, as there is a possibility of odors being transferred.
Freezing basil for the winter, fresh or processed, is a simple process. There are many options for harvesting this spicy plant, so it’s easy to choose a method that suits you. It is impossible to single out a certain method as “the best”, since certain types of preparations are better suited to certain dishes.
The main condition that will allow you to get maximum benefit and pleasure from basil stored for the winter is compliance with the storage standards for the spice. Only in this case will frozen greens retain their original taste characteristics and beneficial properties. In particular, you should not allow frozen grass to thaw and then re-freeze it. This will completely destroy all the beneficial substances in the plant and reduce its taste.
Video: How to freeze GREENS FOR THE WINTER? 3 WAYS to freeze greens. Quick, easy and simple!
How to freeze GREENS FOR THE WINTER? 3 WAYS to freeze greens. Quick, easy and simple!
Watch this video on YouTube
Video: HOW I FREEZE BASIL FOR THE WINTER
HOW I FREEZE BASIL FOR THE WINTER
Watch this video on YouTube
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Method 2 - chopped basil
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking, then take care of the green seasoning in advance: just chop the basil leaves before storing it in the freezer.
- Prepare the greens as in the first method. Make sure the basil is completely dry.
- Cut the leaves in any convenient way, but do not overly chop them.
- Distribute into small bags, tie them as tightly as possible so that less air remains.
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Tip A day after placing the basil in the freezer, take out the bag, shake it slightly and return it to its place. Then the greens will not become crumpled.
Benefits of the plant
Basil is a storehouse of useful components. It contains vitamins C, B2, PP and A, sugar, carotene, phytoncides, P-rutin.
- It helps the immune system resist infections and is an excellent antipyretic. Some use it as a medicine against tuberculosis.
- Due to the content of certain microelements, the plant can even dissolve kidney stones. An infusion of it is taken orally for colitis, gastritis and abdominal pain.
In general, basil is a universal plant that can be grown in a personal plot or even on a window in an apartment. The range of its healing effects is very wide. But you should not overuse it. In addition to its positive qualities, the plant has some contraindications.
- Pregnant women, regardless of the period, will have to stop eating basil.
- Doctors recommend that people who have suffered a stroke or heart attack not consume the plant.
- Diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, early childhood - restrictions on the use of basil.
- The period of treatment with drugs based on this plant should not exceed 21 days. Otherwise you will get the opposite effect. Instead of benefit, the body will suffer serious harm.
- It helps the immune system resist infections and is an excellent antipyretic. Some use it as a medicine against tuberculosis.
- Due to the content of certain microelements, the plant can even dissolve kidney stones.
An infusion of it is taken orally for colitis, gastritis and abdominal pain. Basil has a lot of beneficial properties, so you should include it in your diet all year round. - Helps with toothaches, stomatitis and other unpleasant diseases. Rinsing your mouth with its infusion can destroy 99% of bacteria.
- You can get rid of headaches or migraines by eating a few basil leaves.
- It will help people with heart problems overcome bad cholesterol.
To always have fresh basil on the table, you can even plant it on the windowsill in your apartment.
Method 3 - with olive oil
Some housewives complain that basil frozen whole becomes ugly and loses its shape. There is a simple way out - make a puree from it with the addition of butter. Among the vegetable groups, the most popular are olive, sunflower and corn. Try not to use oils that are sensitive to low temperatures.
Basil puree with oil is ideal for dressing salads, as a flavorful dressing for soup, for frying, for mashed potatoes, meat and fish dishes, and even for marinade.
How to cook, recipe:
- Rinse the leaves, dry them on a waffle towel or using a hand centrifuge.
- Grind with a blender to a paste.
- Add about 1 tbsp per glass of greens. l. vegetable oil.
- Puree the mixture again for a few seconds, or simply stir with a spoon.
- Distribute into portioned ice or baking trays.
- Send for storage wrapped in two bags.
Tip: Use silicone molds - they are the most convenient for squeezing out portions of greens. From metal and plastic, you will have to pick up the freeze with a knife.
A little trick: in order not to remove the form with the preparation every time, a day after placing it in the chamber, take out the basil, free the portions and pack them in separate bags.
Method 4 - with butter
Butter is also used as a dressing. Take a product with animal fats, as spreads and mixtures with vegetable oils do not melt well and affect the taste of the products. By the way, you can add salt to the basil dressing.
Recipe:
- Melt the butter over low heat until it boils.
- Wash, dry and chop the basil leaves in any convenient way.
- Mix with butter and pour into ice cube trays or use small plastic containers.
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You can prepare supplements from both purple and green types of basil. Both are very aromatic and full of vitamins.
Finally
These were the four easiest ways to prepare delicious basil, but the housewives’ ideas don’t stop there. Some people freeze crushed leaves in water to make ice cubes. Another recipe uses meat broth instead of water. A popular method is pre-blanching. To do this, the basil is peeled and lightly doused with boiling water.
Thawing basil is as easy as freezing recipes. If you are cooking on the stove, then simply add a cube of greens to the dish. To dress a salad with whole leaves, long defrosting is also not required.
Remember that the longer basil is stored, the less vitamins it contains. Try to use the preparations before spring, and soon a new harvest of early greens will appear.
How to keep it fresh?
There are two options.
- The first one is in the refrigerator .
The prepared greens are placed in a plastic bag, closed tightly and placed in the fruit compartment. In this form, the plant can be stored for a week. - The second is in water at room temperature . Place the basil in a container with water. This container can be placed in any convenient place. It is necessary to periodically spray the greens and add evaporating water. In this way, it will be possible to preserve fresh greens for three days.
In both the first and second cases, all the beneficial properties of greenery are preserved.
