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    Home » Easy Recipes

    How to make frozen basil cubes.

    Published: Jan 8, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Basil is an annual herb and it is very sensitive to frost. When the summer ends, it's time to preserve your basil before it freezes (and the plant dies).  I actually aim to preserve some basil earlier in the summer. These frozen basil cubes are the quickest and easiest way to preserve your extra basil.

    fresh basil in an ice cube tray with olive oil this to Pinterest
    frozen cubes of basil and olive oil

    Can you freeze basil to preserve it?

    Yes! Freezing basil is an easy way to preserve fresh basil. Not only the basil from your garden, but if you buy a bunch of fresh basil from the grocery store, this is a great way to preserve the basil you don't need right away. Using olive oil to freeze basil will keep it looking delicious and handy when making your favorite Italian dishes!

    Growing basil

    I love growing basil from seed. It's one of the easiest herbs to start and plant. When basil is happy, it produces a ton of delicious basil leaves. If this is something you are interested in, take a look at the post about Growing and Preserving Basil. This post also tells you how to oven dry basil.  Another herb that I love to oven dry is chives!

    Freezing Basil in olive oil in an ice cube tray.

    I like this method for my frozen basil cubes because it keeps the basil's bright green color. You don't need much oil and it is usually part of the recipe. The flavor of frozen basil is much more like fresh basil compared to dried basil.
    I use an ice cube tray that has a lid on it. That way it's always covered and I can always just grab a couple of cubes when I need them.

    basil leaves in olive oil in an ice cube tray with a lid

    I love these ice cube trays; they are similar and inexpensive - Ice cube trays with a lid.  Frozen basil cubes can be used in spaghetti sauce recipes and also my Easy pasta Fagioli soup

    Ingredients

    Fresh basil leaves
    extra-virgin olive oil

    And, you need an ice cube tray. Personally, I always use an ice cube tray with a lid. I like the new silicone ice cube tray. It's easier to pop out the frozen basil cubes!

    Instructions

    Clean by giving the basil a quick soak in cold water. Remove water by using a salad spinner or a good shake. Pat dry with a paper towel. Let air dry for a couple of minutes.

    basil leaves being pinches off stem

    Take the leaves off the stems. I find the easiest way is to pinch them off.

    Take about 3 or 4 leaves and roll them into a tight roll. Then using a sharp knife, cut into thin strips. The official cooking term for this style of chopping is chiffonade.

    basil leaves rolled then sliced.

    I stuff as much of the cut-up basil into the ice cube space but make sure to leave a little room for the oil. You are going to want to have the oil covering the basil so it doesn't turn black when it's frozen.

    fresh basil in an ice cube tray with olive oil

    This is what each 'cube' look like prior to freezing.  I put as much basil in as I can and I do make sure there is enough room to cover with a drizzle of olive oil.

    fresh basil in an ice cube tray with olive oil

    Below is the same tray as above but the basil and olive oil are frozen.  This way you can just pop a couple of cubes into a recipe (think pasta dishes) that calls for basil. I use these in the winter when I'm making spaghetti with meatballs, or my favorite pasta Fagioli soup.

    frozen basil and olive oil

    Just popped out a few basil cubes so you can get a good overall look at them.

    fresh basil in an ice cube tray with olive oil

    Some years I have a huge crop and I freeze more basil than I have ice cube trays for.  Just store the basil ice cubes in freezer bags and try to keep the cubes in a single layer and keep it flat in the freezer.  This makes it easier to use when you are trying to break off a cube to add to your sauces and soups.  This is my favorite way of preserving my basil plant leaves so I have the taste of fresh herbs in the winter.

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    If you are looking for directions to grow and oven dry basil leaves, look at this post - Growing, using and preserving Basil.

    FAQs

    Is this pesto?

    No, it isn't. Pesto is a mixture of basil, extra-virgin olive oil, parmesan, garlic cloves, pine nuts and sometimes parsley. Stay tuned for that recipe soon!

    Does basil preserved this way keep its fresh taste?

    It does, however you cannot use it like you would fresh basil as a garnish or in a salad. It is perfect to cook with like when making spaghetti with meatballs, or my favorite pasta Fagioli soup.

    frozen basil in olive oil

    How to Freeze Basil (with oil and in an ice cube tray)

    Freezing basil in olive oil is one of my favorite ways to preserve basil.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Calories:
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • Fresh basil leaves
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Ice cube trays.

    Instructions

    • Roll and chiffonade 3-4 leaves and place in each cube
    • Pour enough olive oil over the basil to cover.
    • Keep frozen until ready to use.  Can be popped out of the ice cube tray and kept in a freezer bag.

    Notes

    I love using ice cube trays that have lids on them!
    If you are looking for information on growing basil and drying it, take a look at this article -
    Growing, using and preserving basil
    Freezing basil cubes is also a good idea if you have extra basil from the grocery store.  It doesn't have to be from a garden!

    Please pin this to your Pinterest account!

    freezing basis in ice cube tray

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    1. Salma

      November 18, 2021 at 1:27 pm

      Hi, I was always wondering how to freeze my beautiful basil, and you just showed me how..thank very much sausan..
      Salma

      Reply

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    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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