How to Freeze Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil
I love using fresh herbs in my recipes. But sometimes it’s just not easy or practical to have them on hand when you want them. I use cilantro, garlic and basil a lot for salsa, homemade pizza and pastas. So to be able to quickly grab fresh herbs when I want them I freeze fresh herbs in olive oil. You can have that fresh flavor ready to grab for your favorite dishes.
Why Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil?
Freezing herbs in olive oil serves a dual purpose. Not only does it preserve the herbs for future use, but it also infuses the oil with their essence, creating a convenient and flavorful ingredient for cooking. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to prevent herbs from wilting or going bad before you have a chance to enjoy them.
What You’ll Need:
- Fresh herbs of your choice (cilantro, garlic, basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, etc.)
- High-quality olive oil
- Ice cube trays or silicone molds
- Freezer-safe storage bags or containers
Step-by-Step Guide:
Let me share with you how I do it.
Chop up your fresh herbs. I went with basil, garlic and cilantro… ones I use all the time!
Fill your ice cube trays with your fresh, chopped herbs. Place about 1 tablespoon in each ice cube tray section.
Add your favorite olive oil, filling to almost the top of each section.
Gently press the herbs into each section.
Once filled, place your ice cube tray into the freezer. The fresh herbs will freeze up in about 4-6 hours.
Once frozen you can pop out your frozen herbs.
Perfect to grab out of your freezer and pop into your next recipe.
I pop mine out and then store them in a freezer bag in the freezer until I need them.
It is so handy to have your herbs ready. I can chop up a few bunches at a time and then freeze and have them ready for when I need one for a dinner recipe.
I love having fresh herbs in my home too. Like my idea below… but certain times of the year they don’t grow as much and having some in the freezer is a huge time saver.
I love this idea. I’m a big fan of batching up recipes and freezing but have never thought of stocking up the ingredients.
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Awesome idea, will have to try this myself.
Oh, this is a really great idea, pinning for future reference!
If you can, come and join The Really Crafty Link Party and share this there too!
My herbs are growing like crazy right now – definitely need to use this method to have some fresh herbs later on!
Hi! I’ve never tried this so was wondering how to use these frozen herb cubes in a recipe calling for fresh ….basil, let’s say? Do you thaw the cube and drain the oil? Thanks.
Lori, this won’t work for any recipe. But it’s great is pasta recipes…. I use it for my salsa with the frozen cilantro, etc. If it’s calling for fresh basil, like on top of the dish, this won’t work.