Fresh herbs are characterized by an intense aroma. In summer they grow more than abundantly or can be bought cheaply in the supermarket. Can this taste be saved for the winter? Is the freezer good for you?

Frozen herbs can be easily portioned in cube form

Why freeze?

A herb has grown for every dish. But as soon as the frost approaches, the herb season in the garden is over. If you don't want to do without the fine spice until spring, you have to fill your freezer with it in good time. Frozen herbs retain a large part of their ingredients and often taste better than dried herbs from the spice jar.

Appropriate herbs

The herb family in this country is huge. Typical local herbs grow harmoniously with immigrant specimens. The following well-known herbs are particularly suitable for freezing:

  • wild garlic
  • basil
  • borage
  • dill
  • coriander
  • thong
  • mint
  • burnet
  • Parsely
  • sorrel
  • chives

Oregano and thyme, which are often used in popular Mediterranean cuisine, tend to retain their intense flavor when dried.

Freshness is key

The fresher the herbs are, the higher their content of essential substances. If the herbs thrive in your garden, find out when is the best time to pick them. Don't wait too long to freeze afterwards.

prepare herbs

All herbs can be prepared for the freezer in no time. A few simple steps are enough.

  1. Wash the herbs thoroughly under running water.
  2. Dry the herbs with paper towels. A salad spinner is also ideal for this.
  3. Chop the herbs into small pieces suitable for the intended use.
  4. Portion the herbs into suitable containers or freezer bags.
  5. Immediately after labeling the containers, the herbs must be deep-frozen. The longer you wait, the more flavors will be lost.

tips

Oxygen destroys the aroma of the herbs. Therefore, squeeze the air out of the freezer bag. It's even better if you use a vacuum sealer.

Freeze herbs in ice cubes

A common method of freezing herbs is to place them in an ice cube tray with water and allow them to solidify into ice. This results in handy portions that are also easy to remove.

Use directly from the chest

Herbs do not have to be thawed before use, because the small leaf particles are quickly thawed by themselves anyway. They can be added directly to cooking dishes. It should only be noted here that some herbs do not tolerate long cooking and are only added at the end.

Shelf life of frozen herbs

Frozen herbs retain their flavor for up to 12 months in the freezer. Icy Herb Cubes should be used within 6 months. Some Mediterranean herbs take on a brownish tinge when frozen. It may look ugly, but it doesn't spoil the taste.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Herbs