Wild herbs are only available in nature for a limited time of the year. But then usually plenty. Those who seek and collect them with passion can prepare delicious and healthy meals. Soon or later. Wild herbs freeze well.

If you harvest too many wild herbs, you can freeze the excess

Appropriate herbs

Basically, all wild herbs can be frozen. But while some varieties survive the sub-zero temperatures well, others lose a large part of their taste and their original consistency.

Some wild herbs taste more bitter after thawing than when fresh and can greatly affect the flavor of food if not used sparingly.

Freeze excess quickly

Picked wild herbs wither quickly. If they are not intended for immediate preparation, they should be prepared promptly for another, permanent type of storage. Their valuable ingredients are largely preserved when they are frozen.

tips

Be careful when you go on a wild herb hunt for the first time. See some edible wild herbs

confusingly similar to poisonous specimens. A field guide with plenty of illustrations can be helpful.

To clean

Wild herbs that we collect for our cooking skills should grow as far away from busy roads or dog paths as possible. Nevertheless, even these specimens cannot be regarded as completely pure. Wash the wild herbs thoroughly with water. You can then free them from adhering water in a salad spinner or in an absorbent cloth.

shredding

Wild herbs do not have to be chopped up and put in the freezer. However, this can be useful if they are later used shredded anyway. For example for making green smoothies. Some wild herbs can also be better packed for the freezer when chopped up. You can even puree the wild herbs.

Different types of herbs may be frozen together if this is not opposed to later use.

packaging

Large, bulky wild herbs can be wrapped in cling film. Otherwise, any conceivable container that can withstand the cold is suitable for this type of herb.

  • freeze bag
  • freezer boxes
  • Jars with screw cap

Label

Labeling is a tedious job, but an important one. When frozen, the green wild herbs are not always easy to tell apart. The date also helps to ensure that herbs are not left in the freezer for a long time and that frozen portions are pulled out later.

Wild herbs the size of ice cubes

Small amounts of wild herbs are often added to green smoothies. They are easier to portion and remove if they are previously frozen in an ice cube tray with a little water.

durability

Frozen wild herbs can be kept for up to 12 months.

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