Drying oregano is the most common method of preserving the popular culinary herb. However, if you love the delicate aroma of fresh oregano, it is worth freezing part of the harvest as well. Frozen oregano tastes spicy, slightly sweet and pleasantly fresh. Unlike dried oregano, the deep-frozen herb retains its gorgeous green color.
Preparation for freezing
Cut the oregano sprigs about a hand's breadth above the ground just before or during flowering. Both the tasty leaves of oregano and the delicately colored lip blossoms are suitable for freezing.
- Wash the branches thoroughly after harvest and let them dry well.
- Only then pluck the leaves and flowers from the branches. In this way, the essential oils are preserved.
- Discard brown and damaged leaves.
- The leaves can be frozen whole or chopped, depending on your preference.
Suitable containers
Oregano is often frozen in large containers. The disadvantage of this is that it is difficult to remove the required amount of the herb. In addition, ice crystals form on the herbs, which can affect the taste, favored by the frequent opening and closing of the container.
Make your own frozen herb cubes
Therefore, freeze the oregano in individual portions in an ice cube tray. Pour a little water over the herbs so that they are just covered with liquid. Once frozen, you can stack the cubes in a larger container to save space, so you always have the right amount of oregano at hand.
Oregano intensifies its flavor when cooked. Give the herb frozen to the food and let the herb ice cube thaw directly in the food.
Please do not thaw the herb cubes before use. During this process, the liquid contained in the leaves also melts. Through this process, the plant's cell walls are destroyed and the essential oils responsible for the aromatic flavor are volatilized.
storage time
Frozen oregano should be used within a year. Since the next harvest is already in the house within this period, you can always fall back on fresh oregano from the freezer.
tips and tricks
Many kitchen herbs can be preserved by freezing. If you love herbal mixtures, you can put them together according to your personal preferences and freeze them.
SKb
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