How to Preserve Your Herbs by Freezing Them

Maybe many of you have dried your herbs before and have really enjoyed being to enjoy your herbs for a much longer time. However, there are some herbs that don't really dry very well. These types of herbs are usually high in water content. High water content herbs are basil, lemon balm, chives and mint. Many times if you try to dry these herbs they become moldy before they ever dry. In order to keep that from happening it is a better option to freeze these herbs.

When you freeze your herbs the flavor will stay locked in them for months. Frozen herbs are able to be used in the same proportion as fresh herbs.

Now let me give you some instructions on how to go about freezing your herbs. First go outside and harvest your herbs. Be sure to thoroughly wash them and pat them dry with a paper towel. Make sure that you don't rub them dry; you don't want to run of their color or their flavor. Then spread the leaves out on a cookie sheet or small tray.

The reason for wanting to spread out the leaves on a cookie sheet or tray is that they will freeze properly. If you don't use this technique your herbs will freeze up in a lump.

After you have left the herbs in the freezer long enough to freeze solid, then take them and put them in airtight containers and put them back in the freezer. At this point you will not need to worry about them sticking together.

There is another method that you can use. Like the first method harvest the herbs of your choice, wash they and pat them dry. Now get a clean ice cubeb tray and stuff two to three leaves in each opening. Pack them in well so that about have of each little cube is half full.

Now fill each tray with water and makes sure that that leaves are properly soaked in the water and carefully place the tray in the freezer. When the ice cubes are totally frozen remove them from the tray and put them into a Ziploc bag. When you are already to use your herbs all you have to do is throw the cube into what ever stew or dish you are making isn't that like the easiest thing ever?
Enjoy these two methods of freezing. These methods are so easy and will help to retain more of the herbs flavor than drying them!