Freezing Basil

How to freeze fresh basil. A great alternative to drying it. 

 

Start with fresh basil picked off the stems and rinsed. 

Then cram it in a food processor or blender.  I use a mini chopper because I make small batches. 

Start chopping/blending it and add a little water.  I used about a Tbsp, but of course you would need more depending on how much you are making.

 

 

 

Then continue to blend until you have a fairly mushy mixture.

 

 

 

Separate the mixture (with all water) into freezer cubes and freeze.

Once frozen put them in a freezer bag to store until you need them.

 

 

 

This is the basil and a couple of lime juice cubes that I did you same way before the lime spoiled.  As you can see, this can be done with many foods and is a great way to keep things that would spoil otherwise.  When you are ready to make marinara sauce or pesto, just take the cubes out and cook or thaw them and you're ready to go with "fresh" basil!