Can You Freeze Thai Basil? – How To Preserve Thai Basil In Freezer?

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Can You Freeze Thai Basil: Thai basil is a herb that is commonly used in Asian cooking and has a flavor that is a little bit hotter than that of regular basil. It is a very popular ingredient in many cuisines. But how should you store it so that it lasts through the colder months if you cultivate Thai basil at home?

Read this article to know complete information like whether you can freeze Thai Basil or not, how to freeze Thai Basil and many more.

Can You Freeze Thai Basil

Can You Freeze Thai Basil? How Long Can Thai Basil Last In The Freezer?

Yes, Thai basil can be frozen. The process of blanching isn’t required, although it can help preserve some of the food’s color and flavor. One such possibility is to make use of an ice cube tray. It is possible to store Thai basil in the freezer for approximately six months to one year.

This information is useful if you cultivate your own basil, as it is tough to grow when the weather changes during the winter.

How to Freeze Thai Basil

There are various ways to freeze Thai basil and other herbs, and the method you choose to use will depend on who you ask. Before placing the basil in the freezer, blanching it is a technique that is recommended by some individuals.

The following is a method for freezing your Thai basil, which will allow you to use it in your cooking throughout the entire year:

  • Put the Thai basil leaves in a sieve and give them a thorough washing under cold running water. The excess water should be removed from the surface of the leaves by patting them with a paper towel. Put them on clean paper towels, then put the paper towel stack on the countertop to let them air dry.
  • After they have been allowed to dry, place the leaves of your Thai basil on a sheet of greaseproof paper. Leave some distance between them so that they don’t contact one other. It’s possible that you’ll require more than one sheet of paper, depending on the leaves you’re freezing.
  • Place the leaves in the freezer for a few hours, or until they become solid. This takes approximately twelve hours on average.
  • After the initial phase of the freezing process has ended, remove the leaves from the freezer. Then place them in a bag that can be put in the freezer without being damaged.
  • After placing your leaves into the bag, make an effort to remove as much air as you can before closing it. Place the bag back in the freezer once you have written the use-by date on it (the date should be six months after the first freezing), as well as the word “Thai basil.”

How To Freeze Thai Basil by Blanching

A lot of people insist on blanching Thai basil prior to freezing it. Therefore, we have included the instructions for the process below if you decide to follow it:

  • Before drying, wash the Thai basil leaves by placing them in a strainer or colander and rinsing them thoroughly under running water. The excess water should be removed from the surface of the leaves by patting them with a paper towel once they have been moved to the paper towel.
  • Put them on clean paper towels, and then put them on the counter to dry while they are on the paper towels.
  • Start the boiling process with one bowl of water, then move on to the other bowl and fill it with ice and cold water. Put one side for now.
  • Place your cleaned and dried Thai basil leaves in a colander that can easily fit into the saucepan.
  • The basil leaves should only be submerged in the boiling water for a few seconds at the most while they are in the colander.
  • After you have submerged the basil leaves in water, you must immediately place them in an ice bath.
  • After allowing them to sit in the ice bath for a bit, you should remove them. Then carefully pat them dry to the best of your ability.
  • Place the leaves in the freezer for a few hours, or until they become solid. This takes approximately twelve hours of time on average.
  • After the initial phase of the freezing process has been finished, remove the leaves from the freezer. Then place them in a bag that can be frozen without rupturing.
  • After placing your leaves into the bag, press out as much air as possible before sealing it. After that, return the bag to the freezer and label it.
  • Place the bag back in the freezer once you have written the use-by date on it (the date should be six months after the first freezing), as well as the word “Thai basil.”

Blanching basil leaves helps to maintain their green color and prevents them from turning brown when they are stored in the freezer. However, this process requires significantly more labor than simply freezing them.

How To Freeze Thai Basil in Ice Cubes

When freezing any kind of herb, this is perhaps the most effective method that can be used. To clean and dry the Thai basil, follow the methods that were given above. After that, place the basil in an ice cube tray and fill the remaining space with either olive oil, melted butter, or even water. Freeze until solid.

Put it in the freezer, and then whenever you want a taste of Thai basil in your dish, just take out a cube of it and throw it in the pan.

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Tips for Freezing Thai Basil

Now that you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our three top tips. We strongly recommend following them when freezing Thai Basil in order to get the best results:

  • Before you freeze your Thai basil leaves, you need to make sure they are completely dry. After you have blanched the leaves, you can use a spin dryer to remove any extra liquid that is on the surface of the leaves before putting them in the freezer. Blanching the leaves first is recommended.
  • It is possible to freeze Thai basil leaves without individually freezing each leaf.
  • To save yourself some time, simply place the leaves in a bag that is appropriate for the freezer and throw the bag in the freezer. If you wish to freeze things rapidly, you need to keep in mind that they will clump together and freeze as one solid mass. This will make it more likely that they will tear when you try to defrost them.
  • You can find pre-frozen herbs like Thai basil in the majority of stores today. Although it would undoubtedly save you time, it will not be as enjoyable as cultivating your own produce and putting it up for use at other times of the year.

How To Defrost Thai Basil?

The best approach to thawing Thai basil from the freezer is to remove it the night before you intend to use it and place it in the refrigerator.

Put it in the refrigerator for a while so that it can thaw, and after that, you can use it normally. Check your recipe ahead of time because many of them will enable you to use Thai basil that has been thawed directly from the freezer. This will allow you to save yourself some time.

Can You Refreeze Thai Basil?

Yes, it is completely fine to refreeze Thai basil even if it was previously frozen and then defrosted in the refrigerator.

However, the consistency of the basil, as well as its color and general flavor, will decrease the more you freeze and thaw it. Thus, you should make an effort to take out of the freezer only the appropriate quantity on each occasion.

Does Thai Basil Freeze Well?

Yes, it is possible to successfully freeze Thai basil. Blanching the food before putting it in the freezer can help prevent the leaves from turning brown since this can happen if they are in the freezer for too long.

FAQs on Can You Freeze Thai Basil

1. How should Thai Basil ideally be stored for future use?

This is dependent on how long you intend to keep it in storage. If you only need to keep it for a few days, the refrigerator is the best place to put it. However, freezing is the only option if you need to keep it for a longer period of time than normal.

2. Can You Freeze Thai Basil That Has Not Been Opened?

Yes, you can freeze Thai basil that has not been opened. However, if you purchased Thai basil from the store, you should remove the basil from the packet before freezing it; otherwise, you will need to thaw the entire packet.

3. Can You Dry or Freeze Thai Basil?

Yes, you can freeze full basil leaves. However, if you want to keep the flavor of the basil, you should trim the leaves into smaller pieces before freezing them. This will help keep the flavor of the basil leaves intact. Put the basil leaves you to want to keep away in freezer bags or containers, and make sure to mark them with the date.

In a Nutshell

Hope this article, can you freeze Thai basil is useful for you. If you find that you have more Thai Basil than you can use at once, you can always choose to freeze it. As a consequence of this, its shelf life will be extended, and it can be consumed without risk for a period of at least half a year. To store Thai basil in your freezer for use at a later time, all you need to do is follow the instructions given above.

For more interesting articles like can you freeze lemongrass, can you freeze pesto, and many more, checkout canyoupreserve.com

 

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