Did you know you can harvest and freeze your own herbs?
You have planted an herb garden, watered it, and watched for the seed to break their way through the earth. You have wished for rain, wished for sun, celebrated when the leaves formed on the herb plants and they flourished under your tender care. Now the beauty of the herb plants and the delightful aroma of the herbs surround you. It is time to harvest what you have sown….and….preserve the fruits of your labor.
Freezing garden herbs is a quick and easy method of preserving herbs for future use. Drying herbs with low moisture content, such as parsley, cilantro or dill, is an efficient method of preserving herbs but for some herbs with higher moisture content, such as basil or mint, freezing may be a more optimal solution for preservation. Dried herbs are more concentrated in flavor and adjustments in portions should be made when substituting dried herbs for fresh herbs in recipes. However, frozen herbs may be substituted for fresh herbs in the same portion as the recipe dictates.
To freeze garden herbs once they have been harvested, place the herbs in a bowl of clean water in which 2 tablespoons of water have been added. The salt will remove any insects without damaging the plant. Let soak for about 5 minutes. Remove any remaining water from the herb by patting dry with paper towels or spinning in a salad spinner.  When excess water has been removed from the herb, space the herbs on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, allowing plenty of room so they are not touching. Place the sheet in the freezer until frozen solid. When the herbs are frozen, store in a plastic storage bag in the freezer. Freezing in this method will allow the herbs to remain separated for easy measuring. Herbs may also be placed in ice cube trays, covered with water and frozen into cubes. This is a great method for adding herbs to soups or stews, just drop an “herb cube” into the pot!
Each type of herb will have its own best method of preservation, whether it be drying, freezing or preserving in vinegar, salt or oil. Research the specific type of herb you are preserving to ensure correct preservation method that will produce the best results for those precious herbs you nurtured and cultivated all summer long – and enjoy your harvest on a cold winter day!
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