How to Freeze Basil Plants

Basil is an annual herb that is grown for its wide use in different recipes, from pesto sauce to soups. Since basil only grows during the warm weather of spring and summer you won't have any fresh basil for the winter months unless you preserve it. Freezing basil keeps it fresh all winter long and lends itself to many different recipes. You can either freeze basil whole or freeze it chopped.

Knife
Plastic bag or plastic containers
Strainer
Paper towel
2 tsp. olive oil

Instructions

- 1
  Pick the basil leaves when they are full and green. Place the leaves into the strainer and rinse them off well in your sink.
- 2
  Lay the leaves on a paper towel and pat them dry.
- 3
  Place the whole leaves into a plastic freezer bag and place them in your freezer. Put only a small number of leaves per bag so they have room to freeze.
- 4
  Chop the basil up into small pieces and mix it with 2 tsp. of olive oil for every 1/4 cup of basil. Place the mixture into a plastic container and place them into the freezer. Alternately, freeze small portions of the mixture on a tray, then put them in a plastic freezer bag to have ready-measured portions to use when cooking.

How to Pick Basil Leaves

What Fertilizers Do Basil Plants Need?

Growing Basil