How to Freeze Herbs In Ice Cube Trays & Save On Food Waste

If you’re looking to learn how to freeze herbs in ice cube trays, you’re in the right place! Frozen herbs are extremely convenient to throw have on hand for whenever a recipe calls for them. Plus, they allow you to skip the stress of having fresh herbs on hand, worrying about rushing to use them before they go bad. Here’s exactly how to do it.

Why learn how to freeze herbs?

Much of the herbs we get at the grocery store are packaged in plastic. Dried herbs come in plastic containers, wet herbs come in squeeze tubes, and some fresh herbs even come in pre-packed plastic bags. When you learn how to freeze herbs, you can skip all the plastic and enjoy herbs whenever you want! You can feel the added bonus of the joy of saving your homegrown plants while they are fresh and ready for picking.

Then there’s the food waste to consider. Americans waste 103 million tons of food each year. That works out to about 1 pound per person, per day. In the UK, the food industry alone wastes 3.6 million tons yearly. 

That food waste ends up in the landfill, where it rots and releases methane. Methane is 28 to 36 times more potent than carbon, so it’s even worse for our planet. 

Apart from that, there’s the energy it requires to produce and ship that food – all of it gone to waste when we throw it away. By preserving your fresh herbs in the freezer, you can avoid adding to this waste.

How to freeze herbs in ice cube trays

You will need:

• 2 cups of fresh herbs of your choice (basil, cilantro, dill, etc.)

*Pro-tip: When picking up fresh herbs at the store, bring your own produce bag to avoid plastic.

• Ice cube tray – silicone works best
• Olive oil (optional)

Method:

1. Rinse the fresh herbs and pat dry with a dishcloth
2. Chop the herbs as finely as you desire
3. Add the chopped herbs to the ice cube tray, filling each well about ¾ full
4. Cover each well with water or olive oil – just enough so that they are completely covered
5. Freeze for at least three hours
6. Store in a reusable silicone bag like this one

To use:

• If you use water, place the frozen herb cube in a small bowl a couple of hours before you want to use it. Allow it to thaw and use as normal. You can also add this cube directly to anything warm that you’re cooking, just be sure to have something already in the pan so the herbs don’t burn and stick to the pan.
• If you used oil to make the cubes, throw one into any hot dish as needed, no need to thaw. 
• Both options are great for homemade salad dressings.

Now that you know how to freeze herbs, leave a comment below and let me know what you’ll use yours for! For more plastic free kitchen inspiration, check out my blog here!

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