Can You Freeze Fresh Herbs?

When I first started growing herbs I had more than I could imagine, and there was so much going to waste. My herbs were quickly losing their flavour. So it got me wondering. Can you freeze fresh herbs long term and which can be frozen?

Although you can freeze many fresh herbs, some of them retain their aroma and taste better than others. So, some of the most popular herbs that are suitable for freezing are (among with many others): parsley, chives, chervil, coriander, dill, basil or even mint.

But remember, when you freeze herbs, it’s recommended that you use the herbs within 6 months after having frozen them. After this time, they may begin to lose their flavor.

I’ve put together a list of fresh herbs which you can leave frozen, plus the maximum number of months you can leave them frozen for, but there are other methods of storing herbs. I’ve also added some of my personal tips to keep them fresh longer.

Without further ado, let’s get into which herbs you can freeze!

Which Fresh Herbs Can You Freeze?

There’s plenty of fresh herbs that you can freeze, but knowing which and how long you can store them for is essential to reducing how much you waste. So after I’ve grown my herbs, usually in the windowsill, I’ll then proceed to freezing them for differing amounts of time.

Bay Leaves

You can freeze bay leaves for about three months. When prepared properly, they will not lose their flavor. To preserve the herbs flavor longer, put them in a plastic container or special freezer bag and put it as deep into your freezer as you can.

Basil Leaves

You can freeze basil leaves for up to 6 months! Just remove the leaves from their stem, blanch in hot water for a few seconds then quickly transfer them for an ice bath. After that you just need to dry them and freeze in an air tight container.

Chillies

Yes, you can store chillies in the freezer. They can withstand about 4 to 6 months in the freezer without losing flavour. However, you need to ensure you freeze them at the appropriate time. This is just before the leaves are fully ripe. To prepare them for storage, you just need to cut their stalks and put them into one of your freezers compartments.

Chives

Chives are storable for about 4 to 6 months when they are frozen. However, they’ll still remain consumable and still pretty packed with flavour for a little while longer than that usually.

Cilantro

Cilantro are herbs which you can freeze too. They can last for close to 6 months in your freezer if you put them in a plastic bag.

Coriander

To freeze the coriander leaves, cut away the stalks then dispose of the stems. Then it’s best if you apply a little olive oil on the leaves to keep them from becoming too mushy. Then place them in a bag that is resealable. Put the bag in your freezer, laying flat. They can remain frozen and consumable for as long as 3 months.

Dill

All you need to do to preserve dill is to remove the stems and keep them in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer. They’ll remain fresh for up to 2 weeks while this way. However, when stored properly, they will be fine for 4-6 months.

Fennel

Fennel only lasts for 2 to 3 days whilst out on the counter, it’s far from ideal. Even in the freezer their life doesn’t get extended by much. However, if they been properly prepared for freezing, fennel can remain fresh in the freezer for an additional 7 to 12 days.

Garlic

Peeled or unpeeled, you can freeze garlic cloves in freezer bags or airtight containers. Garlic cloves can remain frozen for up to a year before they are finally used. But this isn’t a herb I usually freeze to be honest, I tend to just store them in my food cupboard and they seem to last a while there too.

Ginger

You can keep ginger fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. But if you want to store them longer, they can still be of full of flavour for up to 6 months in the freezer. To prep them, ensure you peel, mince or grate them well before freezing.

Ginseng

Ginseng are suitable for short and long-term freezing. The temperature should be in the range of 0 to -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results.

Horseradish

You can continuously keep your horseradish in the freezer for around 4-6 months when you grate it. If you do this though, it can lose a bit of its pungency. But on the flip side, it wouldn’t be safe for consumption you kept it just in the fridge for that long.

Lavendar

While dry lavender can be stored for up to 3 years, so this is a better option than freezing. If you plan on storing it frozen, you can keep this herb for around 6 months before it needs to be used.

Lemongrass

When you keep them at an appropriate freezing temperature, you can freeze lemongrass indefinitely. But they last a fair while just in your fridge. You can keep them fresh for 2 weeks by keeping them in the refrigerator.

Mint

Chop the leaves and pack them into an ice cube tray. Doing it this way means you can store them in the freezer for 3 months before use. It’s advisable to label the frozen mint with the date of the day you started freezing, as with any of the herbs.

Oregano

You can freeze oregano herbs for future use. Chop the leaves, puree them and pour around a teaspoon-full into ice cube tray compartments. Doing it this way gives you nicely portioned sized blocks of oregano that can be thrown straight into your recipes. They can remain that way for 1 year before consumption.

Parsley

You can keep parsley stored safely in the freezer for 4-6 months. However, when consistently stored at 0°F or less, you can freeze them indefinitely.

Rosemary

Rosemary can be frozen, it’s easily prepared and can be kept in your freezer for around 8 months before it will start to lose its taste.

Saffron

Saffron are fresh herbs which you can freeze too. They can last for close to a whopping 3 years in your freezer, without them changing color or losing flavor.

Sage

The sage plants are ornamental, fresh and aromatic herbs which are freezable. They tend to keep their aroma for a long time even when frozen. Just wash and dry them, remove the stems and out them in the freezer bags loosely. This way, you can freeze them for close to a year.

Thyme

When you store them appropriately, you can keep thyme leaves in the freezer for 4-6 months. But you can store them forever if you’ve got a good freezer.

Turmeric

You can keep turmeric leaves fresh in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. However, they can still be of great quality for up to 6 months in the freezer when stored appropriately in freezer bags.

Are There Other Methods Of Storing Herbs?

Whilst freezing is a simple and effective solution to storing herbs, it’s not the only way. In fact, there’s quite a few different ways for you to store your herbs. I’ve written a full guide on my personal methods for storing them for a long time, check it out here.