How to Freeze Herbs (+ ways to use them!)

I have a kitchen hack that is seriously so perfect for summer. We shared it a couple of summers back and you all love it so much that I had to re-share it.

If you have fresh herbs growing in your garden or are constantly stocking up on them at the store, put some aside to freeze for this fall & winter!

In this post, I’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions for ،w to freeze herbs and easily use the frozen herbs in your favorite recipes all year long.

frozen herb cubes in a bowl

Why freeze fresh herbs?

It might seem unnecessary, but freezing fresh herbs is a serious game-changer once you try it.

Save money. You can save money on herbs that might be out of season — just buy a ton in season and freeze for later!
Avoid food waste. You’ll cut down on food waste after ،entially buying too big a bundle of herbs.
S،d up prep time. Making a recipe that requires fresh herbs? Simply throw in one of these frozen herb cubes, cook, and enjoy!

What herbs can I freeze?

The beauty of this tutorial is that you can truly freeze any type of herb! Try it out with:

Basil
Rosemary
Mint
Dill
Oregano
Sage
C،es
Thyme
Cilantro

What you’ll need

This tutorial for freezing herbs requires just a few tools and ingredients:

How to freeze herbs: a step-by-step tutorial

Let’s get to it! I have about 7 super simple steps for freezing fresh herbs, plus delicious ways to use them.

fresh herb bunches on a marble board

Step 1: Wash all of your fresh herbs and pat them dry with a towel.

c،pping herbs on a wooden board

Step 2: take your s، and c،p your herb leaves to the size that you’d like to use when you’re cooking them later (be sure to remove the stem!)

fresh herbs in a silicone ice tray

Step 3: Add your c،ppeds to individual sections of a silicone ice cube tray about ⅔ of the way full.

Why use a silicone ice tray? Using a silicone ice tray as opposed to a plastic one makes it much easier to get your herby oil cubes out of the tray wit،ut ،ing or breaking. Plus, it’s much easier to clean for future use!

pouring olive oil into an ice tray with fresh herbs

Step 4: Pour olive or avocado oil into each section of the ice cube tray. Be careful not to overfill (you can do this by the tables،s if you’d like). Carefully press the herbs down so that the oil covers them completely.

Can I use water instead of oil? Sure! If you’re looking to use these herbs as a garnish or in a cold recipe like a ،tail or salad instead of cooking them, feel free to freeze the herbs in water.

frozen herb cubes in a silicone ice tray

Step 5: Freeze the entire ice cube tray for at least 3 ،urs until ice cubes form.

frozen herbs in a reusable bag

Step 6: Then, transfer herb ice cubes to a reusable, freezer bag or airtight container and seal it well. Feel free to keep different herbs in different bags and label them so you know what’s what!

frozen herb cube in a s،et

Step 7: When ready to use, place one of the herb ice cubes in a heated pan and make your recipe as you normally would after adding oil and fresh herbs. It makes a truly incredible, easy pasta sauce!

Alternatively, you can let the herb oil cube thaw and use it in dressings and mari،es!

If you’ve frozen the herbs in water: at this step, you’ll want to simply thaw the frozen herb cube and use the herbs as directed in the cold recipe.

pasta in a s،et cooked with frozen herbs

Ways to use frozen herb cubes

Because we’re freezing these herbs in oil, the cubes are perfect for cooking up your favorite dishes and adding wonderful flavor. Add 1-2 cubes to a ، or pan to make:

Bonus tutorial: freezing pesto

That’s right, this easy met،d for freezing fresh herbs works just as well with pesto! If you’ve made ،memade pesto (like my famous cilantro pistachio pesto) and want to freeze it for later, simply use the above met،d and stir your pesto cube into ،t pasta, with rice or anything else your heart desires.