Can You Freeze Thai Basil?

Last updated on September 18th, 2022 at 01:00 pm

You most likely heard of basil. It is used to season foods and give them flavor. But did you know that there are several types of basil? 

One of these types is Thai basil. This basil comes from Southeast Asia, featuring a purple stem and small sturdy leaves with serrated edges. Thai basil is a great addition to many foods with its slightly spicy and licorice-like taste. 

This kind of basil adds a kick to recipes that regular basil doesn’t. Let’s say you are making an Asian dish and need that flavorful kick to complete your recipe. You use some Thai basil and enjoy the delicious food. 

Now, let’s say you have some left over. Not wanting it to go bad, you wonder how you can preserve the leaves. Can you freeze Thai basil?

By storing properly, you can freeze Thai basil to save it for later. The herb freezes well and usually lasts for about 6 months in the freezer. If you want to use Thai basil later on in recipes and dishes, you can store it in the freezer.

The article, Can You Freeze Thai Basil? gives some good advice about freezing Thai basil by stating,“…we strongly recommend following when freezing Thai basil to have the best results:…Thoroughly Dry – You need to ensure your Thai basil leaves are dry before freezing. If you blanch your leaves beforehand, you can use a spin dryer to remove excess liquid from the surface of the leaves before placing them in the freezer…Freeze Instantly – It’s possible to freeze Thai basil leaves without freezing them individually; you can simply place them straight into a freezer-safe bag to save yourself time. However, they will freeze together as a clump and are likely to rip when it comes to defrosting, so just bear this in mind if you want to freeze them quickly…”

You can freeze Thai basil for future use. There are actually several ways you can go about freezing these herbal leaves. You can balance them, flash freeze them, or just put them right into a freezer bag to store in the freezer. 

The frigid temperatures of the freezer will keep the Thai basil leaves good for whenever you want to use them later on. However you freeze basil, you should always wash and dry it beforehand and also label the bag or container they will be frozen in with the date. 

This helps you to know when you can use them because Thai basil lasts for about 6 months in the freezer. So, yes, you can freeze Thai basil to save it for later.

How Do You Store Thai Basil In The Freezer?

Thai basil gives your recipe an extra kick. Unfortunately this herb will only last for about a week when stored in the fridge. But, it can last for weeks up to months in the freezer. 

If you have some basil that you want to last long-term, how do you store Thai basil in the freezer?

Storing Thai basil in the freezer is simple and easy to do by following certain steps. Start by flash freezing the basil and then transfer the leaves over to a freezer bag. Be sure to label the bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Before you begin preparing the leaves for freezing, always wash and dry them. Let’s start with blanching. For this method, you will want to immerse the leaves in boiling water for a few seconds and then transfer them to a bowl of ice water for a quick dip.

This helps to preserve the Thai basil. 

Then strain and lay the leaves out on a cookie sheet to flash freeze until they are firm. After they are frozen, transfer them into a freezer bag and store. 

However, you don’t even have to blanch the leaves. You can skip the blanching and just flash freeze the leaves and put them in a freezer bad for storage. You can even skip the flash freezing as well and go straight to putting the leaves into freezer bags (removing as much air as you can) to freeze.

Another way to freeze Thai basil leaves is to roll them in a paper towel and put them into a freezer bag to store while removing as much air as possible. You can also chop and coat the leaves in oil before freezing them. Place these in a mason jar to store. 

Dividing the leaves up into ice cube tray sections is another option. Add water or broth to cover the leaves and freeze until frozen. Then you transfer them to a freezer bag. 

Whichever way you choose to freeze your Thai basil, be sure to label the bag or container with the current date so you know when you put them in the freezer and when you need to use them. 

Frozen Thai basil will last for about 6 months in the freezer. 

How Do You Preserve Thai Basil Leaves?

I already mentioned freezing Thai basil leaves and this is perhaps the best way to preserve the herb. Still, there are other ways to keep the leaves good for longer. 

So, how do you preserve Thai basil leaves?

You can preserve Thai basil leaves by freezing them or drying them out. Frozen leaves will last for about 6 months while dried leaves can last for up to 2 to 3 years. If you want to preserve Thai basil leaves these are the two best options.

Preserve Thai basil leaves by freezing them using some of the steps mentored earlier in this article. Frozen basil cubes are great for adding to recipes. 

You can also dry Thai basil leaves. Just remove the leaves from the stem, wash, and pat dry with a paper towel. Get your oven preheated to the lowest temperature and place the basil leaves in the oven in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake the leaves for 2 to 4 hours until they are completely dried and crumbly and then store them in an airtight container or jar. 

You can also make a basil vinegar to preserve basil. This is a great way to make some dressing as well. Thai basil typically lasts for about a week in the fridge. To preserve for longer, try these tips out and keep your Thai basil good for weeks, months, or years.

On the subject of preserving Thai basil, one way you can keep it good for 3 weeks on your kitchen counter is by storing it in water. 

According to Street Smart Kitchen, “…Find a reasonably tall container, such as a jar or a small vase if you happen to have in hand…Add some water in…Gently stick the basil into the water. Arrange it as if you arrange a bunch of flowers. Make sure the stems are covered by the water but not the leaves. Tear off some leaves near the end if necessary…Loosely cover the leaves by a big plastic bag from the top to keep moisture stay in…To use this method, keep it on your kitchen counter out of the sun so that you won’t forget about it. I changed the water once a week. It might or might not be necessary but I just like to keep things clean.” 

Final Thoughts

As we conclude, know that you can freeze Thai basil. It freezes well and will stay good for weeks up to months when frozen properly. 

There are many ways to preserve the leaves so go with whatever option works best for you and keep it good for longer. This herb adds a kick to your recipes and is great to have on hand but doesn’t last too long in the fridge. 

If you want to save it for later, you can freeze Thai basil.