All the Best Ways to Freeze Fresh Parsley, Cilantro, Chives and Other Herbs

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If you grow an abundance of fresh herbs in the garden in summer, here’s a quick and easy way to preserve them to enjoy all year long… all without hanging them up to dry!

Put your freezer to work to keep the flavors fresh.

These are my three favorite ways to freeze all kinds of herbs, from basil and parsley to rosemary and chives.

Freezing herbs as pesto or pistou

[{"selector":"#anim-49fd42a9-35d3-4981-9544-d95189c70320","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-613ce59e-2741-4fb6-89ae-0756039cf0dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] You’re likely already familiar with pesto, and you’ve probably made plenty of it with basil. But did you know pesto (and its French cousin, pistou) can be made with almost any green herb? Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-450e4639-0819-4a43-95af-4a15ff06e01f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8183b3b-caa7-47b9-8643-40d58d5bba2f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] I like using these 1/2-cup freezer trays to store large batches of pesto, as I can pop out just the right amount for a family meal and keep the rest frozen and covered. (They make trays with smaller and larger portion sizes, too.) Learn more

Freezing herbs as ice cubes

[{"selector":"#anim-ff729566-d71e-4e3e-bed4-08152c1b2587","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eff48566-ad52-43b2-934e-c1560e8f6697","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Here’s another useful technique for freezing fresh herbs, especially if you’re freezing them to muddle or infuse intro drinks. Make ice cubes with them! Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-d35fc961-78c9-4d64-8da1-dd722dc3a993","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a837c6cd-76b9-4bc5-9af4-dc0bfd278bfd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Herbs that are frozen in water make more sense for lemon verbena, lemon balm, anise hyssop, mints, basil, and other herbs and edible flowers that you don’t plan to use in oil. Learn more

Freezing herbs in tightly packed or rolled freezer bags (or small jars)

[{"selector":"#anim-6001d4d8-d7b7-4eb7-b727-a4430cd00c24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e539cb6-76f5-41ff-b4ea-1d34e14e4348","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Herbs with sturdy leaves and stems (such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and bay) freeze well right on the stems. Learn more

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