I have a bunch of fresh cilantro that I'm not using soon. Can I freeze it? Will it be okay when I thaw it out?
2006-07-24 12:42:20 · 11 answers · asked by Jujubee 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
It is fine to freeze Cilantro - but first you should wash and separate the leaves.
Wash and dry the leaves on a double thickness of paper towels for at least 2 hours. Use another paper towel to press onto the leaves, absorbing any extra moisture.
Chop them finely, and seal in an airtight container in the freezer.
When you are using them in a recipe, remember they should be treated as "fresh", not "dried" when measuring quantity. That is, 1/2 teaspoon fresh will be the same as 1/2 teaspoon frozen. They are not "dried".
Good Luck!
2006-07-24 13:09:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
To my best knowledge, cilantro is one of the herbs that you can't freeze and have great success with later. I'm assuming that you do not own a blast freezer or Instant Quick Freeze unit, which the home freeze will not shock the cilantro and freeze it fast enough to retain flavor. The freezing is what actually dries the herb, similar to what you'd find in the spice aisle of the grocery store. The water will crystalize and rupture the leaves and stem and taste like your freezer when you need it later. Hope this helps and was accurate enough for you.
2006-07-24 12:47:16 · answer #2 · answered by Porterhouse 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. In fact, some have suggested making ice cubes with your fresh herbs and just throwing a cube in the pot when you want the fresh taste after the herb has gone out of season. Which reminds me: I should check my mints in the morning.
2006-07-24 13:22:37 · answer #3 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can freeze anything. Heck you can freeze a bowling ball. Thawing stuff out is a different story though.
2006-07-24 12:46:47 · answer #4 · answered by FoMelt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes -- measure chopped herbs into ice cube trays, fill the trays with water and freeze. Factor in the melted ice as water when you use the herbs in recipes. Easy measuring, easy storage, easy clean-up!
2006-07-24 13:11:57 · answer #5 · answered by Peggy M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
most herbs are dried, but i've never seen dried cilantro in the spice racks, only coriander seed. hang your cilantro upside down and let it dry in the sun, see if that works.
2006-07-24 12:46:58 · answer #6 · answered by Lucy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Freezing will only make them wilted when you thaw them, drying would be better.
2006-07-24 12:49:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, absolutely! Put it in a little freezer bag and squeeze out most of the air
2006-07-24 12:58:32 · answer #8 · answered by tspbrady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
let them hang and dry them out.
2006-07-24 13:59:09 · answer #9 · answered by zipman10 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could but it is better to dry them.
2006-07-24 12:46:08 · answer #10 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋