Whether it’s tacos or lime rice, nothing beats fresh cilantro. Cilantro adds a herbal touch to any dish, making it an indispensable item in your pantry. But can cilantro be frozen? In today’s post, we tell you everything you need to know.
Can Cilantro Be Frozen?
Yes! If you have too much cilantro, you can freeze the portion you don’t need for later use. You’ll just need to blanch the cilantro beforehand. If you don’t know how to blanch, don’t worry, here’s how to do it:
- Rinse the cilantro
- Prepare a bowl of ice and water
- Bring water to a boil in a separate pot
- Submerge the cilantro in the boiling water, then plunge it immediately into the bowl of ice water (this is the blanching part)
- Dry the cilantro by patting it with paper towels
- Separate the leaves from the stems
- Place the cilantro in a zip-top bag and store in the freezer
- Remember that cilantro can be fragile, so avoid crushing or twisting the bag
Once frozen, cilantro lasts up to six months in the freezer.
As to how to use frozen cilantro, the possibilities are the same as with fresh cilantro. Here’s a quick list to whet your appetite:
- Lime chicken
- Pesto
- Cilantro chutney
- Salads
- Cilantro-Lime Hummus
- Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette
Why Is Blanching Important?
As you might have guessed from the description above, blanching involves briefly immersing food, usually vegetables or fruits, in boiling water and then immediately cooling them in ice water in order to stop the cooking process.
Blanching is important because it helps to preserve the color, texture, and quality of vegetables, fruits, and other foods by stopping certain enzyme actions. It can also soften some veggies such as asparagus or broccoli.
The result is more visually appealing and flavorful dishes, and cilantro is no exception!
To learn more about cilantro, check out our previous post, “What Is The Difference Between Coriander And Cilantro?”
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