Can You Freeze Bay Leaves? How?

Here is the ultimate guide on freezing and storing bay leaves to make the most out of them. 

I have found these methods to work great!

So, let’s dive right into it. 

How to Freeze Bay Leaves?

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This is the most simple and hassle-free method of freezing all your extra bay leaves.

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Materials

• Bay Leaves

Tools

• Ziploc Bags

Instructions

1. Wash and Dry: Thoroughly wash the bay leaves. Make sure to get rid of all the wilted and pest-eaten leaves. Then dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
   
   You could also leave it out in the sun for an hour, but not for longer than that, as it can dry out.
   
   
2. Portion and Pack: If you have a big bunch of bay leaves to freeze, divide them into smaller portions that you can use in one go.
   
   Then pack them into Ziploc bags and seal them in. Try and squeeze out all the air from the Ziploc bag before sealing it.
   
   
3. Label and Freeze: Add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you are ready to freeze the bay leaves for a couple of months.

Freezing Bay Leaves in Ice Cube Trays 

Another great way to freeze the bay leaves is to make cubes of frozen olive oil and herb mix. 

Prep and Chop

Wash the bay leaves thoroughly and dry them, leaving no traces of moisture on it. Then chop them into tiny pieces.

Fill the Tray

Fill the slots of the ice cube tray with the chopped bay leaves and top them with olive oil.

Flash Freeze

Leave the ice cube tray in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight and let it freeze solid. Cover the tray with some cling wrap if there is stuff in the freezer that gives out a strong odor.

Pack and Sea

Transfer the frozen cubes of bay leaves and olive oil into a Ziploc bag and seal them in. Make sure that all the excess air in the bag is squeezed out before you seal the bag.

Label and Freeze:

Add a label on the bag with the date, and you are all set to freeze them.

Check out this video by “Tasty Yummies” on YouTube to see how it is done –

How Long Can You Freeze Bay Leaves?

You can freeze bay leaves for up to 3 months.Although you could freeze it for longer without affecting its texture, the flavor will be lost the longer it stays in the freezer.

So, it is best not to freeze them for more than a couple of months.

To keep the bay lasting fresh and for long, make sure to store it as air-tight as possible. If it is exposed to air, it can dry out and get freezer burns making it lose out on its flavor and quality.

How to Store Frozen Bay Leaves? 

You can store frozen bay leaves in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag. The key is to keep it well protected from being exposed to air.

But of the lot, the Ziploc bags are the ideal choice. It is best not to freeze a big batch of bay leaves together but instead freeze them separately.

Using multiple containers to store a few bay leaves seems like a waste of precious freezer space. So, it is best to opt for Ziploc bags that you can store compactly.

How to Defrost Bay Leaves? 

The best part of frozen bay leaves is that you don’t need to take time to defrost them. You can directly add it into the dish, whether it is frozen leaves or ice cubes of olive oil and herb mix.

Since the bay leaves are thin, they will defrost in the heat while cooking. Defrosting is unnecessary and will only affect the texture of the leaves.

Can You Refreeze Bay Leaves? 

Although you can refreeze bay leaves, it is recommended not to. The repeated freezing and thawing will affect the texture and flavor of the leaves.

If you wish to avoid having to refreeze or waste the bay leaves once it thaws, you can portion them beforehand into quantities that you can easily use in one go.

Storing them in ice cube trays with olive oil is also a great way to avoid waste.

Do Bay Leaves Freeze Well?

Yes, bay leaves freeze well. Although it doesn’t beat the freshly plucked leaves, the bay leaves keep their flavor and punch intact for a couple of months.

They freeze best when they are frozen as soon as they are plucked or bought. This way, most of the flavor and freshness are preserved for longer.

Bottom Line 

I hope this article helped you figure out how to freeze and store bay leaves for the long term. 

If you have any doubts or would like to share some freezing tips and tricks of your own, it would be great to hear from you. 

Feel free to share this article with your friends and family.