Cilantro aka coriander is a magical herb that is known to spice food from around the world and make them absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious.
So what do you do if you have bought a bunch of cilantro, used what you needed and realized you have a ton of it left? If you store it in the fridge, it’s going to go bad in a couple of days and all that good stuff will be wasted.
Well in the quick guide below, I will highlight a couple simple steps that you can take when it comes to freezing cilantro.
Option #1: Freeze Fresh Cilantro
If you want to keep cilantro to use in the future, whether it is in salsa or any other dish, it is a good idea to freeze it rather than drying it, as it will retain more of its distinctive flavor.
The easiest way to freeze fresh cilantro is to just wash it off and put it in the freezer bag. You can keep it for a couple of months and while the frozen leaves won’t look the same as when you first put it in, it will still be usable. The best option to use this herb is to stir it into recipes that require it.
Steps to Freeze Fresh Cilantro
- Wash cilantro and dry off on paper towels.
- Take dried cilantro and place in a freezer bag.
- Squeeze out all the air and place inside the freezer.
- The cilantro can be stored this way for about 2 months.
- Break off pieces when needed.
Related: Can You Freeze Mint Leaves?
Option #2: Blanching the Cilantro, Then Freezing
While the method above will allow you to store your cilantro for a couple of months, the enzymes that cause it to lose its color while in the fridge, are still active. You will find that taking it out after couple of months, some of it will be a bit discolored. If you want your cilantro to have that bright green color, then it would be advisable to blanche it.
With blanching, you will be able to retain the bright green color and you can still use them as decoration if needs be.
Steps to Blanche Cilantro
- In a large pot, bring water to boil.
- In a bowl place ice cubes in it and fill it with water.
- Once the water is boiling, place the cilantro in the water and keep them there for a couple of seconds or until they wilt.
- Do not cook them too long as the flavor will be lost.
- Once finished place in the ice water. This will stop the cooking process.
- Place the cilantro on paper towels to dry them off.
- Place flat inside a freezer bag and put in the freezer.
- Break a piece anytime you are ready to use.
