topic Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully? in Kitchen

Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

Sunshine Kate — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:02:41 GMT

Has anyone ever frozen cilantro and used at a later date for salsa? Just wondering from more experienced cooks.

Thanks!

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:23:47 GMT

You can freeze cilantro, but the texture will be different when you go to use it. It's not going to be that fresh leaf texture. Think of what happens when leaves get snowed on and freeze outside, and then thaw. They are wet, soft, and wilted. That's what's going to happen with your cilantro. Your cilantro may still have the flavor, but I think it would be more suitable in a cooked dish than a fresh salsa.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

zivathediva — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:34:20 GMT

I freeze all my leafy herbs in ice cube trays. For long stems I put them in ziploc bags filled with a little water then freeze. Works like a charm. I saw a tip that suggested using the cylinder sryle of ice cube trays for fresh stems...I may try that one too. Happy cooking.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

sunshine45 — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:37:06 GMT

i dry and or freeze cilantro for dishes but NOT for salsa/pico de gallo.....i find fresh is better when making those fresh condiments.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

Sunshine Kate — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:40:45 GMT

Thank you!

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

chickenbutt — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 23:25:15 GMT

On 1/4/2015 zivathediva said: I freeze all my leafy herbs in ice cube trays. For long stems I put them in ziploc bags filled with a little water then freeze. Works like a charm. I saw a tip that suggested using the cylinder sryle of ice cube trays for fresh stems...I may try that one too. Happy cooking.

Interesting! So, does freezing them in water/ice allow them to maintain their fresh texture?

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

MUNCHIE — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 23:58:55 GMT

I have not tried cilantro , however , I have prepared fresh fish and also fresh abalone this way. I simply put them into a tray with water, froze them, then put them into baggies.

I can say from experience , by using this method , the fish taste fresh caught.

When my late husband was young, he used to dive for abalone,we put the abalone into empty quart milk containers, filled with water and froze it until needed..

Joanne

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

chickenbutt — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:18:35 GMT

On 1/4/2015 MUNCHIE said:
I have not tried cilantro , however , I have prepared fresh fish and also fresh abalone this way. I simply put them into a tray with water, froze them, then put them into baggies.

I can say from experience , by using this method , the fish taste fresh caught.

When my late husband was young, he used to dive for abalone,we put the abalone into empty quart milk containers, filled with water and froze it until needed..

Joanne

Abalone! *drool* I miss it so much. I've probably eaten my weight in abalone over the decades but haven't had the pleasure since getting away from diving and dive trips. There is NOTHING better to eat than abalone.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

June Lands — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:35:08 GMT

I grind fresh kale in my food processor and freeze it in zip lock bags. Thaw what I need as I need it. Tastes wonderful. I am sure cilantro could be prepared the same way.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

debic — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:15:07 GMT

On 1/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
On 1/4/2015 zivathediva said: I freeze all my leafy herbs in ice cube trays. For long stems I put them in ziploc bags filled with a little water then freeze. Works like a charm. I saw a tip that suggested using the cylinder sryle of ice cube trays for fresh stems...I may try that one too. Happy cooking.

Interesting! So, does freezing them in water/ice allow them to maintain their fresh texture?

Not exactly but close. It's better that way than any other I've tried. I generally chop it up and freeze it in silicone cup cake forms. I only fill it half full and then after it freezes I top it off so the cilantro is covered.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

chickenbutt — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:25:12 GMT

On 1/5/2015 debc said:
On 1/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
On 1/4/2015 zivathediva said: I freeze all my leafy herbs in ice cube trays. For long stems I put them in ziploc bags filled with a little water then freeze. Works like a charm. I saw a tip that suggested using the cylinder sryle of ice cube trays for fresh stems...I may try that one too. Happy cooking.

Interesting! So, does freezing them in water/ice allow them to maintain their fresh texture?

Not exactly but close. It's better that way than any other I've tried. I generally chop it up and freeze it in silicone cup cake forms. I only fill it half full and then after it freezes I top it off so the cilantro is covered.

Very smart! Thanks for the idea. I also use those silicone cupcake thingies for freezing some things. It's very easy to remove the contents, by just peeling back the silicone, so I can vacuum seal the contents.

I do that with cantaloupe seeds and guts for the bird. That way he can have cantaloupe, which is very good for him, all year long even though we just get them in the summer here. Nobody else is going to enjoy the guts and seeds anyway.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

debic — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:30:51 GMT

On 1/5/2015 chickenbutt said:
On 1/5/2015 debc said:
On 1/4/2015 chickenbutt said:
On 1/4/2015 zivathediva said: I freeze all my leafy herbs in ice cube trays. For long stems I put them in ziploc bags filled with a little water then freeze. Works like a charm. I saw a tip that suggested using the cylinder sryle of ice cube trays for fresh stems...I may try that one too. Happy cooking.

Interesting! So, does freezing them in water/ice allow them to maintain their fresh texture?

Not exactly but close. It's better that way than any other I've tried. I generally chop it up and freeze it in silicone cup cake forms. I only fill it half full and then after it freezes I top it off so the cilantro is covered.

Very smart! Thanks for the idea. I also use those silicone cupcake thingies for freezing some things. It's very easy to remove the contents, by just peeling back the silicone, so I can vacuum seal the contents.

I do that with cantaloupe seeds and guts for the bird. That way he can have cantaloupe, which is very good for him, all year long even though we just get them in the summer here. Nobody else is going to enjoy the guts and seeds anyway.

I love those things. I use them for everything except cupcakes. They're good for clarified butter and rendered bacon grease as well. Not sure if you remember those silicon ice cube trays Q had but those work great for freezing roasted garlic. I never liked them much for ice, too much of a pain.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

chickenbutt — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:51:13 GMT

Ha! I don't think I've ever made cupcakes! But I have a fairly large supply of those silicone cupcake things. I don't think I have the silicone ice cube trays. I have a set of two of the Tupperware ones that have covers. That's good for some stuff but I don't use them for ice either. heh

When I got my current refrigerator, 14 years ago, it came with these really wide ice cube trays that make really small (round on the bottom and square on top if you can imagine that) ice cubes. I really love them. Well, it came with an icemaker too but that's another ridiculous story - yeah, nobody knew how to install it so it's been out in the garage for 14 years. I don't mind. I don't use that much ice anyway.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

debic — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 21:20:20 GMT

I had to look for them and they were prepology. Horrible for ice cubes. You had to pop them out one at a time. Great for garlic tho.

Re: Can Cilantro Be Frozen Successfully?

chickenbutt — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 21:21:17 GMT

Oh wow. I can see how they wouldn't be very practical for ice cubes! Good thing they are great for other uses!