How to Freeze Cilantro

Cilantro is a great herb to use in many Asian, Indian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern dishes. It has a bright, crisp flavor, and can liven up almost any dish. Unfortunately, it tends to wilt faster than you can use it, and it does not dry well, unlike some other herbs. Fortunately, it is possible to preserve cilantro, and make it last longer, by freezing it.

Ingredients

Freezing Cilantro in a Bag

Fresh cilantro

Freezing Cilantro in Oil

1/3 cup (80 milliliters) olive oil per
1 – 2 cups (50 – 100 grams) cilantro, chopped

Freezing Cilantro in Butter

1 stick butter, softened
1 – 3 tablespoons cilantro, minced
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste (optional)
½ tablespoon of lime juice (optional)
Lime zest (optional)

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Preparing Cilantro for Freezing

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Cilantro will wilt a little when you freeze it, so it is important to buy cilantro that is fresh. Look for crisp, bright green leaves. Avoid anything that looks wilted, crushed, or yellowed.
Hold the cilantro by the stems and swish it in a bowl of cool water. Keep doing this until the water becomes dirty. Repeat the process with fresh water each time until the water is clear. You may need to two to three water changes
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Hold it by the stems, and give it a few, good shakes. It might be a good idea to do this over a sink, so that your kitchen does not become all wet.
Place a few paper towels down on a flat surface, then set the cilantro down on top of them. Cover the cilantro with another paper towel and gently press down on it. The paper towels will absorb any excess moisture. Keep doing this with fresh, dry paper towels until there is no water left.
You can do this by dipping the cilantro into a pot of boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds, then dunking them under ice cold water for a few more seconds. Do not leave the cilantro in the hot water for more than 30 seconds, and be sure to dry it off well. Blanching the cilantro will help preserve the vibrant color.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Freezing Cilantro in a Bag

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If you want to freeze just the leaves, you will need to pinch them off, and discard the stems. You can also freeze the cilantro whole, and break off a few leaves whenever you need them.
This will protect the delicate herb from the cold and keep it from going mushy.^{[1]XResearch source} Simply place the herb into a bowl and toss it with a teaspoon to a tablespoon of olive oil. How much olive oil you use will depend on how much cilantro you are freezing; the more cilantro you have, the more oil you will need.
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Place the cilantro into a re-sealable freezer bag. Try to keep the cilantro spread out evenly in the bag. If you are using whole cilantro, try to keep the stems and leaves as straight as possible. You may need to use more than one bag.
- If you do not have any freezer bags, use regular re-sealable bags instead, one inside the other.
Zip the bag close part way, then gently press down on the bag with your hands until it is flat. Close the bag the rest of the way. Be careful not to crush the cilantro.
If you are storing other types of herbs in the freezer, it might be a good idea to write down "Cilantro" on the bag as well.^{[2]XResearch source}
Try to place it so that the herbs are laying down flat and straight.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Freezing Cilantro in Oil

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Lay the cilantro down on a cutting board and chop it up into inch (2.54 centimeter) long pieces. You can include the stems, or leave them out. This does not have to look neat, as you will be chopping the cilantro up further in a blender.
If you do not have a blender, you can use a food processor instead.
If you want a more intense cilantro flavor, increase the cilantro to 2 cups (100 grams).^{[3]XResearch source} Also, if the strong flavor of olive oil bothers you, try using another cooking oil, such as canola or vegetable.
Make sure that the lid is secure and that there are no leaks. Keep blending until the oil turns green and the cilantro has broken up into smaller pieces. Do not blend it for too long; you still want to see bits of the herb.
Fill each well about 3/4 of the way. Do not fill it all the way; the puree will expand when it freezes.
Set it down on a flat, stable surface. Leave it there for a few hours to overnight.
This way, you will be able to reuse your ice cube tray. If you do not have any freezer bags, use two regular bags instead, one inside the other.
If you are storing other kinds of herbs in the freezer as well, consider writing "Cilantro" on the bag as well.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Freezing Cilantro in Butter

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You will need about 1 to 3 tablespoons of chopped cilantro per stick of butter.
It might help to cut the butter into smaller pieces.
3
Consider adding in a few other ingredients. You can leave the cilantro butter as is, or you can add in a few other ingredients to make even tastier. Here are some ideas to get you started:^{[4]XResearch source}
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ tablespoon of lime juice
- Lime zest
You can use a spoon or spatula. Work quickly, so that the butter does not melt. Add more butter or cilantro if necessary.
Scoop the butter onto a sheet of parchment paper, making sure that it is close to the edge. Shape it into a rough log shape with a spoon or spatula. Roll it up in the parchment paper.
Place the butter seam-side-down on a plate, and leave the place in the fridge until it hardens.
To keep your freezer clean, keep the butter wrapped in parchment paper, and put it into a re-sealable freezer bag or a plastic container.
This will help you remember when you made it, so that you can use it before it goes bad.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using Frozen Cilantro

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If you froze cilantro just on its own, without any butter or oil, you can break off a few leaves, and add it to guacamole or cilantro chutney. You do not need to defrost it.^{[5]XResearch source}
You can also use it in salad dressings. Because it already contains oil, you will need to adjust your recipe and use less oil. A single cube of frozen cilantro will contain about a tablespoon of oil.
It will take about 15 to 20 minutes for it to thaw.^{[6]XResearch source} Once it thaws, you can spread it on bread or crackers.
Once frozen, cilantro loses some of its crispness. When it becomes defrosted, it will appear wilted and mushy. This may detract from the appearance (and texture) of salsa and salad.
Once frozen cilantro starts to thaw, it will begin to look wilted and mushy. If you need to garnish something, consider using fresh cilantro instead.
6
Know by when to use your frozen cilantro. Frozen cilantro won't last forever, although it will certainly last longer than fresh cilantro. Here are some guidelines as to by when you should use your cilantro:
- Use frozen cilantro within two months.
- Use cilantro frozen in oil within three months.
- Use frozen cilantro butter within a month. If you thaw it and put it in the fridge, use it within five days.

Community Q&A

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Question
Can you substitute vegetable oil, in place of olive oil?
Community Answer
Yes, you can, it will just have a slightly different taste. Even better then vegetable oil is avocado oil.
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Can I use the stems?
Community Answer
Yes. The stems have a little flavor and are edible. I use everything in salsas.
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Tips

If you only need to freeze a small amount, just place some chopped up cilantro into an ice cube well, and cover it with olive oil.^{[7]XResearch source}
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If you have the time, make salsa with the cilantro already in it. The salsa will freeze better than the cilantro alone.
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If you need to dry herbs after washing, dish drying racks are excellent; make sure the rack is clean, then simply lay out the herbs on the rack and leave to dry. If a little sun comes through the window to warm things up faster, so much the better.
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Warnings

Avoid using water when freezing cilantro. This will dilute the flavor of your recipe, and make it taste bland.
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Frozen cilantro tends to lose a lot of its flavor. Use it up quickly or try your very best to avoid freezing it all, and just enjoy it fresh; its distinctively flavored volatile oils disappear quickly.
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