Herbs And Spices You Should Store In The Freezer

Spices have been coveted by mankind for thousands of years, and many historical voyages were centered on the quest to find them. While it is much easier to find exotic spices today, keeping them fresh remains relatively unchanged. The key to keeping your herbs and spices fresh is knowing how to store them. This means knowing which spices you should store on a rack, and which you should keep in your freezer.

Some dried spices and fresh herbs should be frozen. Red chili spices including paprika, red chili flakes, and chili powder can be stored in the freezer to preserve heat and flavor. Garlic, ginger, and lemongrass are best purchased fresh and then frozen. Fresh herbs including rosemary, thyme, dill, sage, and chives can be picked fresh, cleaned, and sometimes blanched, and then frozen.

To help herbs maintain their flavors and nuanced essence for as long as possible, you must store them properly. Many spices are best stored in a dark, cold, and dry place. Others, especially freshly harvested ones, are best stored in your fridge or freezer. Continue reading below to learn which herbs and spices should be stored in the freezer.

12 Herbs And Spices You Can Store In The Freezer

1. Dill

Dill is a flavor that is best enjoyed fresh. Dried dill often loses a lot of its signature and distinct flavor. It isn’t always possible to get fresh dill, but you can always freeze it to ensure you have fresh-tasting dill flavor in your favorite recipes. Frozen dill will keep its flavor for several months when properly frozen.

How To Store: To properly store dill in the freezer, choose the freshest dill you can find, and give it a good rinse. Then dry it completely before placing it in an air-tight plastic bag. 

2. Chives

Chives can be purchased dried in any spice aisle, but they are also a great herb to grow in your garden. To preserve the flavor of your fresh chives, you can harvest them all before the first frost, and then freeze them. They should stay flavorful until new chives start sprouting in late spring.

How To Store: Clean your fresh chives and dry them thoroughly. Then chop them up to your desired size before sprinkling them on a baking sheet. Flash-freeze them for 10 to 15 minutes before transferring them to an air-tight bag in the freezer.

3. Ginger

Ginger is a flavor that is completely transformed when dried and placed into a spice jar. While ginger powder may work in some recipes, the fresh root is almost always preferable. If you rarely use ginger, however, it’s smart to freeze it so you have it readily available. When frozen, ginger maintains its robust and spicy flavors for many months.

How To Store: One great way to store ginger in the freezer is to pulverize it in a food processor, and then freeze it in small portions using an iced cube tray. Once the cubes freeze, place them in an airtight plastic bag and freeze for up to four months. 

4. Paprika

Paprika is a spice that is kept fresh by being stored in a dark, cold, and dry place. If you live somewhere without air conditioning or have a humid home, the freezer is a great alternative. Red chili spices, including paprika, lose their spice and other notes when stored in a wet or warm environment, which makes the freezer a good option.

How To Store: Place your paprika in an airtight bag (even if it’s in a sealed bottle). Sore in the freezer, in a place that experiences minimal temperature fluctuation.

5. Rosemary

Rosemary is an herb that is best when it’s fresh off the plant, as it packs a vibrant evergreen flavor. You can easily find rosemary in the spice aisle, but it’s not nearly as fresh-tasting. Freezing fresh rosemary is a great way to have this potent herb readily available throughout the year.

How To Store: Clean sprigs of rosemary, and allow them to dry completely before storing in the freezer in an air-tight container. 

6. Mint

Dried mint can be found in tea isles and even some spice sections, but it is always better to have fresh mint. If you don’t have access to fresh mint all the time (in winter months for example) then frozen mint is a great next-best thing.

How To Store: Wash an dry your mint leaves and place batches of them in a single layer on a baking or cookie sheet in the freezer. After a few hours, transfer the frozen leaves to a freezer bag, where they will last up to six months.

7. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is another plant that loses a lot of its flavor when it’s dried and packaged in a spice jar. It’s also an herb that isn’t easy to find everywhere in the world. The good news is, fresh lemongrass freezes well, and the flavor will stay strong for months if you freeze it properly.

How To Store: To store lemongrass, you should wash and dry it, and then trim it down so you only freeze the essential section of the plant. Freeze the stalks in a bundle or individually for easy access.

8. Chili Powder

Chili powder is another red pepper spice that often does better in the freezer than left out in a pantry or kitchen pantry alternative. If you have a humid home or live in a warm climate, it is smart to store chili powder in the freezer.

How To Store: Store chili powder in its original container with an additional airtight container to ensure no moisture leaks into the container over time.

9. Sage

Sage is a popular holiday herb and is a staple in any herb garden. While dried, sage is great for burning in incense, however, fresh sage is better in most recipes. If you can’t use all your fresh sage, you can easily freeze it for weeks or months.

How To Store: First wash and dry the sage. Then pick each sage leaf so all you freeze are clean individual leaves. Place in an airtight container and use as needed.

10. Red Pepper Flakes

Dried red pepper flakes are a staple in Italian cooking, and can be found on nearly every pizzeria countertop. If you notice that sometimes red pepper flakes have a dark color and lack flavor, it’s because they weren’t properly stored. If you can’t find a dark, dry, and cool spot for your red pepper flakes, then store this spice in the freezer, where it will stay fresh and spicy for many months.

How To Store: Place your bottle of red pepper flakes in an airtight plastic bag. Store in a deep part of the freezer where there is minimal light exposure and temperature fluctuation.

11. Garlic

Powdered and fresh garlic have noticeably different flavors. Garlic appears in spice isles in all sorts of ways, from garlic flakes to garlic salt and everything in between. If you want to ensure you always have fresh garlic flavor in your cooking arsenal, you should freeze fresh garlic.

How To Store: There are several ways to preserve garlic, but freezing it raw is best done by peeling each clove. Place the peeled cloves in an airtight container. Alternatively, you can roast the garlic, freeze the roasted garlic in ice cube trays, and then transfer them into a ziplock.

12. Thyme

Lastly, thyme is an easy-to-grow herb that tastes better when you grow and then freeze it rather than buying it already dried. This herb doesn’t have a lot of moisture in it to begin with, which makes it easy to freeze it and then use as needed.

How To Store: Wash and dry the thyme thoroughly. Separate into sprigs and remove any large branches. Place in an airtight bag and freeze for up to six months.

Final Notes On Herbs And Spices You Should Store In The Freezer

While many bottled spices stay fresh longer when stored in a dark, cool, dry place, some herbs and spices, especially freshly picked ones, last longer in the freezer. Dill, rosemary, sage, and thyme are popular herb garden plants that can last many months when frozen properly. Garlic, lemongrass, and ginger can also be purchased fresh and then frozen. 

Related Guides:

• 7 Ways To Preserve Your Garlic Harvest And Ways To Use It Up
• How To Dry Herbs From Y​​our Garden For Later Use
• Can You Put Glass In The Freezer? (Find Out Now!)