How To Freeze Dill Seed?

Dill weed has tremendous significance in preparing and enhancing the taste of various recipes. Its obvious use is for picking and as the prime ingredient in dill dip. Besides, it is also used in other sour cream dips. People also use it for seasoning seafood. In addition, other uses include dressings for potato salad and chicken nuggets. Its spicy flavor enhances the taste of cream cheese.

Usually, you use dill weeds in small quantities because of their intense flavor. While you can grow dill in your backyard, it is an expensive herb when purchased from the store. Dill is often grown in greenhouses. Hence, it is available throughout the year. But, learning how to preserve dill can prove handy if it is not available in the store for some reason.

Can You Freeze Dill?

You can preserve dill in various ways, one of which is freezing dill. Let us discuss the different methods of freezing dill.

How Do You Freeze Dill?

You can freeze dill in various ways.

The Most Common Method

Wash the dill weeds well with cold water and shake off excess water. Pat the dill leaves dry using a paper towel.
Lay the sprigs on a cookie sheet and push the tray inside the freezer to flash freeze.
Once frozen, you can transfer the contents to a freezer bag and return them to the freezer for freezing.

In An Ice Cube Tray

The ice cube tray freezing method is ideal for chopped dills.

Wash the dill well and dry it before chopping it into easily consumable portions.
Fill the ice cube tray or silicone tray with the chopped dill portions.
Add water to the cubes to cover the dill. Please do not overflow the ice cube tray because it can make it challenging to remove the cubes. We advise covering the ice cube tray with a cling wrap to prevent water spillage.
Allow the contents to freeze inside the freezer.
Once frozen, you can remove the ice cubes and place them in a freezer bag for further preservation in the freezer.

Freezing Blanched Dill

Green vegetables tend to lose their color when frozen. So, the best way to preserve the color and nutrients is to blanch them before freezing.

Take some boiling water in a pot.
Place the dill in a colander and immerse it into the boiling water for a few seconds.
Repeat the same procedure in ice cool water immediately. The vegetables remain partially cooked, but they retain the enzymes responsible for their color and flavor.
Dry the herbs and freeze them the standard way, as discussed above.

Freeze As Dill Paste

Alternatively, grind the dill weeds into a paste and freeze the contents for subsequent use.

Clean and dry the dill weeds. Pinch the dill fronds dangling at the branch edges.
Pour the fronds into the food processor, add some salt, and run the machine at high speed to turn the contents into a paste.
Add some olive oil to the paste as it is grinding. It improves consistency and acts as a preservative. If you do not use olive oil, you can use any other edible oil, like sesame oil.
Turn off the processor and pour the paste into an ice cube tray to fill all the cubes. Please ensure you do not overflow the cubes as they can stick when frozen.
Place the tray flat inside the freezer overnight. It is advised to make adequate space as other food can fall on the tray and spill the freezing dill.
Remove the frozen cubes in the morning and transfer them to a freezer bag for further freezing. We recommend using a double-layered freezer bag for additional protection.
Seal the bags after expelling the excess air from the pack. Label and freeze.

How Long Does Frozen Dill Remain Fit For Consumption?

Refrigerating dill ensures they remain fresh for six to seven days. Freezing them extends their lifespan to three to four months. Some people opine that frozen dill can remain consumable indefinitely. However, we advise consuming them within three to four months to preserve their taste and flavor.

How To Defrost The Frozen Dill?

Remove the required dill portions from the freezer bag and transfer them to a saucer. Place the saucer inside the fridge to thaw naturally. The process can take a few hours. Defrosted dill can then be used for spicing your soups, dips, and stews. However, we do not recommend keeping defrosted dill at room temperature for extended periods. It could lose its spiciness.

Can You Refreeze Dill?

We do not recommend defrosted refreezing dill because it can lose its flavor and taste.

How To Freeze Dill And Parsley?

Parsley is similar to dill in various ways. So, you can freeze dill and parsley the same way, Wash and dry before placing them in a freezer bag for freezing.

How To Freeze Dill Flowers?

Start by rinsing the flower heads and the fronds. You can use a kitchen towel to dry the sprigs thoroughly. Place the sprigs upright inside a mason jar or lie them flat inside a freezer bag for freezing.

How To Freeze Dill Heads?

Freezing dill heads requires you to follow the procedure described for freezing dill flowers. You can also chop the dill heads and freeze them in ice cube trays.

How To Freeze Dill For Pickling?

You can place the dill heads in a temperature-resistant box and pour boiling vinegar over them. However, it is better to put them in large-mouthed jars or cover the bowl tightly. Allow the mixture to cool before transferring them to the refrigerator or the freezer for preservation.

How To Freeze Dill In Oil?

You can freeze dill in oil in an ice cube tray. Chop the dill leaves and pour them into an ice cube tray. Fill each section halfway with the herbs and top it with olive oil. You can use other edible oil if you do not like olive oil. Cover the trays with cling wrap and freeze.