How to freeze curry leaves

Curry leaves infuse their unique flavor and aroma in Indian dishes. When you buy a bunch and cannot finish them soon, they may turn bad and become inedible. I have to admit, freezer is your best friend in storing curry leaves! Here's how to freeze them properly.

Preparation

Wash gently: Rinse the curry leaves in cool water, discarding any discolored ones and getting rid of any dirt. Pat them dry thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel.
Dry them: Spread the curry leaves to let them air dry for a few hours until there is no moisture.
Remove the stems: Gently pluck the leaves off the stems. This helps save space.

How to freeze curry leaves?

Freezer safe container: Place your dried leaves in a zip-lock freezer bag or in an airtight container. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the ziplock bag for frost-prevention.
Label: mark the container or ziplock bag with the date and "Curry Leaves."

Curry leaves in ziplock bag fr freezing.

Frozen curry leaves.

Storage choices

Freezer-Safe Bags: Ziplock bags are affordable option to freeze curry leaves.
Airtight Containers: Rubbermaid, Tupperware, Snapware and other airtight containers are great choices if you are looking for reusable options.
Mason Jars: Glass jars are a durable and eco-friendly option to freeze curry leaves.

How to defrost frozen curry leaves

Use as is from the freezer: ideally there is no need to defrost the curry leaves and they can be added to the dish as is. If the leaves have a lot of ice crystals, just rinse it in water and wipe the leaves before using.
Defrost in the fridge: Defrost your curry leaves overnight in the refrigerator.
Quick thaw: Keep the ziplock bag at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
No need to wash again: Once thawed, you're good to go! Use them directly in your dishes.

How to use frozen curry leaves?

Tempering: Add them whole to your hot oil tempering for your recipes.
Dals & curries: Add them in curries, lentils and other Indian dishes as you cook for a nice flavor and aroma.
Chutneys: It is perfect to add to chutneys especially coconut chutney.

Duration:

Frozen curry leaves will last up to 6 months.
It is best to use older batches first to avoid freezer burn.

More freezing ideas:

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