3 ways to freeze dill for the winter and avoid getting tasteless greens

Green dill is a popular seasoning, without which it is difficult to imagine Russian cuisine. To enjoy fresh greenberries throughout the year, you can freeze dill for the winter. In the freezer, the spice lasts for a long time, up to 9 months, and in this form it is much more aromatic and healthier than dried or canned. Let's look at the basic rules for preparing dill and describe different methods of freezing - in bunches, chopped, in ice cubes.

How to freeze dill correctly?

Fresh dill is an incredibly aromatic herb. When cut, it smells fragrant and imbues dishes with a spicy aroma. This happens due to the content of essential oils in the stem and needle-shaped leaves.

The moisture inside the plant helps preserve the spicy properties. As it evaporates, the specific smell disappears.

Freezing allows you to preserve the full flavor of dill. At -18 degrees it can stay in the freezer until spring, about 9 months. But it is important to freeze greens correctly:

• Dill must be clean. It is important to thoroughly rinse the bundle from dirt and dust. After freezing, greens are not washed: this causes them to quickly wither and become unappetizing.
• The dill should be dry, without water. Otherwise, the moisture will turn into ice and the greens will stick together into one lump.
• You need to release the air from the freezer packaging. Plastic containers are filled to the top with greens. If bags are used, they must be tied or zipped.The absence of air eliminates the possibility of any reactions, penetration of foreign odors and premature deterioration of dill.

Wash the greens exclusively with water at room temperature. Hot water accelerates the withering process.

Freezing in bunches

The fastest and easiest way to prepare dill for the winter is to store it in the freezer whole. The stems and thick twigs are also edible, and have a spicy aroma even more than the leaves. To avoid the taste of sticks in dishes, the greens are chopped finely. When frozen, it cuts very easily.

So how do you freeze bunches?

1. Soak greens in a large bowl of cool water. This will make it juicier and help loosen any lumps of dirt if there are any.
2. Rinse the dill under the tap and hang it on a string to dry. Or you can simply lay the herbs on the table with a towel to absorb excess moisture.
3. Fill the bags with herbs and tie them. You can package it in plastic containers or wrap it in cling film. Dill is also stored well in foil envelopes. It is better to immediately divide it into portions. Although this is not at all necessary - frozen herbs are crumbly and very easy to separate.
4. Place the packages in the freezer. It is advisable to freeze the greens in the fast freezing mode.

Dill can be frozen in its pure form or combined with other herbs - parsley, basil, oregano, arugula, rosemary. Create your own bouquets based on your favorite dishes and taste preferences.

Chopped dill

This is a salad option for freezing dill. It is also suitable for those who do not like pieces of stems found in dishes.

It is better to take young greens of rich color, without wilted or yellowed leaves.

How to freeze chopped dill?

1. Rinse the greens under running water and dry.
2. Cut off large stems. You can remove all the petioles completely (as you like).
3. Next, use a very sharp knife to chop the dill. To be sure, go through the knife 2-3 times.
4. Pour the chopped greens into a food tray and compact lightly. Subsequently, it can be easily scooped up with a spoon. You can also freeze dill in ziplock or ziplock bags. Some housewives give the green mass the shape of a sausage, and then simply cut off a piece of the desired size and add it to the dish.
5. Place the packages in the freezer.

Dill stems can be frozen separately. Small bunches are excellent for flavoring soups, broths, marinades, and pickles. Before serving the dish, the stems are carefully removed and discarded.

Ice cubes

The method of freezing dill in ice trays or plastic egg containers is worth considering. The cubes are very convenient to use and store. In addition, they immediately divide the aromatic greens into portions. It remains to determine how many cubes to add to the dish - 1, 2 or 3.

Recipe for “cubic” freezing:

1. Wash and dry the dill bunches.
2. Chop finely.
3. Fill the molds about 2/3 full.
4. Pour the dill with cooled boiled water.
5. Place the containers in the freezer.
6. After 2-4 hours, remove the ice cubes from the molds and carefully place them in a bag or food tray. To make the ice easy to get out, the container can be dipped in hot water for 15–30 seconds.

It is very convenient to immediately add salt and spices for dishes to dill frozen in ice cubes. You can also use broth or melted butter instead of water.

The recipes for freezing dill presented to your attention are the most popular and convenient.It is enough to spend about 1-2 hours to stock up on fresh herbs for the whole year. In winter, it will certainly delight household members with its spicy aroma and taste. Frozen dill decorates dishes and creates a summer mood. And how many benefits there are in it! It contains such important elements as vitamins A, C, E, K, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus. Add frozen dill to soups, salads, vegetable stews, omelettes - and you will always be healthy.