Can You Freeze Wild Garlic? (Easiest Method)

Spring is just around the corner and the perfect time to gather some wild garlic. But how can you preserve and store wild garlic?

This is a question that has baffled everyone. So, if you are a fan of wild garlic and its taste in your dishes, then you should know how to freeze it.

Wild garlic is an exclusive chef’s ingredient that is difficult to get hold of. So, whenever you get a chance to buy it or pluck it, you should get it in a bit larger quantity so that you may also use it afterward because there is no surety that you will get hold of it again when you need it.

However, the problem arises when you have a lot of wild garlic on your hands but no way of preserving it. Well, a good solution is to freeze the garlic for later use. But how can you freeze it? Read on if you want to find out!

Can You Freeze Wild Garlic?

You can freeze wild garlic quickly. It depends on you how you want to freeze it. For example, if you wish to freeze its leaves in a bag or freeze its paste by making a pesto into an ice cube tray, and once the cubes freeze, you can take them out and put them in a bag once the cubes freeze.

There is no ingredient like wild garlic, as it has a fresh and strong flavor. However, this garlic grows on woodlands in a damp and shaded place during the wetter months.

Since the situation in which this herb grows lasts only a few days, it is a good idea to freeze it so you may have a long-lasting supply.

How To Freeze Wild Garlic?

Freezing wild garlic is very easy; once you get the hang of it, you will continue this practice forever.

The approach we are going to tell you about for freezing garlic is a fool-proof method that preserves your herb in the best possible way and gives you many options when it comes to using it for later use.

So, let’s take a look at how we can freeze garlic.

Steps to freezing your wild garlic 

• Once you have your garlic, ensure it is thoroughly clean of any bugs or dirt (especially if you have searched and plucked it yourself because you don’t want bug paste in your pesto. You can clean it with a damp cloth or wash each leaf individually. 

• After cleaning, ensure that your garlic leaves are dry and free of any moisture. To dry them, you can either spread them on a kitchen towel or strainer to dry completely.

• Now, it’s time to slice the garlic. If you want to slice the leaves and stems quickly, put them on top of each other and then cut them along their length. This way, you will be done cutting them in minutes.

• Once you are done chopping them, you can freeze them as it is in an ice cube tray (preferably a big-sized one). Put the chopped bits in the tray (2/3 parts) and leave a small space for either water or olive oil. And then cover it with cling film to freeze it completely.

• However, you also have another option to blend your garlic into a pesto by adding olive oil and a pinch of salt to the mixture. Once the garlic is well blended, you can pour it into an ice cube tray, cover it with cling film and let it freeze in the freezer for 9-10 hours. 

• Once your wild garlic cubes are frozen, you can remove the cling film, take the cubes out, and put them in a freezer bag before they melt. And then, put the bag back in the freezer after mentioning the freezing date on it.

Pros And Cons of Freezing Wild Garlic

Now that you know it is possible to freeze wild garlic, are you skeptical about whether or not you should freeze them? Wouldn’t it be nice to learn about some pros and cons of freezing wild garlic?

I know it would! That is why I’m going to mention some pros and cons of freezing it, so it may help you decide.

Pros:

• Once frozen, the nutrients of wild garlic stay in it 
• It tastes and feels fresh after thawing 
• You can use it even after its season is over 
• It can remain fresh for more than 6 months in the fridge 
• It can help you deal with high blood pressure and digestion issues whenever you want.

Cons: 

There are no cons to freezing wild garlic except for one; you will have to do a bit of hard work to freeze it.

This means that there are no disadvantages to freezing garlic, but there are many benefits you can enjoy if you have frozen garlic in your freezer. So, don’t worry, and freeze those garlic leaves before they go bad.

Related guides:

• How to freeze runner beans?
• Can you freeze camembert cheese?
• Can you freeze halloumi?
• Can you freeze vodka sauce?

How Long Can You Freeze Wild Garlic?

Like most fresh herbs, wild garlic stays fresh in the freezer for up to 7 months. Actually, it can last around a year, but after 7 months, your wild garlic’s taste starts to change, and it doesn’t stay as fresh as it is before 7 months. So, the longer it’s frozen, the more notable change in taste and texture will be. 

That is why you should label the freezer bag when you are freezing the garlic and then stick to it, try to use it before it stops tasting like wild garlic and more like tasteless mush.

How To Freeze Wild Garlic Leaves?

If you have a lot of wild garlic on your hands and don’t want to turn it into pesto, then the best way to freeze your garlic leaves is:

• Mostly, we have to forge our wild garlic leaves because they are not readily available in the market, and that is why we have to thoroughly clean and dry them. Wash them and dry them on a kitchen towel

• Once your leaves are dry, it is time to put them in a freezer bag, squeeze out all its air, and seal it to ensure that the bag is airtight. Garlic will only retain its freshness and taste if kept in an airtight bag.

• Once you bag it, clearly write the freezing date and the bag’s content on it because after freezing, they look just like other leafy veggies. 

• Lastly, flatly place the bag in the freezer so the leaves stay straight when you freeze them. You can freeze the leaves for up to 7-8 months.

How To Freeze Wild Garlic Pesto?

Although we already discussed how you could freeze wild garlic, now we are explicitly telling you about freezing wild garlic pesto.

There is no doubt that pesto requires more work than simply freezing the garlic leaves, but it is more easily useable.

You can just take it out of the freezer and instantly add it to your dish to give it a great garlic taste. But, before you get on with it, you should know how to prepare and freeze pesto.

• Start by making your pesto. For the pesto, you will need 100gm of garlic, 20g of grated parmesan cheese, 50g of toasted hazelnuts, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, and pepper. Blend all the ingredients together until you receive your desired consistency.

• Once your pesto is ready, it’s time to pour the mixture into an ice cube tray (use a big one if you can). However, don’t fill the tray to the brim; instead, fill it 90% to allow expansion.

• Now, place the cube tray in the freezer after covering it with a cling film to protect the mixture from foreign smells. Let it freeze for 8-10 hours. 

• Remove the tray and remove the cubes, put them in a labeled bag (with date and contents), seal it after removing the air from it and then put it back in the freezer. You can freeze your pesto for 6-7 months before the taste starts to change.

Does Wild Garlic Freeze Well?

Freezing wild garlic is the only way to preserve it perfectly without altering its taste, scent, or texture. Since the leaves of wild garlic have a lot of water content, they freeze really well in any form (either as pesto or as leaves).

However, there is a slight chance that the whole leaves may lose their color a bit (just a bit) due to freezing, but the difference between fresh and frozen wild garlic is so little that you won’t feel it when you take them out to use it.

You will still get the perfect aromatic garlic flavor that you desire with the frozen garlic.

How Do You Defrost Wild Garlic?

If you are freezing your garlic in the form of pesto or small pieces in the ice cube tray, then you don’t have to defrost it, you can simply add it to your sauces, soups, pasta, or any dish and it will melt in it to give the dish a perfect taste. 

Similarly, if you are freezing your wild garlic leaves, you don’t have to defrost them; you can directly blend them or cut them into small pieces to add to your dish; the leaves will melt while you are blending or cutting them since they are so fragile.

Can You Refreeze Wild Garlic?

I suggest you don’t refreeze wild garlic, whether you have leaves or pesto, because doing so will seriously affect its taste and color.

This is why I recommend you freeze your wild garlic in an ice cube tray to avoid freezing and refreezing again and again; if you have frozen garlic cubes, you can use as many cubes as you want and use them without the ado of refreezing wild garlic.

But, to answer the question, yes, wild garlic can be refrozen; but with consequences.

Final Verdict:

Now that you know that wild garlic freezes exceptionally well and it is also very easy to prepare and freeze, you can forage or buy it in large quantities and then freeze it for 7-8 months.

Then, you can use frozen garlic in any dish you like since it tastes like fresh wild garlic. All you will need to do is a bit of hard work, and you can enjoy its fruit for many months to come.

So, get your garlic freezin’.

Frequently Asked Questions

References:

• https://www.countryfile.com/how-to/food-recipes/wild-garlic-guide-where-to-find-how-to-cook-it-and-recipe-ideas/
• https://www.kitchenstories.com/en/stories/everything-you-need-to-know-about-preparing-and-storing-wild-garlic
• https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-freeze-garlic