A couple weeks ago, my mom was pulling a bag of frozen scallions out of the freezer to make dinner and promptly called to remind me to write this post. So really, all of this is just yet another valuable lesson from The Woks of Life matriarch. I’m just the messenger!
The Dilemma
You’ve probably experienced this all-too-common kitchen problem. You buy a piece of ginger to use in a recipe, and after you’re done cooking, you have a ton of ginger left over. So you put it in the fridge “to save for another day,” when really what happens is that it slowly goes moldy until it hits full-on blue fur status, and you finally toss it in the trash. It can happen to a bundle of scallions, those way-too-big bunches of cilantro (WHO needs that much cilantro?!), that packed styrofoam tray of Thai bird chilies (do they think you want to die?!), a bunch of lemongrass, and other herbs like basil, parsley, etc.
The good news is, all of these herbs and aromatics can be easily frozen and taken out whenever you need them. No more waste. No more spending money on the same ingredients over and over. And no more special trips to your nearest Asian grocery whenever the mood for Larb or Lemongrass Chicken strikes! Many of our recipes call for the same few fresh aromatics to give dishes flavor, including ginger, scallions, cilantro, chilies, and ginger. Let’s get into how to prepare them for long term freezer storage. Either scroll through to read, or jump to one of the following sections for instructions on a specific ingredient:
How to Freeze Cilantro How to Freeze Ginger How to Freeze Scallions How to Freeze Chilies & Peppers How to Freeze Lemongrass
How to Freeze Cilantro
Can you freeze cilantro? Yes, you can! Here’s how:
Cilantro will keep very well this way and can be used in cooked applications, such as soups and stir-fries. No need to thaw before use! Just chop and add to recipes! (In case you’re wondering about my freezer bags, I use reusable silicone bags that are watertight and dishwasher safe! They’re easy to use and better for the environment. We highly recommend checking them out.)
Use frozen cilantro to make:
Chicken Larb Chinese Shrimp Cakes Shrimp Toast
How to Freeze Ginger
Can you freeze ginger? Of course! Ginger actually freezes very well, and if there’s anything that I always make sure to have stocked in my freezer, it’s ginger slices. I use ginger a couple times a week, a few slices at a time, and it makes cooking Asian dishes on a regular basis so much easier. Ginger slices are also great to add to hot cups of tea, a pot of chicken stock, etc. Here’s how to freeze ginger:
It’s important to make sure the ginger stays relatively dry during this process. Any natural moisture from inside the ginger is okay, but avoid getting the ginger wet, or the slices will fuse together in the freezer and become difficult to break apart. Because you’ve sliced the ginger into thin disks, they thaw easily (though you don’t necessarily have to thaw the ginger before using) and can be chopped, minced, or simply added straight to hot oil to add fragrance and flavor. Use frozen ginger in:
Poached Chicken with Ginger Scallion Sauce Ginger Scallion Hokkien Noodles Ginger Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice Ginger Scallion Oil with Chilies
How to Freeze Scallions
Can you freeze scallions? You betcha. My mom started freezing them when there was a big sale on scallions one weekend at our Asian grocery, and she bought a TON. They freeze very well, and can be used in any cooked recipe. It’s best not to defrost them before using, so when cleaning and preparing scallions for the freezer you should dice/chop them into whatever shapes or configurations you think you’ll need before freezing. Here’s how to freeze scallions:
When it comes to deciding how to process the scallions, I like to think about how I most often use them. Many of our recipes call for diced or chopped scallions, and for the white parts of the scallions to be added separately from the green parts. For that reason, I like to dice them and freeze the white and green parts separately. Other recipes call for scallions to be cut into 2-inch lengths, so I like to process some of them that way as well, and keep them in separate bags.
Use frozen scallions in:
Hunan Beef Tomato Egg Drop Soup Ultimate Braised Tofu
How to Freeze Chilies & Peppers
Freezing peppers and chilies is a great way to make sure you always have some on hand to add a kick of heat to recipes. It’s especially relevant now, when my parents’ garden is positively bursting with all kinds of peppers. We use Thai bird chilies in our cooking relatively often, especially for Southeast Asian dishes. But while any given recipe calls for just one chili (maybe up to three, max), those little chilies often come in packs of 30-40 peppers! There’s no way we’d use that many in one month, let alone 1-2 weeks (which is how long they’d last in the fridge). The solution? Freezing them of course! I have a bag full of fiery peppers in my freezer as I type this, ready to be chopped up and added to my Green Papaya Salad or Chicken with Basil & Mint. Here’s how to freeze chilies:
Use your frozen chilies to make:
Spicy Stir-fried Rice Cakes XO Sauce Pork & Holy Basil Stir-fry Chiu Chow Chili Oil
How to Freeze Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a specialty ingredient that isn’t often available in regular grocery stores. Even though I have relatively easy access to an Asian grocery store, I like to buy lemongrass when it looks fresh and keep it in my freezer, because there are times when even the Asian market doesn’t have high quality fresh lemongrass! Either they’ve run out, or the lemongrass they do have looks like it’s been languishing in the produce section for way too long. It’s great in marinades for meat, curries, and soups, and it’s so easy to freeze. Here’s how to freeze lemongrass:
If the lemongrass is to be added whole to a recipe, such as in our Vietnamese Bo Kho (spicy beef stew), there is no need to thaw in advance. If, however, you need to chop the lemongrass or add it to a food processor to make a marinade, you can thaw it beforehand. Use lemongrass to make:
Bo Kho (Spicy Vietnamese Beef Stew) Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Roasted Lemongrass Chicken Thighs
Any other questions about how to freeze herbs and fresh aromatics? Or have your own freezer tips to share? Let us know in the comments!
