How to Freeze Basil Pesto

Overview

Pesto is a traditional Italian sauce comprised of basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used as a pasta sauce, vegetable dip or sandwich spread. Since pesto is made from fresh basil leaves, you may not easily be able to make it all year long. If you want to enjoy pesto even when you don't have access to fresh herbs, you can preserve the sauce in your freezer.

Step 1

Prepare the basil pesto according to your favorite recipe. For best results, leave out the Parmesan cheese, which tends to loose its flavor after it has been frozen.

Step 2

Scoop the pesto into an ice cube tray. Do not overfill the tray.

Step 3

Place the ice cube tray in the freezer. Store it in the freezer for approximately two hours, or until the pesto hardens into individual cubes.

Step 4

Remove the frozen cubes from the tray and place them into a quart-sized plastic freezer storage bag. Close the bag securely and store in the freezer for up to six months. Each cube equates to 1 tbsp. of pesto.