• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nutrition to Fit

  • ABOUT
    • Press
  • SERVICES
  • RECIPES
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • NUTRITION
  • RECIPES
  • SISTER SITES
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • NUTRITION
    • RECIPES
    • SISTER SITES
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Nutrition 101

    Can You Freeze Pesto?

    Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN Published: Jul 23, 2022 · Updated: Jul 23, 2022 · Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Can you freeze pesto? Yes! If you have an abundance of garden basil, making and freezing pesto is the best way to taste those summer flavors all year round! Learn how to freeze pesto with this thorough tutorial.

    bag of frozen pesto pieces with text "how to freeze pesto"

    What is Pesto?

    Pesto is a sauce made of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese (as defined by the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary). This simple sauce has roots in the Liguria region of Italy, home of Genoa - where Genovese basil comes from (a type of basil commonly used in pesto).

    There's an ancient Roman dish called moretum that pesto is loosely inspired from. Moretum is more cheese-based than modern day pesto, like a cheese salad, also featuring oil, salt, and aromatic herbs.

    How to Make Pesto

    Traditionally pesto is made by grinding ingredients in a mortar (pesto in Italian can actually mean pound or crush).

    Ingredients typically include fresh basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, and parmesan. However, there are many variations you can make with pesto:

    • Try using other herbs or leafy greens.
    • Swap or skip the nuts (like in my nut-free pesto).
    • Add other flavorings, like lemon juice or crushed red chili pepper flakes.

    How Long Does Homemade Pesto Last

    There are some interesting studies that suggest pathogen growth is inhibited more in pesto (meaning it may be less likely to develop bacteria that causes foodborne illness).

    That said, as a dietitian I still recommend taking caution. Homemade sauces like pesto can generally be kept up to 5-7 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

    pesto with text overlay "can you freeze pesto"

    Making Pesto to Freeze

    Do you need a specific pesto recipe to freeze? No. Freezing is a preservation method that doesn't require a specific pH or something, like canning. When freezing pesto, you can use whatever pesto recipe you love (this is my go-to easy pesto recipe!)

    How to Freeze Pesto

    The best way to freeze pesto depends on how much pesto you usually at need at one time. Feeding a family or making a recipe like pasta al pesto that requires a full batch of pesto? Try the instructions for freezing a large batch of pesto. Find yourself often only need a couple tablespoons at a time for recipes like Chicken Pesto Wraps or Pesto Crusted Salmon? Try freezing pesto in ice cube trays for convenient, portioned amounts.

    Freezing a Large Batch of Pesto

    1. Fill a small jar or bag with pesto.
      1. If using a jar: The pesto will expand as it freezes, so leave an inch of air space at the top of the jar to allow room for it.
      2. If using a bag: Pour the pesto in the bag, then squeeze out any trapped air, and seal. Then lay the bag flat to freeze. This makes it easier to store in the freezer and easier to thaw later.

    Freezing Pesto in Ice Cube Trays

    1. Take an ice cube tray and fill each ice cube portion with pesto. (I like to measure two tablespoons into each portion, as that's a fairly general pesto serving size.)
    2. Place the tray in the freezer.
    3. Once the pesto cubes are frozen (at least 2-3 hours), remove frozen pesto cubes from the tray and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
    4. Label with contents and the date, and return to freezer.

    How Long Can You Freeze Pesto?

    How long does frozen pesto last? Frozen pesto lasts up to six months, or up to nine to twelve months in a deep freezer.

    a bag of frozen pesto pieces

    Keeping Pesto Green

    Have issues keeping your pesto green? Try these three things:

    1. Add lemon juice to your pesto. Now I do this anyway in my go-to pesto recipe because I love how lemon brightens the flavor in pesto. But the vitamin C helps slow browning. (You can see in the frozen pesto cube images that they're still brightly green!)
    2. Drizzle olive oil on top. If your frozen pesto cubes are browning on top, try drizzling a small amount of olive oil to cover the cube's surface. The olive oil will prevent the exposed surface from oxidizing and browning.
    3. Blanche the basil. To blanche basil, drop basil in boiling water for a few seconds, then remove and immediately place in an ice bath. Blanched basil will retain its color and will also blend incredibly smooth, if you like a smoother pesto.

    How to Defrost Pesto

    To defrost pesto, you can let it thaw in the refrigerator, defrost in the microwave, or on the stove.

    To Thaw in the Fridge: Place a jar or bag of pesto in the fridge overnight. Less time if you only need to thaw a frozen pesto cube or two!

    Defrosting Pesto in the Microwave: Place frozen pesto cubes in a microwave-safe container. Defrost on high for 10-15 seconds, then stir. Repeat as necessary until pesto is fully thawed.

    Defrosting Pesto on the Stove: Place pesto in a small pot or sauce pan on the stove over low heat. Thaw for 3-5 minutes for frozen pesto cubes, or 5-8 for a larger portion frozen together.

    How to Use Frozen Pesto

    Once thawed, you can use frozen pesto in any way you'd use fresh pesto!

    • Pasta: Toss pesto over freshly drained al dente pasta. Try my Pasta al Pesto with Blistered Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes.
    • Pizza: Either use pesto as your sauce, or drizzle pesto over your finished pesto. Try it on Air Fryer Tortilla Pizzas!
    • Sauce: Use pesto as a sauce over veggies and proteins, like Pesto Crusted Salmon.
    • Dip: Dip vegetables, crackers, crostini, air fryer tortilla chips, and pita chips into pesto as-is, or blended with plain Greek yogurt or ricotta for a creamy pesto dip.
    • Salads: Toss a salad with pesto as-is, or create a pesto vinaigrette by whisking pesto with more olive oil.
    • Sandwiches & Wraps: Pesto is delicious as a sandwich spread, or mixed into chicken or tuna salad. Try it on grilled Chicken Pesto Wraps.
    Frozen pesto in a tray with text "freezing pesto 101"

    So, Can You Freeze Pesto?

    So, can you freeze pesto? Yes. Freezing pesto is a simple way to prolong the shelf-life of pesto. Frozen pesto can easily be defrosted and used just like any fresh pesto. And if you're a gardener and grow a lot of basil, learning how to freeze pesto is an excellent way to use all of your basil, all year long.

    Still reading? Save this article on freezing pesto to Pinterest, and come find me on Instagram for more!

    More Nutrition 101

    • Athletic Greens Reviews (2023): is Athletic Greens Worth it?
    • Creative Salad Toppings for Satisfying Salads
    • Blue Matcha (Is it Really Matcha?)
    • 21 High Protein Salad Ideas

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there!

    Welcome to Nutrition to Fit - your go-to source of evidence-based nutrition information (written by a registered dietitian) and how to realistically apply it to your life. We won't tell you what to do, but we will equip and empower you to live your healthiest life, however that looks for you. *Read More*

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • ABOUT
    • SERVICES
    • RECIPES

    Footer

    RECIPES:

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch & Dinner
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Drinks

    Wellness:

    • Nutrition
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Reviews
    nutrition to fit logo
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Amazon

    SISTER SITES:

    🔝back to top | about | contact | work with me | privacy policies & disclaimers | © 2023 NutritiontoFit.com all rights reserved

    as an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT