Stop Wasting Herbs! Freeze-Dry Cilantro & Spinach
Posted by Ola Griffin on Feb 20th 2026
Freeze-Drying Herbs at Home: Cilantro & Spinach
We are back in the kitchen (again) with herbs taking over the counter.
Between the garden, grocery runs, and “oops-I-bought-too-much-again” moments, fresh cilantro and spinach can go from vibrant to sad real quick. Freeze-drying has become one of my favorite ways to save those herbs at peak freshness — locking in flavor, color, and nutrients so nothing goes to waste.
Whether you’re a home gardener, prepper, or just someone who hates throwing food away, freeze-drying herbs is one of the easiest and most satisfying food storage wins.
Why Freeze-Dry Cilantro & Spinach? (or other greens and herbs)
✔️ Keeps bright color & fresh flavor
✔️ Preserves nutrients better than dehydrating
✔️ Lightweight, crunchy, and easy to store
✔️ Rehydrates quickly for soups, sauces & meals
✔️ Perfect for long-term food storage with oxygen absorbers
Step-by-Step: How to Freeze-Dry Cilantro & Spinach
1️⃣ Wash & Dry
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Rinse herbs thoroughly to remove dirt.
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Pat completely dry or spin dry — moisture left behind can cause clumping.
2️⃣ Prep
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Cilantro: Remove thick stems, keep leafy tops
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Spinach: Remove thick stems, tear large leaves into smaller pieces
3️⃣ Pre-Freeze (Optional but Helpful)
- Lay herbs flat on freeze-dryer trays.
(This helps them freeze evenly and keeps leaves separated.)
4️⃣ Freeze-Dry
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Set your freeze dryer to a cooler drying cycle. I typically use a heat setting between 90–100°F.
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Run the cycle until the herbs are fully dry and snap easily when bent—that’s how you know they’re done.
Optional tip: To keep lightweight herbs from blowing off the trays, line the tray with parchment paper. I gently wrap the parchment around the tray and tuck it under the bottom edge to hold everything in place.
5️⃣ Condition Check
- Let herbs cool to room temperature.
If any feel soft → run another short dry cycle.
Packaging for Long-Term Storage (PackFreshUSA Tips)
For best shelf life, store freeze-dried herbs in:
✔️ PackFreshUSA Pint Mylar bags (7 mil) or 7 mil Gusset Mylar bags
✔️ Small oxygen absorbers (50cc–100cc)
✔️ Heat sealed with an impulse sealer or PackFreshUSA Mini Sealer
✔️ Labeled with date + contents
For gifting or daily kitchen use:
- clear or colored stand-up pouches are adorable and practical.
- storing in mason jars with oxygen absorbers
Pro Tip from PrepPal:
Freeze-dried herbs are low moisture, so oxygen absorbers protect color and flavor. Desiccants are not needed unless humidity is high.
How to Use Freeze-Dried Cilantro & Spinach
✔️ Crumble into soups & stews
✔️ Toss into scrambled eggs
✔️ Add to smoothies
✔️ Sprinkle into rice & beans
✔️ Rehydrate for salsa, pesto & sauces
Rehydration tip:
1 tsp freeze-dried herbs ≈ 1 tbsp fresh once rehydrated.
Why Mimi Loves Freeze-Drying Herbs
Because nothing hurts Mimi’s heart like throwing away food she meant to use.
Freeze-drying lets her:
✔️ Stretch garden harvests
✔️ Save grocery overbuys
✔️ Build food storage
✔️ Keep cooking fun & colorful
Plus… little mason jars of freeze-dried herbs with PackFreshUSA oxygen absorbers make great and easy gift. Or PackFreshUSA Stand-up Pouches look downright cute on the shelf, using oxygen absorbers to keep them fresh longer, the zip allows for sealable access once opened.
In Closing:
Freeze-drying herbs is one of those small kitchen wins that adds up to big peace of mind. A little effort today means brighter flavor, less waste, and a pantry that’s ready for busy nights (or rainy days). Whether your herbs came from Mimi’s garden or the grocery store, preserving them at peak freshness is a gift to your future self.
Happy freeze-drying, friends—your soups, eggs, and stews will thank you later.
Ola D Griffin
Long-term Food Storage Expert
Customer Service, Safeguard Brands, Inc. dba PackFreshUSA
YouTuber Pandemic Prepsters - YouTube & Mimi.storytime - YouTube
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