Rocket is a very nutritious leafy green vegetable. It’s known for its fresh, bitter, tart, and peppery flavor. Like most vegetables, rockets are very perishable. Once it’s harvested, it will start to go bad unless it’s properly stored. You have the option to keep them in the fridge, but would freezing rockets be possible?
So can you freeze rocket? Yes, you can freeze rocket, and they freeze very well. However, simply tossing a bag of rockets into the freezer isn’t going to keep them fresh. As it freezes, the leafy green will end up in clumps. When you thaw them, you’ll get mushy rockets which will be unusable.
Should You Freeze Rocket?
It all depends on what you’ll be using them for. It’s a good idea to freeze rocket if you want to make a pesto or use them to cook a meal. These foods require the rockets to be mixed with water anyways.
On the other hand, freezing rocket leaves isn’t recommended if you’re planning to use them later in a salad or to eat it fresh. Unfortunately, rocket leaves will lose some of their flavor and texture when they’re frozen. After it thaws, instead of a nice firm texture, you’ll end up with a mushy texture.
Does Rocket Freeze Well?
Due to their texture, rocket leaves freeze very well. The leaves are thin and soft which makes them freeze quickly in the freezer.
In order for the rocket leaves to stay fresh in the freezer, they need to be prepped first. By prepping them first, it will help preserve the taste and texture of the leafy greens.
How To Freeze Rocket?
When it comes to freezing rockets, you’ll have two methods of freezing them. You can either freeze them as ice cubes or freeze them fresh.
Below are the two methods to freeze the rocket:
Freezing Ice Cube Rocket
- Start by cleaning the rocket leaves thoroughly to remove any grits and bugs.
- In a clean ice cube tray, pack the leaves into the slots. You can pack them tightly in each slot and leave a little space at the top.
- Grab olive oil and pour it into each slot. Make sure the rocket is submerged.
- Place the tray of ice cubes into the freezer for about 3-4 hours.
- Once it’s completely frozen, you can either keep them in the tray or transfer them to a freezer bag.
- If using a freezer bag, transfer the ice cubes immediately to the bag. Then press on the bag to remove excess air in there. Seal the bag tightly and label it. If using the ice tray, cover the entire tray with a wrapper, and label it with a date.
- Place them into the freezer.
Freezing Fresh Rocket
- Give the rocket leaves a good cleaning to remove debris and bugs from them.
- Let it sit in a colander for about 10 minutes to let the water drain.
- Lay the leaves on a clean table.
- With a clean dry cloth or paper towel, gently dab the leaves to remove any excess moisture.
- On a clean tray, lay a sheet of baking or wax paper.
- Spread the rocket leaves over the sheet, keeping them spaced from each other.
- Place the tray into the freezer and flash freeze them for about 2-3 hours.
- Once it’s completely frozen, remove the leaves from the freezer and immediately transfer them to a freezer bag or an airtight container.
- If using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any air that’s in there.
- Seal the bag or the container tightly.
- Label the bag or container with a date and place it back in the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Rocket?
Like other leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce, the rocket is very perishable. Due to their soft and thin leaves, they will slowly start to degrade in the freezer.
Therefore, rocket leaves should be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. After that, the leafy greens can still be eaten, but you won’t get that fresh taste like the day it was harvested. The flavors and texture will slowly deteriorate at the passing of each month.
After 6 months or so, the rocket will no longer be usable. Due to the freezer burn, the leafy greens will be a piece of ice that has lost all of its flavor and texture.
How Do You Defrost Rocket?
It depends on how you’ll be using rocket for. For cooking a delicious meal that requires some pepper taste, simply add cubes of the frozen rocket into the pan. Stir the cubes until it completely melts.
For all other use, place the frozen rocket on a plate and put them into the fridge. Let it thaw for about 3-4 hours before using them. Thawing frozen rockets will make it possible to be used in a raw dish or as pesto.
Can You Refreeze Rocket?
Refreezing rocket leaves that have already thawed is not recommended. When the leafy greens are frozen, the texture and flavor have already degraded a little. Then as you thaw them, the rockets will further degrade due to the moisture. The moisture will cause the rockets to become soft and mushy.
Therefore, as you try to refreeze the rocket, it will ruin the texture and flavor.
Related Questions
Can you freeze rocket pesto?
Like other types of pesto such as basil pesto and cilantro pesto, rocket pesto can be frozen as well. The method of freezing rocket pesto is the same as freezing rocket leaves, which is in this article above.
First, you’ll want to make a batch of rocket pesto. Make as much or little as you need. If you’re planning to use a lot of it, make a large batch of them. Rocket pesto takes a lot of time to make and prepare. Also, pesto usually lasts very long in the freezer, so it doesn’t hurt to make a large batch for later use.
Making rocket pesto is simple. Gather all the ingredients you need such as garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan, salt, and rocket leaves. In a mortar, use the pestle to pound it until it reaches the desired consistency.
Can you freeze rocket soup?
Yes, soups that use rocket leaves can be frozen. Make sure the soup has completely cooled down first. Otherwise, it will cause excess moisture in the container when it’s freezing.
After the rocket soup has cooled down, pour the soup into an airtight container. Keep about an inch of space at the top for the soup to expand. If not, the expansion of the soup could break the container and cause a mess in the freezer. Then seal the container tight with a lid and label it with a date. Place it into the freezer and use the soup within 3 months for the best quality.