Can you freeze watercress?
Watercress, like all salad, has a shorter shelf-life than many other fruits and vegetables. In its natural habitat, watercress has floating roots that soak up key nutrients from the water; once harvested, it can only survive so long without its liquid life-source.
The best place for any bagged salad is, of course, the fridge. Did you know that our plastic-free watercress bunches can be stored in a glass of water in the fridge to prolong freshness? Even still, you might not get around to using it all in time, so what can you do with your leftover watercress?
We’re not keen on wasting anything, let alone our delicious and nutritious watercress, so think about these handy suggestions before you even consider the compost bin:
Freezing watercress 3 ways:
PESTO. Watercress pesto is fantastic for freezing. Try our favourite Watercress Pesto Recipe, why not make a big batch and freeze portions for future? Read Jamie Oliver’s method of freezing pesto for top tips on how to do this.
SOUP. Whilst it can be enjoyed hot or cold, watercress soup is another freezer favourite. Our Classic Watercress Soup Recipe will serve 4, but you can double the ingredients to make a big batch that will freeze brilliantly – perfect as the winter weather creeps in!
CHOPPED. You can freeze fresh watercress. You will have to cook with it once defrosted as the temperature changes will soften the leaves, meaning it won’t pack a crunch if you tried to enjoy it raw but still great for soups. If you’re tight on freezer space, why not chop it up first? Remember, you can use the whole plant! Pop it all in an air-tight container or bag and freeze.
Of course, there are lots more watercress recipes that can be frozen, but we’ve found that these are the 3 best ways to utilise watercress.
