To freeze basil, start by removing the stems and washing the leaves in cold water. Next, place the leaves in a mesh strainer with a handle and submerge the basil in a boiling pot of water for no more than 5-10 seconds. Then, immediately put the leaves in a bowl of ice water to stop them from cooking. After that, lay each leaf flat on a paper towel and let the basil dry, then place the leaves on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer. When the leaves are completely frozen, store them in a zip-lock bag or plastic container. For more tips like freezing pureed basil, read on!