Dorot Gardens’ pre-portioned cubes are stocked at grocery stores statewide as summer cooking ramps up
Fresh herbs and garlic are some of the first things to spoil in any kitchen. The bunch of cilantro bought for one recipe usually ends up slimy in the back of the fridge, and most households throw out more than they cook with.
Dorot Gardens has built a brand around that problem. The company sells garlic and herbs frozen into small, pre-measured cubes. A cook pops one out, drops it in the pan, and skips the peeling, chopping, and measuring. The cubes are sold across the Southeast, and shoppers throughout Florida can find them at local stores.
The reasoning is straightforward. Most weeknight cooking stalls at the prep stage, and a cube of garlic that’s ready to use removes the step people avoid. The company flash-freezes its garlic and herbs at peak freshness, which it says preserves flavor and keeps the product usable for months rather than days.
“Our mission is simple, to make cooking delicious meals easy, convenient, and stress-free,” said Michele Abo, General Manager at Kayco, the company that supplies Dorot Gardens in the United States. “Home cooks are busy, and summer should be about enjoying the season, not spending it prepping in the kitchen. Families across the region can find Dorot Gardens right in their local frozen aisle.”
The line includes garlic along with herbs such as basil, parsley, cilantro, dill, ginger, and turmeric, covering most of what a home cook reaches for in summer, from grill marinades to quick sauces to a last-minute handful of herbs.
Summer is when a product like this proves its value, and Florida’s long warm season extends the window. Grilling is widespread: the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association reports that roughly three-quarters of U.S. households own a grill or smoker, and the National Barbecue & Grilling Association says ownership runs higher in the South than in any other region. How people season that food has also changed, with cooks layering marinades, rubs, and fresh herb sauces rather than relying on a single bottle. Garlic and herbs form the base of most of it.
Many of the flavors trending this year rely directly on Dorot’s products. Chimichurri is built on parsley and garlic, jerk and other spice-forward marinades depend on fresh aromatics, and the sweet-and-spicy profiles common on summer menus typically begin with garlic or ginger. For a home cook on a weeknight, pre-portioned ingredients in the freezer can be the difference between cooking and ordering out.
Cost is a factor as well. With grocery prices elevated and more families eating at home, consumers are paying closer attention to waste. Fresh herbs rank among the most frequently discarded produce items because a bunch often spoils before it is finished. A bag of frozen cubes that lasts for months is an easier purchase than herbs that wilt within days.
The company’s suggested recipes illustrate the approach. Garlic cubes melted into olive oil with lemon and paprika make a shrimp skewer marinade. A few dropped into ground beef build a more flavorful burger without mincing. Herb cubes stirred into melted butter become a finishing glaze for grilled corn. Each takes only a few minutes of hands-on work.
Dorot Gardens is available in the frozen vegetable aisle in such stores as Winn-Dixie, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Harris Teeter, putting it within reach of shoppers across Florida and the wider Southeast. Parent company Kayco also sells other products in the region, including Mighty Sesame Co. and Absolutely! Gluten Free, both carried at Publix.
Kayco, based in Bayonne, New Jersey, manufactures a range of kosher and specialty foods, including the Craize and Wonder Juice brands. Dorot Gardens is one of its better-known lines, aimed at cooks who want fresh flavor without the prep that normally comes with it.For more information, visit Dorot Gardens.
