How To Store Fresh Basil: Herbs like basil, which can quickly wilt and spoil if they are not stored correctly. Here’s how to preserve fresh basil for as long as possible, as well as how to dry it and freeze it.
All fresh herbs die eventually. We’ve all reached into the fridge to discover the once-bountiful bunch is now sickly. Some are more quickly discarded than others. Basil is a particular culprit.
We really like its highly fragrant and sweet smell. However, its delicate and moist leaves easily bruise or mould, so unless you plan on using it right away, is it even worth the investment? We think it is! Despite the inconvenience, your fresh basil will last a long time if you take care of it carefully.
How Long Does Basil Last?
Traditionally, fresh basil lasts up to 10 days when stored properly. However, you can preserve it for much longer if you preserve it.
While basil that has been preserved well won’t actually go bad, its flavour will begin to fade over time. Regardless of how you store it for a long time, you should consume it within one year.
How to Tell When Basil Has Gone Bad?
Look – To determine whether basil is fresh, look at its leaves. If they are withered and they are no longer firm and vividly coloured, it means the basil is rotten.
Smell – It’s signature vibrant and intense scent is a sure indication of fresh basil leaves. If you can’t smell this aroma, then it is stale.
4 Ways How To Store Fresh Basil
Here’s how you can store and preserve fresh basil.
1. Store In A Plastic Bag
This method is fairly easy and the freshness of basil will last up to 7 days.
You can conserve the freshness of basil leaves by storing them in a plastic bag. Four things are needed for this method to work – basil leaves or basil plants, thin plastic, water, and a vase or container big enough to hold the cut basil.
Pro tip: It will help the basil leaves to absorb water if you cut an inch off the stems when you buy them from the store.
Fill the vase with a few inches of lukewarm water and insert the fresh basil cuttings. Cover the vase with a plastic bag.
Basil should be kept at room temperature and not in a refrigerator or near windowsills. Keep it in an open bag without compressing the leaves.
You must change the water every two days if the temperature is too cold or hot, and use the basil within a week if it’s going to go bad.
2. Treat It Like Cut Flowers (Sort Of)
Can’t make your own indoor basil garden due to space or a lack of sunlight? It’s no problem.Keeping fresh basil happy means keeping it in a plastic bag instead of admiring it as a centerpiece – not a very gorgeous centerpiece, is it? However, you’ll cultivate plenty of fresh basil.
Here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Trim the last inch or so off the stems of your cut basil before taking it out of the packaging. Doing so will help the stems absorb water more easily.
Step 2: Then, you need to put the basil in a container with a few inches of water and proceed to cover this with a grocery bag. (Remember to never tuck it in. The basil should be able to breathe freely and easily!) Produce bags are ideal for this because they don’t easily crush the basil leaves.
Step 3: If you store your basil in this way, a healthy batch will last for just over a week when stored in a corner of your counter.
If you were wondering if it would be safer to put it in the refrigerator, I would suggest not doing so. Basil does not like the cold like any grandparent in Florida. A moderate temperature is required to keep Basil healthy.
3. Freezing for Longer Storage
How can you keep basil around for longer than a few days? Freeze it! Here are several ways to do so.
You can get the greenest, freshest looks by dipping the basil in boiling salt water for 15 seconds, draining it and dropping it into ice water (either way, it sets the green color), then whirling it in a blender with some olive oil.
The purée can be poured into ice cube trays, frozen, and then transferred to bags. We know this method takes a bit of effort, but you need to know that the convenience is worth it.
You can also freeze basil in this manner by laying clean, dry basil leaves on a baking sheet, freezing them until they are solid (about an hour), and then sealing them tightly. For this method, the basil will turn almost black, but will still retain plenty of its flavor.
When you blanch the basil, squeeze it dry and then freeze it that way, it keeps much more flavor than if you dry it, squeezes it dry, and then freeze it flat.
4. Drying Basil
It’s impossible to tell how long dried basil from stores has been sitting on the shelf, which is why drying your own will be more fresh (and cheaper).
Here’s how to dry basil :
- Remove the stems from the basil.
- Basil should be thoroughly washed and dried, and the oven should be set at the lowest setting or 200 degrees F.Place the basil in an oven-safe baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If you bake the basil for two to four hours, or until it is crumbly and dry, crumble it when it has cooled completely and store it in an airtight container for up to a year.
- One teaspoon dried for one tablespoon fresh is the ratio for all dried herbs.
Final words
We hope after reading our article on how to store fresh basil now you can easily preserve your basil. If you have any queries, confusion or question let us know in the comment section. we will respond to your queries as soon as possible.