Follow my tips on how to store basil to make it last as long as possible and my favorite ways to use it before it goes bad.
How I Store Fresh Basil in My Mediterranean Kitchen
Fresh basil is one of the most widely used herbs in Mediterranean cooking, and almost everyone I know loves its aromatic, sweet, and somewhat minty flavor. It adds a touch of fresh flavor and color to recipes like panzanella, tomato basil soup, and grilled pizza!
Since fresh herbs are so widely used in Mediterranean cooking, I’ve learned a thing or two over the years about how to make them last as long as possible. When it comes to storing basil, I treat it a little differently than other tender herbs like cilantro or parsley.
How to store fresh basil
To store fresh basil for up to 2 weeks, treat it almost as you would fresh-cut flowers. You will need a glass jar half filled with water, scissors and a recycled shopping bag. Follow these simple steps:
- Trim the basil stems: Take a pair of scissors and cut 1/2 inch from the stems at a 45 degree angle just like you would cut a bouquet of flowers.
- Place the basil in a jar of water: Fill a jar, vase or glass halfway with water and place a bunch of basil (cut stems down) in the water. Make sure there are no leaves in the water or they will turn dark and slimy.
- Cover with a plastic bag: Loosely cover the leaves and the entire jar of basil with plastic wrap.
- Store at room temperature: Leave the jar of basil covered on the kitchen counter. I don’t recommend refrigerating basil, as the cold can easily damage the leaves and turn them black, even if covered.
- Trim the stems and change the water occasionally: Don’t give up the bouquet of basil! Change the water every few days and give the stems some freshness.
How long does fresh basil last?
If you follow my method above and properly store fresh basil in a jar of water, loosely covered with plastic wrap, it should stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Ways to preserve fresh basil
Is it possible to freeze Basil?
Yes! If you have too much basil and want to keep it longer, freezing is a great option. It will last in the freezer for months and you can use it year round!
Make the basil cubes:
- Chop the basil and add it to a medium bowl.
- Add olive oil in a bowl with minced basil.
- Pour into an ice cube traybut leave some space at the top. If any basil is exposed, simply brush it with a little olive oil.
- Freezing: Place the ice tray in the freezer. Once frozen, remove the basil cubes from the tray and transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Use as needed to add flavor to soups, sauteed vegetables, boiled potatoes, or even defrost on a plate, add some salt, pepper and Parmesan, and use it as a dip for crusty bread.
Freezing basil leaves:
- Blanch the basil. Drop the basil leaves into the boiling water for 10 seconds, then quickly pull them out and place them in a bowl of ice water. This will help keep the bright green color. I always blanch the basil when I make pesto for the same reason.
- To dry. You can put the blanched basil in a salad spinner and spin it a few times, but I also like to wrap it in paper towels and give it a good squeeze to squeeze out all the water.
- Freeze. First, take apart the blanched leaves and arrange them on a cookie sheet, then freeze for 12 hours or so, then transfer the frozen leaves to a freezer-safe bag (do this very quickly or the leaves will thaw). Seal tightly and return to freezer.
Make the pesto!
One of my favorite ways to quickly use and preserve fresh basil is in homemade pesto! A jar of my pesto will last a good week in my fridge and you can freeze it for up to 6 months! Use pesto in pasta, as a sandwich spread, or as a fish sauce.
Recipes for using fresh basil
Tearing basil or coarsely chopping it and adding it to a recipe is an easy way to use it. Here are some of my favorite recipes that use fresh basil.
- Peach salad with arugula, basil and goat cheese
- Open sandwich with prosciutto and basil
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Vegetable sandwich with creamy whipped feta
The post How to Store Fresh Basil appeared first on The Mediterranean Dish.
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