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Store the basil leaves like salad greens. Pick, wash, and dry the leaves, then store in the fridge wrapped in a dry paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag. Clean, dry, ready to roll. This baggie will be the basil’s home for the next several days.
How do you preserve fresh basil leaves?
Go ahead and remove the leaves from the stems. Wash and dry the leaves, using either a paper towel or a salad spinner. Wrap the basil leaves in a dry paper towel and place inside a plastic bag. Seal and store for one to two weeks.
What is the best way to preserve basil?
Directions: Remove fresh basil leaves from the stem, then wash and dry completely. Use a food processor to puree the basil leaves with olive oil. Freeze the pureed basil in an ice cube tray, after frozen remove cubes and then store in a large resealable plastic bag or freezer-safe container.
How long does basil stay fresh in the fridge?
When properly stored, fresh basil can last up to 10 days. However, when you preserve it, you can keep it for much longer. What is this? Even though well preserved basil doesn’t really go bad, it will start to lose its flavor over time.
How do you preserve fresh basil without drying it out?
Freeze basil whole leaves in these 3 easy steps: Blanch: Remove the basil leaves from the stem and blanch them in boiling water for 2 seconds. Ice bath: Transfer the leaves to an ice bath. Dry & freeze: Dry completely and store in a freezer-safe container, separating the layers with wax or parchment paper.
Is it better to dry or freeze basil?
You can dry it or freeze it, but freezing retains the fresh taste better. Before you start, wash basil in cold water and dry; a salad spinner works well for this step.
Can I freeze basil leaves whole?
Freeze leaves whole. Yes, seconds. You don’t want to cook them. Blanching helps retain basil’s nice green color. Use a strainer or slotted spoon to remove them and place in the cold water for several seconds to cool down and stop the cooking.
How should I store my basil plant?
Store the basil leaves like salad greens. Pick, wash, and dry the leaves, then store in the fridge wrapped in a dry paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag. Clean, dry, ready to roll. This baggie will be the basil’s home for the next several days.
Can I freeze fresh basil without blanching?
To freeze basil, blanch the leaves, flash freeze them separately, then combine and freeze them long-term in an airtight, freezer-safe container. If you don’t need to preserve individual leaves, you can also freeze basil without blanching and flash freezing it, or you can freeze basil in puréed form.
Is wilted basil OK to eat?
It won’t be very good for garnish, but if all you need out of it is its flavor, then it’s fine. Blended into a puree or simmered in a sauce at the last minute, it still tastes fine to me. Even just by themselves, the mottled leaves have tasted fine, just a little rougher texture.
What do you do with basil after cutting?
Trim the cut ends, put the bunch in a glass, jar, or vase of water that will fit in the fridge, and cover the whole thing, or at least the basil leaves, with a plastic bag. Put the whole in in a refrigerator. Basil kept that way will stay vibrant and green for up to a week.
How do you make basil last longer?
Basil likes moisture too – but not too much. Its soil should be kept moist, but not soggy, or its roots may rot. Make sure your indoor container has good drainage. Fertilising your basil plants every few weeks will keep them strong and healthy.
How do you freeze basil without turning it black?
Chop and Freeze Add a drizzle of olive oil and pulse to lightly coat the leaves with oil; this will keep the basil from turning black in the freezer. Scoop the resulting mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. Transfer the finished cubes to freezer bags and use as needed.
How long will basil keep in olive oil?
Other Useful Tips for How to Store Basil It will last up to 2 days when wrapped in a paper towel and put in a plastic bag. If you cover the leaves with olive oil, they can last up to 2 months.
How do you keep basil fresh in the freezer?
To freeze whole basil leaves, lay the clean, dry basil out in a single layer in a baking sheet or tray. Slide the basil into the freezer. Check on the basil after about thirty minutes. When the leaves are all frozen, you can take them out of the freezer and move them to an airtight bag.
Can you freeze basil in butter?
The flavour of the basil is contained in the butter and it is great way to preserve excess fresh herbs. Basil butter will keep stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How do you use frozen basil leaves?
For this reason, frozen basil is best used in cooked dishes such as stew, soup, sauces, baked crumbed toppings, and pesto. Coating basil lightly with olive oil before freezing preserves the color of the leaves, preventing them from turning dark green or black when frozen.
Can you dry fresh basil?
Yes, you can air-dry basil! The best way to do this is to wash the basil leaves, dry them with a towel, and then tie them up using their stems. Then, hang them in a cool, dry place (ideally high in your kitchen). It’ll take 4 to 5 weeks to fully air-dry though!May 3, 2021.
