How Do I Keep Cut Basil Fresh – Award-winning food writer and cookbook author Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes that focus on local, seasonal ingredients.
Basil, especially sweet basil or Genoese basil, which is very popular in Italian cooking and used in pesto, is quite difficult to keep fresh. It turns black and dries surprisingly quickly. However, there are ways to keep the leaves fresh after the stems have been harvested. The fresher the basil you buy, of course, the longer it will last anyway.
How Do I Keep Cut Basil Fresh
The best way to store basil is to put the bunch in a bottle or jar filled with water like the flowers.
How To Dry Basil
Cut off the cut ends, put the bunch in a glass, jar or vase of water that will fit in the refrigerator, and cover everything, or at least the basil leaves, with a plastic bag. Put it all in the refrigerator. Basil stored this way will stay fresh and green for up to a week.
Does it hurt a little? Of course. Not super-duper comfortable? Fair point. Are you taking up a lot of space in the fridge? No one could argue about that. Does it also keep the basil fresh as long as possible? It definitely does.
We’ve found that the best approach isn’t always as practical as we’d like. Fortunately, there is a second best option that is still completely useful.
The second best way to store basil is to store it as a salad green: lift the leaves from the stem and place them in a more or less single layer on paper towels or a clean kitchen towel, roll the towel around the leaves, and place the roll in a plastic bag. This method keeps the leaves moist, but not wet and soggy.
How To Store Basil (and Keep It Fresh For Months On End)
Want to store basil for more than a few days? Freeze it! There are several ways to do this effectively.
For the greenest, freshest basil: blanch the basil in boiling salted water for 15 seconds, drain and cool quickly in ice water (this gives it the green color), then blitz in a blender with a little olive oil. You can pour the puree into ice buckets, freeze them, and transfer the cubes to resealable plastic bags, where they keep for up to a year.
True, this method requires a little work. Alternatively, you can place clean, dry basil leaves in a baking dish, freeze until frozen (about an hour) and transfer to resealable plastic bags. Basil frozen this way will turn a dark, almost black color, but retain plenty of basil flavor. To keep it green, it must be blanched, dried and laid flat to freeze. Once you bother to blanch the basil, it’s worth pureeing and freezing it this way, as it retains more flavor that way. If you have more basil in your garden than you can use when it’s fresh, the solution is to put it in the freezer and enjoy fresh basil all year long. There are three different ways to freeze it to use throughout the year.
Wash and dry the basil leaves. Then throw away the legs. Spread them on a cookie sheet and freeze. Transfer the frozen basil to freezer bags and use as needed.
How To Harvest Basil
Blanch the washed basil leaves for 15 seconds and plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking process. Dry the leaves thoroughly, then freeze and transfer to freezer bags as described in option 1.
Use a food processor to coarsely chop the washed basil leaves. Add a drizzle of olive oil and pulse to lightly coat the leaves with oil; this will keep the basil from turning dark in the freezer. Place the resulting mixture in ice trays and freeze. Transfer the finished cubes to freezer bags and use as needed. One cube is usually equal to about two tablespoons of fresh basil. Measure your icebox to find out how much yours is.
If you want larger cubes, use two-inch ice cubes. Each cube will contain about half a cup of basil. It’s also a great size for freezing excess broth, wine, and buttermilk.
Dry some basil from your garden so you don’t have to buy dried basil at the grocery store. You can use a dehydrator or low heat oven to dry them quickly, but if you’re not in a rush, hang small bunches of basil upside down in a warm, dry room and let them air dry. It may take a few weeks, but if you have lots of fresh basil on hand, it will probably be a while before you need it. Store your dried basil in an airtight container in your pantry. Make sure you tag it. All those little jars of dried herbs at home start to look the same after a while. Dried basil tied with a cute ribbon from your garden makes a thoughtful gift for friends. Chop the herbs very quickly, especially the basil! Want to extend the life of your grass? There is a trick to preserving fresh basil.
How To Store Basil And Tomatoes
Have you ever brought fresh herbs inside, only to have them wither a few hours later? We brought basil from our garden and put it in a glass of water, only to find it completely wilted within 1 hour! Luckily, we’ve found a trick to storing fresh basil: all you need is a canning jar. The canning jar method keeps basil fresh for 3-5 days! How to store fresh basil indoors to extend its life.
First of all, it is a fresh storage method for the stem of the basil leaf, not for the cut basil leaf. Can you store fresh cut basil leaves? Unfortunately, not really. Basil leaves removed from the stems do not store well. We recommend using basil leaves on the day of harvest. Make a batch of pesto with the leftovers!
For this method, you will need basil sprigs with the leaves still attached to the stem. All you need is a large tin jar with a lid, such as a Ball jar or mason jar. What to do:
A store-bought herb saver works just as well for storing fresh basil and any type of other herb! We’ve been using ours for years and love it. Store-bought weed killer works best for taller herbs like cilantro and parsley. The same idea is the canning pot method, but it works perfectly for basil as it provides a little more room for the branches.
Storing Fresh Basil Leaves (best Ways To Preserve)
Growing your own basil at home? If not, you should be! Basil is easy to grow and all you need is a pot and a sunny shelf. Here are all our tips for growing basil. See also our quick guide to Basil.
Want the best ways to store other herbs? How to store cilantro, how to store parsley, how to store mint or how to store fresh herbs.
Alex is definitely basil and my staple herb to grow and cook with! It might be because we love cooking Italian recipes and basil is key to Italian cooking! But basil works in all kinds of different dishes. Some of our favorite recipes with basil:
Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and Wife. Experienced cooks at home. Authors of recipes that you will want to repeat. How do you store basil and keep it from wilting or turning black too quickly? I have you covered with the BEST, No-Fail Hack!
How To Harvest Basil From Your Garden And Use It At Home
Fresh basil is among the most widely used herbs in Mediterranean cuisine, and almost everyone I know enjoys its aromatic, sweet, and slightly minty flavor. It can be the only ingredient to add flavor and fresh color to your meals!
We all know it’s hard to keep fresh basil alive for more than a few days without the leaves wilting and turning black on you. One of the best ways to use and store fresh basil quickly is with homemade pesto! A jar of pesto will last a good week in my fridge, and I put it to good use as a spread over pasta, pesto chicken, or perfectly cooked chili sea urchin.
One of my best ways to keep basil fresh is to treat my cut basil like a bouquet of flowers by keeping it in a jar or glass of water. Works like a charm! (I use a similar method to store other fresh herbs.) I shared my hack on Instagram before and so many people had questions, so I thought I’d post how I store basil and 1 to 2 . on my kitchen counter for weeks.
In these next easy steps, I’ll show you how to properly store fresh basil so it lasts up to 2 weeks! You will need a glass container half filled with water, a couple
How To Store Fresh Herbs So They Last Longer (parsley, Cilantro & More!)
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Author by : Patricia Tanumihardja
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2020-07-21
Publisher by : Rockridge Press
ISBN :
Description : Easy recipes for making pickles and fermented foods from all over Asia Whether you’re a first-time fermenter or a pickling pro, it’s never been easier to create flavorful Asian pickles from the comfort of your own kitchen. Asian Pickles at Home is packed with straightforward guidance and delicious recipes for fast and fresh pickles, chutneys and sauces, kimchi, and other fermented foods from Japan, China, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia. This guide to Asian pickling includes: A pickling primer―Learn all about the history and process of fermentation, the health benefits of pickles, using the right ingredients, and how to outfit your kitchen for pickling success. Your pickling passport―Explore what makes each country’s pickles and pickling techniques unique, and get detailed instructions for canning and fermenting Asian pickles. Simple recipes―Discover uncomplicated recipes that require only easy-to-find ingredients and basic techniques to create the complex flavor profiles you know and love. Master the art of Asian pickles from around the globe with this essential pickling book....
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Author by : Jill Winger
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2019-04-02
Publisher by : Flatiron Books
ISBN :
Description : Jill Winger, creator of the award-winning blog The Prairie Homestead, introduces her debut The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, including 100+ delicious, wholesome recipes made with fresh ingredients to bring the flavors and spirit of homestead cooking to any kitchen table. With a foreword by bestselling author Joel Salatin The Pioneer Woman Cooks meets 100 Days of Real Food, on the Wyoming prairie. While Jill produces much of her own food on her Wyoming ranch, you don’t have to grow all—or even any—of your own food to cook and eat like a homesteader. Jill teaches people how to make delicious traditional American comfort food recipes with whole ingredients and shows that you don’t have to use obscure items to enjoy this lifestyle. And as a busy mother of three, Jill knows how to make recipes easy and delicious for all ages. "Jill takes you on an insightful and delicious journey of becoming a homesteader. This book is packed with so much easy to follow, practical, hands-on information about steps you can take towards integrating homesteading into your life. It is packed full of exciting and mouth-watering recipes and heartwarming stories of her unique adventure into homesteading. These recipes are ones I know I will be using regularly in my kitchen." - Eve Kilcher These 109 recipes include her family’s favorites, with maple-glazed pork chops, butternut Alfredo pasta, and browned butter skillet corn. Jill also shares 17 bonus recipes for homemade sauces, salt rubs, sour cream, and the like—staples that many people are surprised to learn you can make yourself. Beyond these recipes, The Prairie Homestead Cookbook shares the tools and tips Jill has learned from life on the homestead, like how to churn your own butter, feed a family on a budget, and experience all the fulfilling satisfaction of a DIY lifestyle....
Growing Using Basil
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Author by : Ellen Ogden
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 1990-01-09
Publisher by : Storey Publishing, LLC
ISBN :
Description : EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BASIL – AND MORE! Basil is one of the most popular and widely grown herbs in the world. With its delicate aroma and sweet-spicy flavor, it’s no wonder that basil, a staple in kitchens around the world, is the favorite culinary herb of today’s chefs! In Growing & Using Basil, Ellen Ogden offers all the information you'll need to grow, harvest, and cook with basil in all its varieties of flavor. Whatever the basil you want to grow--sweet, purple, opal, lemon, cinnamon, anise, napoleatano, camphor, holy, or something more exotic--the information you need is right at your fingertips. Better still, you'll find dozens of recipes for using your basil in everything from pestos and basil vinegars to grilled bluefish wrapped in mammoth basil leaves and cinnamon basil custard....
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Author by : Andrea Nguyen
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2019-02-05
Publisher by : Ten Speed Press
ISBN :
Description : Delicious, fresh Vietnamese food is achievable any night of the week with this cookbook's 80 accessible, easy recipes. IACP AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The Washington Post • Eater • Food52 • Epicurious • Christian Science Monitor • Library Journal Drawing on decades of experience, as well as the cooking hacks her mom adopted after fleeing from Vietnam to America, award-winning author Andrea Nguyen shows you how to use easy-to-find ingredients to create true Vietnamese flavors at home—fast. With Nguyen as your guide, there’s no need to take a trip to a specialty grocer for favorites such as banh mi, rice paper rolls, and pho, as well as recipes for Honey-Glazed Pork Riblets, Chile Garlic Chicken Wings, Vibrant Turmeric Coconut Rice, and No-Churn Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream. Nguyen’s tips and tricks for creating Viet food from ingredients at national supermarkets are indispensable, liberating home cooks and making everyday cooking easier....
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Author by : Lisa Steele
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2013
Publisher by :
ISBN :
Description : More than ever, Americans care about the quality and safety of the food they eat. They're bringing back an American tradition: raising their own backyard chickens for eggs and companionship. And they care about the quality of life of their chickens. Fresh Eggs Daily is an authoritative, accessible guide to coops, nesting boxes, runs, breeding, feed, and natural health care with time-tested remedies. The author promotes the benefits of keeping chickens happy and well-occupied, and in optimal health, free of chemicals and antibiotics. She emphasizes the therapeutic value of herbs and natural supplements to maintaining a healthy environment for your chickens. Includes many "recipes" and 8 easy DIY projects for the coop and run. Full color photos throughout. The USDA's new study of urban chicken raising sees a 400% increase in backyard chickens over the next 5 years, driven by younger adults....
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Author by : Katherine Hengel
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2012-01-01
Publisher by : ABDO
ISBN :
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Author by : Andy Tomolonis
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2014-04-29
Publisher by : Fox Chapel Publishing
ISBN :
Description : In Organic Hobby Farming, Andy Tomolonis, a longtime organic gardener, part-time hobby farmer, and award-winning Boston-area journalist, strips down the concept of "organic" and explains why natural farming has emerged as the healthiest and most viable method of growing for hobby farms and other small-scale operations. In addition to the improved taste and the appeal of excluding toxic materials, organic farming benefits farmers, their families, and the environment. It offers economic plusses as well. The current consumer demand for "local" and "organic" food underscores the need for small hobby farms that offer unique high-end goods. Tomolonis explains the basic principles of organic farming and describes how hobby farmers and their families can eat healthier, save money, help preserve the environment, and even turn their passion into a small-scale side business.Chapter 1 will help you assess the land you live on to determine whether it's suited for organic vegetables, fruit, berries, or livestock. Farmers who are looking to lease or buy land will find practical advice on how to evaluate properties and find their best use, taking climate, soil, water and geography into consideration. In Chapter 2, Tomolonis continues with practical advice on how to choose the right tools without overspending;starting slowly with quality hand implements and then expanding as you determine the need for costlier power equipment.Chapter 3 moves on to the heart of any successful organic farm;building the soil. "The Good Earth" brings readers down to earth, i.e., the soil. You'll learn how to evaluate and improve your soil with compost and cover crops and protect it from erosion, chemical contamination and other harm. The author also stresses the importance of understanding the complex relationship between underground soil organisms that play such a crucial role in natural plant health. The best soil, with the right balance of nutrients and a healthy population of microbes, will help your plants survive hardship, resist diseases and produce healthier more bountiful harvests, the author explains.Chapter 4 walks you through the steps needed to develop an organized farm plan. The chapter presents a convenient month-by-month overview of the farmer's year, offering a timeline and detailed instructions for sowing seeds indoors, transplanting seedlings, guarding against insects and weeds, harvesting, planting cover crops extending the season and developing a schedule for successive food crops. Whether you want to feed your growing family all summer long or produce enough food for a small-scale agribusiness, the information here is invaluable. This chapter also covers organic methods for harnessing the power of nature by luring beneficial insects that will help control farm and garden pests.Learn about heirlooms, hybrids, and eclectic vegetable varieties in the comprehensive directory of vegetable crops and herbs introduced in Chapter 5. Tomolonis reveals his favorite varieties, including many alluring heirlooms that have grown in popularity. Each crop description offers detailed information on soil preparation, sowing, companion planting, and battling weeds and insects without harmful chemicals. The author, a former produce manager for a national grocery chain, also includes tips for harvesting crops, prepping them for display, and bringing the goods to market.If you're looking for advice on fruits and berries, Organic Hobby Farms introduces new options in Chapter 6, where the author suggests ways to branch out with Asian pears, peaches, and apples, as well as nutritious blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. As he does in other chapters, Tomolonis explains in common terms, how to choose the best varieties for your region, prepare the soil for maximum production, and deal with pests and diseases organically.Organic Hobby Farming also describes the basics of adding chickens to your farm;for wholesome organic eggs or pastured meat. Select the right breeds, raise a flock from day-old chicks and protect the birds from predators and pests the natural way. Tomolonis also delves into the fascinating world of apiculture in Chapter 8. He and his wife, Valerie, are avid beekeepers with hives that produce gallons of healthy unpasteurized local honey. In addition to bees, the book provides insight into keeping such small livestock as meat rabbits and dairy goats.Hobby farmers who want to turn their agricultural skills into a money-making operation will find practical advice in Chapter 9, which discusses commercial options. Learn how to sell your goods to local restaurants, at farmers' markets, or as part of a community-supported-agriculture (CSA) program. And, once you make a decision to turn commercial, you'll find advice in developing a business plan, crafting a mission statement, setting goals, and creating farm budgets. You'll also learn the myriad benefits;and challenges;of becoming USDA certified organic.Finally, Organic Hobby Farming steers you to multiple sources of additional information with an extensive listing of resources, broken down by subject and chapter. With Organic Hobby Farming, creative-thinking readers will learn ways to increase the profitability of their organic ventures. The reader can decide to transform his hobby farm into a specialty destination for heirloom varieties, organic raw honey, preserves, dried herbs, or a particularly desirable breed of heritage livestock.As Tomolonis states in the book's introduction, "eat safer, more nutritious food, learn about your soil and plants, support the local food movement and help save the planet;one acre at a time."...
