topic Re: Preserving Fresh Basil? in Recipes

Preserving Fresh Basil?

maisiebrook — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:19:38 GMT

Do you have a preferred method for preserving fresh basil? I do not usually bother, but I have been receiving a generous bunch in my weekly box from a farm.

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

Sooner — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:24:24 GMT

@maisiebrook Wash and chop, put it in ice cube trays, pour olive oil over and freeze. Great to use in soups, pizza, anywhere you need oil and basil.

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

Glittergal — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 21:03:27 GMT

Ecolution herb keeper is wonderful! Item K60523 If you don't want to wait for a purchase, store it in the fridge in a glass with water at the bottom (like you would do for fresh flowers), and put a produce bag over the leaf portion to protect it from the cold.

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

wagirl — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:37:11 GMT

Try microwave- drying it---surprisingly--it works great and keeps the color very green. Google the times. I have done this for basil, parsley, chives, mint and it really works and it lasts and the herbs smell and taste fresh.

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

sunshine45 — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 15:05:08 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
Try microwave- drying it---surprisingly--it works great and keeps the color very green. Google the times. I have done this for basil, parsley, chives, mint and it really works and it lasts and the herbs smell and taste fresh.

@wagirl

my friend was JUST telling me about this for all of the mint i have in my garden. she said about 1 minute in the microwave and that if it doesnt look dry enough, try another minute or less. she was saying it is fast and easy.

do you just put it on a plate or paper towel?

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

sabatini — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 02:46:41 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@maisiebrook Wash and chop, put it in ice cube trays, pour olive oil over and freeze. Great to use in soups, pizza, anywhere you need oil and basil.

I do the same, but use either white wine or water just enough to submerge the basil.

I put it all in a big ziploc baggie & lay it flat on a small cookie sheet in the freezer till solid.

Just break off hunks as you go.

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

wagirl — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 12:59:12 GMT

@sunshine45 ---it works great . I used multi layers of paper towels--maybe 4 or 5 on a reg plate --had no paper plate and only nuked them maybe 15 or 20 seconds at a time just to see how they would re -act; it might have been a minute or a bit more in total but I was being cautious too--you don't want to burn them and I covered them with another paper towel----I also washed it all and made sure the herbs were dried before--- then let them cool off and crumbled them a bit to put into containers. You'll know when they are dried as they get a very nice green color and obviously will crumble.Not sure how much time is saved but they sure looked good.

Re: Preserving Fresh Basil?

January121 — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:51:19 GMT

Thanks for all the GREAT ideas 💖