How to save fresh basil

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.

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. To freeze your basil, pull leaves from stems. … Pat leaves dry and store in a large, freezer-safe container, separating each layer with plastic wrap.

Wash, dry & slice basil leaves. Divide among ice cube tray sections. Add either water or broth to cover leaves. Freeze until firm and place in labeled freezer bags (or use ice cube trays with covers and store them in the trays).

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.

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!

Freeze leaves whole.

Blanch the leaves in boiling water for 3-5 seconds. … You can use it to dry the leaves. Once dry, place layers of basil leaves, separated by parchment paper, in a freezer bag. Place flat in the freezer.

Preserved in oil-

Use a food processor to puree the basil leaves with olive oil. Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil per 1 cup of basil. 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.

Crush dry basil leaves using clean dry hands, a ziplock bag, food processor, or mortar and pestle. Store dried basil in a glass container with an air-tight lid in a dark, cool, dry location. It should remain very flavorful and crisp for over a year stored in the pantry. Enjoy!

Prep: Remove the basil leaves from the stem, then wash and dry completely. Dry: Set your oven to the lowest temperature. Place the basil leaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then place it on the upper rack of the oven. Bake for 2-4 hours, until the leaves are crumbly.

Basil should be harvested just before it flowers for maximum flavor. The best way to dry basil is by hanging it upside down in a warm, dry place. If you’re in a hurry, though, you can dry basil in the oven or a food dehydrator instead.

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.

Using an air fryer is another quick and convenient method of drying basil at home. It literally takes 3 minutes of your time.

Wash basil by gently swishing in a bowl of running water. … It’s very important to remove surface moisture from basil before you hang or bag it to dry. If you do not, you risk getting mold or brown water spots on your leaves – and you really don’t want that! In other words, dry your basil before you dry it!

One method for drying leaves is to hang bunches, upside-down by the stem, in a warm, dry, well-ventilated room for a week or more. You can run a sort of “clothesline” in a quiet, undisturbed part of your home from which basil can be hung.

Here’s how to dry basil in an air fryer. … Place the basil leaves on the basket. Make sure to choose leaves that have the same sizes so they’ll dry at the same time. Cover them with a rack or place a trivet over the herbs so they won’t fly up.

Here’s how we do it: Spread your herbs (leaves and tender stems only) in an even layer on a paper towel and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Toss the herbs and continue to microwave in 15-30 second increments until the herbs are completely dried.

Drying herbs in an air fryer is a simple process. Set the air fryer temperature to 360°F, place the herbs in the fryer, and let them dry out for around 3-4 minutes. This will quickly and efficiently dry out your herbs.