Wondering how to store basil and keep it from wilting or turning black too quickly? I have you covered with the BEST, No-Fail Hack!
Fresh basil is among the widely used herbs in Mediterranean cooking, and almost everyone I know enjoys its aromatic, sweet, and somewhat minty flavor. It can be the one ingredient to add a pop of fresh flavor and color to your meal!
I use basil all summer long in things like panzanella , tomato basil soup , and grilled pizza !
We all know fresh basil is tricky to keep alive past a couple of days without the leaves wilting and turning dark on you. One of my go-to ways to quickly use and preserve fresh basil is homemade pesto ! A jar of my pesto will last a good week in my fridge, and I make good use of it in pasta , pesto chicken , or to spread over a perfectly baked chilean sea bass .
Another one of my go-to hacks for how to keep basil fresh is to simply treat it like I do a flower bouquet by storing my trimmed basil in a jar or glass of water, covered loosely with a plastic bag. Works like a charm! (I use a similar method to store other fresh herbs .) I shared my hack earlier on Instagram , and so many people had questions, so I thought I would write out exactly how I store basil and keep it for a good 1 to 2 weeks on my kitchen counter.
How to Store Fresh Basil:
Time needed: 5 minutes
In these next easy steps, I’ll show you how to store fresh basil properly so it will last for up to 2 weeks! You’ll need a glass jar half way filled with water, a pair of scissors, and a recycled shopping bag. Follow these simple steps for the best way to store your fresh basil leaves:
- Trim the Basil Stems Grab a pair of scissors and snip a little bit off the end of the stems at a 45-degree angle just as you would a flower bouquet.
- Put the Basil in a Jar or Glass Vase with Water Fill a jar, a vase, or a glass half-way or so with water and put the basil bouquet (trimmed-stems down) in the water. Make sure no leaves are in the water or they will turn dark and slimy.
- Cover with a Plastic Bag Cover the leaves and the entire jar of basil loosely with a plastic bag.
- Store Basil Jar at Room Temperature Leave the covered jar of basil on your kitchen counter. I don’t recommend storing basil in the fridge as the leaves can easily turn dark, even if covered.
- Trim the Stems and Replace the Water Occasionally Don’t abandon your basil bouquet! Change the water every few days and give the stems a fresh little trim.
How long will fresh basil last after picking?
If you follow my method above and store fresh basil properly in a jar of water covered loosely with a plastic bag, it should last fresh for 1 to 2 weeks.
Can you freeze basil?
Yes! If you have way too much basil and you want to keep it for longer, freezing it is a great option. It will last in the freezer for months and you can use it year-round! There are many ways to freeze basil, and some involve cubes of chopped basil preserved in extra virgin olive oil , but here’s the very basic method for how to freeze basil leaves:
Blanch the basil. Throw the basil leaves in boiling water for 10 seconds, then quickly pull them out and put them a bowl of iced water. This will help preserve the bright green color (I always blanch my basil when I make pesto for the same reason!)
Wring out all the water. You can put the blanched basil in a salad spinner and give it a few spins, but I also like to wrap it in paper towels and give it a good squeeze to wring out all the water.
Freeze. First, pull the blanched leaves apart and arrange them on a cookie sheet, then freeze for 12 hours or so, then transfer the frozen leaves to freezer-safe bag (do this very quickly or the leaves will thaw). Close tightly and return to the freezer.
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