Italian cuisine is unthinkable without the strong, slightly peppery aroma of fresh basil. But what do you do with winter? We will introduce you to four proven methods for preserving basil and provide a few more ideas.
How to preserve basil?
Preserving basil can be done by drying it, placing it in oil or vinegar, freezing it and using it as basil s alt or oil. Please note that the flavor of dry or frozen basil is less intense and basil preserved in oil will last approximately 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Can you preserve basil by drying it?
Basil can actually be preserved very well by gently drying it. However, the aroma of dried basil differs from fresh: it is bitter and duller, and it is also less intense. This is due to the volatile essential oils that are lost during drying.
You basically have three options for drying basil:
- spread out or tied in a bouquet in a warm, dark and dry place
- spread out on a baking tray at max. 75 degrees Celsius in the oven
- in a dehydrator
Store the dried basil in a well-sealed container, dry and cool.
Can basil be preserved in oil and preserved?
Alternatively, you can also soak the freshly harvested basil in oil to preserve it. Olive oil is very suitable for this as it emphasizes the aromatic taste of the herb. Pluck the basil leaves from the stem after washing them and gently patting them dry with a cloth. Then fill the leaves into a well-sealable container (e.g. a screw-top jar) and pour oil over it. The leaves must be completely covered with the oil. Basil can also be pickled in vinegar in a similar way.
How long does basil last in oil?
Freshly harvested basil preserved in oil can be stored in the refrigerator for about two to three weeks. By the way, you can also make pesto straight away:
- fresh basil leaves
- Pine nuts
- Parmesan cheese
Grind in the food processor. Slowly pour in the olive oil until you get a creamy sauce. Now season with a little s alt and enjoy over hot noodles.
Is it useful to preserve basil by freezing?
Of course you can also simply freeze fresh basil. But be careful: the herb is quite sensitive to frost and loses its aroma with this method. Sometimes, however, you have no other choice. And this is how it works:
- Harvest, wash and pat dry the basil
- fill into freezer bag
- seal airtight
- freeze, preferably with shock freezing
If you have a freezer, you can pre-freeze the leaves - whole or chopped - spread out flat on a board or plate and only then transfer them to the freezer bag. Blanching beforehand is not necessary.
Are there other methods of preserving basil?
Do you like cooking with basil? Then prepare basil oil as described above. Freeze this in ice cube trays so you always have portions suitable for cooking.
Another practical method is to make basil s alt: chop the washed and dried leaves and mix them with s alt in a 1:2 ratio. Use about two parts s alt for one part basil. Sea or rock s alt is particularly suitable. Basil s alt has a very long shelf life when stored dry and cool.
Tip
How long does fresh basil last?
If you want to use the freshly harvested basil within the following three to four days, leave the leaves on the stem and wrap the bouquet in a damp kitchen towel. This way it stays fresh for a few days in the vegetable compartment of the fridge.
