Fresh basil is my all-time favorite green herb for snipping into spring and summer dishes. But how to store basil to keep it fresh for longer than a day or two? Learn easy tips to store basil so it lasts for a week or longer!
I love the sweet, peppery taste of garden fresh basil! The basil you see in this picture was grown by a friend.
Seems I’m always needing to ripen things quickly or keep it fresh for just a little bit longer. And like most folks, I try not to throw food away, especially fresh produce like basil.
Just a few weeks ago I was heading out to a party and bringing my famous Lime Avocado Black Bean Dip with feta. I serve it with blue chips and it always goes fast. So I raced out at the eleventh hour to get the avocados, which of course wasn’t the smartest idea.
Murphy’s Law – every avocado in that bin was green and rock hard. So I was stuck. I bought some anyway because I was in a time crunch and figured I could google “how to ripen avocados fast”.
So I had just one day ’til the party. No surprise, there were lots of google opinions about how to ripen an avocado fast. One said to microwave it on low for a short time. (I don’t recommend it – I torched one in less than a minute.) Another suggested storing avocados overnight in a brown paper lunch bag filled with all purpose flour.
I dutifully buried the avocados in flour in the brown lunch bag and waited for my miracle. (It never came.) The next morning the avocados were still bright green and rock hard. On the way to the party I stopped at a different grocery store and was greatly relieved to find a couple of perfectly ripe ones for my dip! (So if you know how to ripen an avocado fast – do tell. I’m all ears. So far my only proven method is to try a different grocery store, lol!)
But today I’m talking about the best way to store fresh basil. Basil is great in light, summer dishes and it’s relatively easy to grow in your garden or in containers on the patio.
So this is the first summer in ages I haven’t had fresh basil growing outside my kitchen door. We just moved and I haven’t had time to get any in the ground. I’ve been unpacking boxes instead. Fun fun. (Trust me, I’d rather be gardening!) So I was very grateful to receive this basil as a gift.
For years I stored basil in the refrigerator. In a short time the leaves would get black spots, wilt and get moldy fast. Then I picked up a few basil storage tips along the way from a gardening friend.
How to Store Basil
- Treat the fresh basil stems like a flower bouquet, snipping the ends on an angle.
- Place in a glass or mason jar filled with fresh water.
- Trim leaves at the base of the stem so they are not submerged.
- Keep the jar out on the counter at room temperature.
- *Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a sandwich bag if you like. But make sure the leaves can still breathe!
- Trim ends and change the water every few days as needed.
- Do not refrigerate.
*The loose plastic wrap or sandwich bag over the basil leaves traps some of the ethylene gases the basil naturally produces and helps to keep it fresh. The basil I experimented with was still fresh and unspotted for nearly two weeks. The stems actually rooted!
My favorite recipe using fresh basil is this Grilled Corn Basil Tomato Salad w/Feta. Irresistible with fresh farm corn!
I also love this Marinated Brie, Basil and Tomato Linguine that makes a great main dish in summer time.
Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat says
This is perfect timing! My basil has started to go to seed so I need to act stat! Thanks Allie! 🙂
Leslie says
Me too. Perfect timing on the basil ?
Our plant went crazy hate to waste it.
Leslie/LittleGemsUSA.com
Allie says
Thanks Leslie – I hope to keep some of my basil thriving on the window sill through October!
Louise Achor says
Great idea !
Susie Mandel says
Wonderful tip–and probably my favorite herb!!
Allie says
Thanks Susie!! <3
nodejs quiz says
I enjoyed eating the Basil and Basil or give in to his food. But normally only for Basil in the refrigerator rather than soaking into the Basil as you. This is also a way of preserving Basil. I will learn. Thank you.
Luci's Morsels says
Fresh basil is notoriously sensitive! Love these tips, especially keeping the stems in water, it definitely adds to the basil’s longevity.
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Adina says
Good to know! Pinned!
Tracy says
What a great tip Allie!! I have seen this beautiful bouquet on your counter before. I have a gorgeous, huge basil plant I found late summer, for 5 dollars! Thanks for reminding me about this tip. When it’s time I can snip away and bring it in ? Awesome! Also….. I have had this problem too with avocados. In fact, when making your fabulous Lime Avocado Black Bean Dip. I’m asked to make that dip often. So please let us know if you hear of a good avocado ripening tip.
Allie says
Lucky you with a gorgeous basil plant for $5, Tracy. What a steal. That will keep you in fresh pesto for a long time. I don’t know any tips about ripening an avocado yet, but I’ve heard if you keep the avocado seed in with the guacamole or whatever else you are making with avocado….say, lime avocado black bean dip? It helps to keep the green avocado from turning gray.
Carolyn says
Allie, this tip is mind boggling – it works great! How did I never hear of it before?
Had gotten a bunch of basil a couple weeks ago & just used the last of it today in Savory Summer Pie 🙂
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Carolyn V.
Allie says
You are so welcome Carolyn! So glad, thanks for dropping by to let me know. 🙂
David says
Wow !
very nice decoration, party view and delicious.
mini militia mod says
great information
آهنگ says
Hi
please reply can we share on our website ?
Thank you , Maria
nicek says
Thanks for the info, It was great and very helpful for those who are intrested in it
aman says
nice info thanks for the help
kisha says
Seriously a lot of awesome information
Kaitlyn says
To ripen avocados you just need to place them by ripe bananas! Bananas give off a gas that ripens most produce hence why they are always stored away from everything at the store-good for pineapples too!