Three Ways to Preserve Basil by Fern on September 21, 2009

In general basil is probably one of the easiest herbs to grow in a container, and gives you a lot of bang for your buck. In fact, you may have too much bang for your buck so much basil you can’t use it all at once. As things wind down for the season, preserving what you’ve harvested is a great way to have access to the high quality herbs you became accustomed to during the summer.Cinnamon and Lemon Basil I harvested from my strawberry pot full of herbsThere are several methods of preserving basil, but these three are–I think–the easiest and most effective. It goes without saying that regardless of the method you choose, you should start with clean, dry leaves.

Freezing

Freezing basil produces in my opinion the best results, as the basil is later suitable for using both cooked and fresh. Creating a paste with a small amount of oil has worked best for me. To do this, place the leaves and tender stems into the food processor and turn it on. Slowly drizzle olive oil or a flavorless vegetable oil if you’re preserving a flavored basil into the processor’s bowl until a thick paste forms. There should be more basil than olive oil about a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio. Place the paste into ice cube trays and freeze. When the cubes are compl

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