Follow my tips on how to store basil so it lasts as long as possible, and my favorite ways to use it up before it goes bad.
How I Store Fresh Basil in My Mediterranean Kitchen
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 adds a pop of fresh flavor and color to recipes like panzanella, tomato basil soup, and grilled pizza!
Because fresh herbs are so widely used in Mediterranean cooking, I’ve learned a thing or two over the years about how to make them last as long as possible. When it comes to how to store basil, I treat it a little differently than other tender herbs like cilantro or parsley.
How to Store Fresh Basil
To store fresh basil so it will last for up to 2 weeks, treat it almost like you would fresh-cut flowers. You’ll need a glass jar filled halfway with water, a pair of scissors, and a recycled shopping bag. Follow these simple steps:
- Trim the Basil Stems: Grab a pair of scissors and cut a 1/2-inch off the stems at a 45-degree angle just as you would a flower bouquet.
- Put the Basil in a Jar with Water: Fill a jar, a vase, or a glass halfway 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 at Room Temperature: Leave the covered jar of basil on your kitchen counter. I don’t recommend storing basil in the fridge as the chill can easily damage the leaves and turn them black, 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?
If you follow my method above and store fresh basil properly in a jar of water covered loosely with a plastic bag, it should stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Ways to Preserve Fresh Basil
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!
Make Basil Cubes:
- Mince basil and add it to a medium bowl.
- Add olive oil to the bowl with the minced basil.
- Pour into an ice cube tray, but leave a little room at the top. If any basil is exposed, just top it off with a little more olive oil.
- Freeze: Place the ice cube tray into the freezer. Once frozen, pop the basil cubes out of the tray and transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Use as needed to add flavor to soups, sautéed vegetables, boiled potatoes, or even thaw on a plate, add a little salt, pepper, and parmesan, and use it as a dip for crusty bread.
Freeze Basil Leaves:
- Blanch the basil. Throw the basil leaves in boiling water for 10 seconds, then quickly pull them out and put them in 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.
- Dry. 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 a freezer-safe bag (do this very quickly or the leaves will thaw). Close tightly and return to the freezer.
Make Pesto!
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 you can freeze it for up to 6 months! Use pesto in pasta, as a sandwich spread, or drizzle over fish.
Recipes to Use Fresh Basil
Tearing basil or roughly chopping it and tossing it in a recipe is an easy way to use it up. Here are some of my favorite recipes that use fresh basil.
I want to thank you so much for all the work you do and all the lovely food you send us. I have just read your articles on herbs and find it extremely useful as I use a lot of herbs but I can never keep them for any length of time.
Thanks for the tips on how to keep basil fresh.
I’m on week 2 of fresh basil! Thank you so much for this great storage direction! 🙂 I’m so happy to have it not wilt on me instantly! I keep my house around 70 f and the vase storage with plastic wrap around it worked like a charm!
Glad you found the post helpful, Jackie!
Looking forward to your recipes and tips
What is the temperature of your kitchen if storing basil? Mine might be pretty hot and humid as I live in tropical island. Can it still work? Thanks!
Hmmm! That is a good question. My kitchen is usually around 72 degrees F. Not sure how well it would do on the counter in a hot/humid environment. Remember, though, freezing it is also a great option!
I’m curious, why a plastic bag to cover the leaves?
Hi, Rach. It helps to retain moisture.
Idk. But I dry my leaved then I moisten a paper towel and fold up and lay the leaved on top and place in a ziploc bag. Mine are still fresh after 2 weeks
How do you preserve pesto in olive oil
Thank you
Hi, Andree! We have a Basil Pesto recipe post on the blog. You can find some suggestions for preserving/storing pesto there. Hope that helps!
This is such a great trick and it works like a charm!
Can these methods be used on all the herbs your recipes call for; like dill, parsley, cilantro? I made one of your delicious salads and tomato salsa and want to use the rest of the herbs for other recipes. I had to toss the cilantro out.
Btw, I research your recipes now before makes out my grocery list…
…and by rinsing and soaking the white rice before cooking it, didn’t raise my sugar the morning after eating it. Thank you for that tip.
Hi, Dixie. Yes, the same method can be used, but I typically store those in the fridge. So glad you found the tip about rinsing/soaking the rice helpful :).
A few things…
I don’t make pesto, I make basil with olive oil and put them in ice cube trays and freeze them for the winter months.
I just bought a cloche and they are great to put over anything and look a lot better than a plastic bag. You can try Amazon or try a google search for vase. Also I saw some at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago. I went to one of the vase distributors because I wanted a wide base and a tall cloche.
My neighbor told me to cut the tip of the stem lengthwise so it is split the bottom 1/2 inch or so, this allows cut flowers and basil to drink more water.
I have weck jars which I put a few small clippings of basil in with a small bit of water. Lasts all week.
Thanks for sharing, KJ!
This is super helpful! I love basil and eat it all summer long, but am never quite sure about the best way to extend the shelf life. Thanks so much!
My basil plants have gone crazy this year so I loved this hack! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you found the post helpful, Elizabeth!
thanks so much! i’m just about to pick a bunch and didn’t know what to do with it!
Now this is a clever idea! I have put basil clippings in water before to grow roots so I could replant it, but I had no idea you could store it like this. 🙂
This is post is perfect for us. We grow our own basil and I’ve been looking for ways to store it. So glad I came across this post, so helpful and informative! Thank you!
Great tips here! I usually just store basil in a plastic bag…yikes! Not anymore :).
I freeze small quatities of my pesto…no problem. Then I can have it any time I want as long as it lasts. I do the same with caranelized onions, freezing them in small bunches.
Thanks for sharing, Cheryl!