Should i refrigerate basil

Just bring it home, find a sunny spot for it indoors if the temperatures start to dip into the 40s and keep it well watered. This will yield you fresh basil leaves for weeks on end so you won't have to rush through it. Related: 6 Foolproof Herbs for Gardening Newbies. Don't have the room or enough sun to start your own indoor basil garden? No problem. You can still keep fresh basil happy by treating it like you would a bunch of cut flowers, with one small exception: instead of admiring it in the center of your table, you'll be covering it with a plastic bag.

Pretty centerpiece? Not really, but you'll have plenty of fresh basil at the ready. Step 1: Take your cut basil out the packaging and trim the last inch or so off the stems. This will help the stems take in water.

Step 2: Place the basil in a cup with a few inches of water and a plastic bag loosely covering it. Don't tuck it in. The basil needs to breathe! Produce bags are great for this as they are thin and light and won't easily crush the leaves. Step 3: Then move your basil bunch to a small corner of your counter, changing the water every few days.

Storing it this way will make a healthy bunch last just over a week. Now, you may be wondering if putting it in the fridge will prolong its life. Basil hates the cold more than every grandparent in Florida. Moderate temperatures are the key to its well-being.

Then, place the pot with basil in a sunny, dry, and ventilated place. Water it daily and regularly remove any dry leaves. It should be placed immediately in the fridge, or dried and stored in a jar. Fresh cut basil can have its freshness extended by wrapping the leaves in a paper towel, placing them in a plastic bag, and then refrigerating them.

It will protect them from moisture and preserve its taste and aroma. Another interesting way to preserve them in the fridge is to put the leaves in a jar and cover them with olive oil before refrigerating. Freezing fresh basil leaves is a very effective method of preserving their taste and aroma.

Clean the leaves and rub them with olive oil before putting them in a plastic bag and freezing. You can also tear the basil leaves and put them in an ice cube tray. Then, pour olive oil over them and freeze. Basil, in this form, can be used straight out of the freezer in soup and sauces. Never chop basil leaves with a knife. Instead, tear them with your fingers. Using a knife will bruise the leaves making their color change from pleasing green to unappetizing black.

Look — the easiest way to find basil freshness is by observing its leaves. Tips How long does fresh basil last? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - after purchasing, store fresh basil in a dry area and keep loosely covered.

Should you refrigerate fresh basil? No, refrigerating fresh basil is not recommended, as it can cause the leaves to turn black. How should fresh basil be stored? To maximize the shelf life of fresh basil: 1 Trim the ends and place basil in a glass containing about one inch of water; 2 Cover with a loose-fitting plastic bag and leave at room temperature; 3 Replace water when it gets cloudy.