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51 Comments
KittyKat
September 6, 2020
Great article, thank you! I store my basil cuttings as a flower bouquet, uncovered and on countertop, out of direct sun. Basil leaves get stored as lettuce, wrapped in paper towel, ziplock, fridge, but they need to be used the same day or maybe can make it to the next, maybe. This summer, I’ve been having fun growing roots on some of my basil cuttings while siting in water and planting them back into the same pot they came from, with their mama, who was a super scrawny Safeway gal that I saved from a sure death back in May. I’d love to keep my basil plant alive over winter and since I’m in NorCal, it shouldn’t be a problem, but I’ve never succeeded before—do you guys recommend I leave the pot outside but protected from the rain, out in the rain as if it were in soil, or bring it inside? I don’t have a very sunny location inside, is my concern. Sorry for the long post—enjoy your long weekend, everyone!!
Picholine
September 7, 2020
I do the same thing here in NY and I have basil growing in a pot all year.
I plant some outside in summer and Pots on my porch . I keep pinching and put in plastic bags and freeze. I will pinch healthy looking tops with long stem put them in water to root in a sunny window in a clear glass. When rooted I pot up and bring indoors after it gets cold . They hate cold weather .
My frozen basil stays as green and tasty as when bagged for the freezer.
Pinching back basil makes it a bushier plant. Pinch before it flower.
Best luck
I plant some outside in summer and Pots on my porch . I keep pinching and put in plastic bags and freeze. I will pinch healthy looking tops with long stem put them in water to root in a sunny window in a clear glass. When rooted I pot up and bring indoors after it gets cold . They hate cold weather .
My frozen basil stays as green and tasty as when bagged for the freezer.
Pinching back basil makes it a bushier plant. Pinch before it flower.
Best luck
J
September 5, 2020
Yes, definitely, just bouquet it after slicing off the very bottom of the stem ends. But carefully, in a small glass, not a tall glass: just tall enough to hold the bouquet. If you leave it at room temperature (NOT in the sun), it will perfume the house for a couple of days and looks gorgeous if you leave off the plastic! Basil HATES the cold, so never in the refrigerator!
Christene
September 5, 2020
I have found the best option in my kitchen is to keep it in a plastic bag, with a lightly damp paper towel, folder over. Lasts at least a week, I’ve even gone ten days. Remove the odd blackening leaf. No mold, not slime. I have had success without the paper towel as well.
Bosco123
August 19, 2020
when you store in the quart container, did you add a little water? no mention of water, but looked like some was in the bottom?
Mike C.
May 26, 2020
I have found the best, as first described, trim the ends like a flower, place in a vase. Change water often. Soon the roots will appear and this keeps them going for quite some time. Continue to change water. Plant in a container if you like to grow later.
LGT1986
November 16, 2019
I would like to first say Thank you for your time in this research! It was VERY helpful. I work at a family owned brick oven pizzeria and our basil was going bad way before we would get to use it. This info will save my boss and our company some money! We were storing our basil in the walk in cooler inside the box and plastic bag that it was shipped in😕 Needless to say, we will not be storing it there anymore. It was dead in just a few days but now we might be able to make it last all week! I'm presenting him with your research tomorrow. I will let you know what the improvement is on our Basil waste in two weeks. Thank you again!!⭐😁
Susie
June 29, 2019
I put my freshly picked basil (with rather short stems) in water and covered it with a ziplock bag. It’s been several days and they are still good!
Tim
June 21, 2019
Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for this research and article! I was having a very hard time finding a solid way to store basil for bar/cocktail usage and I’m excited to apply your method. Thank you again!
Lynda W.
September 8, 2018
Basil will easily root in water. Buy or cut it as fresh as possible.
Remove all the lower leaves and stand it up in water so that no leaves are underwater. Keep in a place with some light but not in a sunny place. Pretty soon you should see little rootlets forming. When rooted, plane each one in a pot, fertilize, and increase the light exposure gradually until the plant is strong. I haven't seen any other comment that explains why the ones at room temperature and in water were more successful.. They are trying to grow!
Remove all the lower leaves and stand it up in water so that no leaves are underwater. Keep in a place with some light but not in a sunny place. Pretty soon you should see little rootlets forming. When rooted, plane each one in a pot, fertilize, and increase the light exposure gradually until the plant is strong. I haven't seen any other comment that explains why the ones at room temperature and in water were more successful.. They are trying to grow!
Sandi L.
August 23, 2018
Thanks everyone for the advice. My original question was for the abundance of herbs I grew outside this season..and trying to preserve them for winter. I usually grow them inside in the winter but had zero luck this past winter...and NO luck with basil at all inside, anytime. So, I am delighted it is flourishing outside. I bought my spice grinder mainly for whole seed coriander, whole cloves, cinnamon bark and also an Indian salt that I’ll be exploring ( as well as different kinds of Indian black pepper.) Since I have an overabundance of mint—-and it will still continue to grow for another month or so—I’m going to explore drying it and will report back. I’ve taken a clipping of basil and, following the recommendations of this article, will root it with the idea of growing it inside during the winter. I have a very hot southwest window and live in a sunny state. I had an indoor tomato plant there for three years that continued to fruit. I never had the size or volume that comes from outdoors, but it was nice picking a fresh tomato off the vine in January....
Sandi L.
August 22, 2018
Loved this article! This year, I’m going to try to dry some basil, mint, oregano and thyme. And, I just bought a spice grinder. My question is: is it better tovdry the herbs, store them and then grind as I need them or store them already ground??? Thanks in advance.
Smaug
August 22, 2018
Thyme and oregano dry pretty well- it's better to store them whole. Ground is convenient for some things, but for most uses it's quite sufficient to crumble they dried herbs with your fingers right before using.
Picholine
August 23, 2018
I would just dry them and crush , no need to grind. I “dry” small bunches on paper plates with a piece of paper towel in microwave using 15 sec intervals till dry and crisp. Then crush in paper towel and store. I do not dry basil as I feel that once dried it has very little flavor left. I freeze it. And when ready to use just crumble in the bag and drop in my sauce or dishes.
Smaug
August 23, 2018
I don't think that any of the soft herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, chervil) dries at all well. Unless you count dill in that group- it does pretty well. I have no experience of drying mint, but I have my doubts- it's not something you hear much of people doing.
Picholine
August 23, 2018
Agree, they dry but no flavor. Funny though I dry flat parsley to put in salads and soups mostly for the look of parsley sprinkled in. Never com-ares with fresh!
Inga W.
August 21, 2018
What has worked best for me is placing the basil in a plastic bag, not sealed, but loosely closed and leaving on the counter.
Kathy
August 18, 2018
I went camping for 2 weeks and picked some of my fresh basil and fresh mint to flavour salads and iced tea. I keep both herbs in separate zip top storage bags on the counter of my trailer. No water, no special treatment and they stayed fresh and tasty for the entire trip!
zapatera
August 17, 2018
Just got lucky with a grocery store basil plant. But if you have the cut stuff, I’ve had great success with things like mushrooms and the cute little cukes by putting them in hard-ish plastic containers and covering with waxed paper, held in place with those ubiquitous USPS rubber bands, with making a few air holes in the paper with a two-tined fork. No more slime!
Nancy L.
August 17, 2018
I've had a LOT of success with storing the basil in a bit of water in a jar, in a bright location. I cut slits in a plastic bag and place over the basil and it will last at least 6 days.
Monica B.
August 17, 2018
Did you test Debbie Meyer bags? I have a bunch of mint that is still green from 2 weeks ago.
Lynne W.
August 17, 2018
i just get a new whole potted basil plant from Trader Joe's on occasion. Cut back old growth when necessary. It should be good for at least a couple of months.
deanna
August 17, 2018
If you're growing your own basil, cut back your plant before it blooms (don't pinch) and voila! You get a whole new healthy plant. Pinching encourages blooming, cutting back encourages more leaf growth. Blooms add a bitterness, so always discard.
I rinse basil, dry it and put in plastic with damp paper towel in frig. Works like a charm. You really must always rinse the leaves to get rid of dirt and bugs.
I rinse basil, dry it and put in plastic with damp paper towel in frig. Works like a charm. You really must always rinse the leaves to get rid of dirt and bugs.
Kate @.
August 17, 2018
If you end up with wilted leaves (wilted, not black or spotted) you can usually bring them back to life by putting them in a bowl of cool water for an hour or so. But then use them right away. Basil, you do play hard to get, but you are SO delicious!
Gene-Marie S.
August 17, 2018
Best option keep a live basil plant in a pot in your kitchen or in a window box or garden. Do as the Italians do: Pick it. Use it. Immediately. Basil really does not keep. Though I’ve enjoyed reading the test kitchen results. Kudos for trying. 😉
Picholine
August 7, 2018
Smaug , I make new plants all year from water rooted Basil stems creating new plants for fresh basil all winter! No problem no science involved.
Smaug
August 7, 2018
An unusual approach for an annual plant, though marijuana growers have taken to doing it. That, however, is largely a matter of preserving desirable clones. Mostly I think it's because seeds are so easy for most of these plants. In the case of Basil, however, you're likely to get a plant that's already in it's flowering cycle, thus past it's prime. Rooting in water is almost never used by professionals, for various reasons, but doing it certainly does involve science; we're not born knowing that stems in water will root.
Picholine
August 7, 2018
I pick the stems pull a few leaves off and put in a clear glass container as if a bouquet. Leave out on counter . If I don’t think I’ll use all up ,I pull of leaves from stems but not being to fussy if I get a few small stems and place in plastic bag and freeze. After frozen the basil will crush in the bags to sprinkle in dishes, sauces, pasta even pizza. Tastes as fresh as the freshly picked. I pick and pinch back these wonderful plants all summer and freeze to enjoy a nice frozen stash all winter!
Keith S.
August 6, 2018
I knew nothing beyond freezing-in-EVOO before reading this, and found it edifying and lovely--my new project will be to test the mason-jar-w/-holes approach. Couldn't the horticulturists saving the shippable heirloom tomato take a day or two on basil survival genes, too?
HeidiHo!
August 6, 2018
I have a large basil plant in my yard that is healthy and happy in full sunlight. When I trim it, I put the clippings uncovered in a jar on the kitchen counter out of direct sunlight. If it's a large bunch that I don't use quickly enough yes, flower buds will appear (pinch them off) and roots will grow. I have very successfuly potted new plants once sufficient roots have grown.
HeidiHo!
August 6, 2018
I typically clip off several bunches (I use a lot of fresh basil!) about the size shown in the article photos, pinch off lower leaves to use that day and to make sure stems are stripped about 3-4 inches from the bottom. Yes, fresh water is an absolute necessity! I CHANGE the water every day or two, and before putting the clippings into the fresh water, I gently wipe the stems with a damp tea towel or paper towel to remove any potential slime and snip a tiny bit of the stem to aid in water absorption. Once roots appear, I also gently rinse them in fresh water before going back into the jar. Seems to work well for me!
HeidiHo!
August 6, 2018
Also, if you see leaves beginning to spot or turn brown/black, pinch them off right away so they don't impact the rest of the "plant"
Erica G.
August 17, 2018
Any clipping will root after a few days. I had a friend grow basil hydoponically in her kitchen window by accident. She put a bunch in a fishbowl of water and it created a beautiful spiral of roots in the bowl. It lived a few years. She had a west facing window with a lot of warm afternoon light.
Terry
August 5, 2018
This past week I inadvertently used what was found to be the "best" method here, storing bunches in a glass of water, uncovered, on the countertop. They started wilting almost immediately, and even though I tried trimming the stems to help with water uptake this didn't help. By the time I got around to plucking and blanching the leaves a few days later, many of them had fallen off and many of the still-attached ones had turned dark. I assumed that I'd done something wrong (such as not placing them in the fridge) but according to this article I did just the right thing. What went wrong?
Cynthia P.
August 5, 2018
I store mine uncovered in a mug of water on the counter, out of direct sunlight.
I'm intrigued by the quart method and wonder if it could be replicated in a mason jar with a hole or two n the lid (to avoid plastic).
I'm intrigued by the quart method and wonder if it could be replicated in a mason jar with a hole or two n the lid (to avoid plastic).
barb48
August 4, 2018
I'd like to know how to freeze fresh basil leaves, so that the leaves stay fragrant and green when I need to use them. Thanks. Should the leaves be washed first?
Terry
August 5, 2018
I've started blanching my fresh herbs before mincing and freezing - basil, cilantro, parsley, mint...then I just measure what I need for a recipe and throw it in, already chopped.
SMSF
August 3, 2018
May I recommend a better basil solution? Instead of clippings/bunches, buy one of those potted basil plants in the produce section of the grocery store. (Trader Joe's and Whole Foods usually have them, around $4.) Keep the soil moist and the plant out of direct sunlight. If it starts to form flower buds, pinch them off. These plants usually last about a month, at least for me.
These work well indoors or out, just keep them out of the hot sun or they will be sad.
These work well indoors or out, just keep them out of the hot sun or they will be sad.
Smaug
August 4, 2018
Basil is quite easy to grow from seed, if you use it at all consistently there's no reason to pay $4 for a plant. Grocery store plants are apt to have been grown soft- lots of water and high nitrogen fertilizer, limited light especially lower on the plant as they are grown very close together. It will take a while to adapt such plants to real life conditions, but Basil prefers some pretty strong sun.
SMSF
August 4, 2018
I was just sharing my experience in the hopes that some might find it a useful alternative to buying and storing bunches.
Smaug
August 3, 2018
Why would you keep the basil in a sunny location? It's not-or shouldn't be- actively growing and will get nothing useful from the light.
Chris H.
August 3, 2018
Smaug, whilst admittedly cut-off from the roots, the cells in the leaves are still alive, and hence biologically and chemically active. Whether placing the basil in a well lit location has a positive quality impact, that’s another question, probably requiring another experiment.
Smaug
August 3, 2018
Any photosynthetic production will go first toward the development of roots, secondly toward production of buds- probably flower buds, as that is usually the first reaction of annual plants to extreme stress. The chance of it producing any usable growth is negligible, and it will speed the deterioration of the existing growth as roots and buds will be the plant's priorities. I rarely actually root cuttings in water, but the procedure and results are quite familiar.
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