Basil Measurement in ounces instead of a bunch

I came across this when I was trying to find the answer. I ended up learning the following so thought I would share:

- 1 "average bunch of basil" weighed 2.5 ounces.
- 1 bunch of basil contains about 60 sprigs of basil
- About 1 cup of packed basil leaves in a bunch
- About 1 cup of chopped basil leaves in a bunch
- About 2 cups of loose basil leaves in a bunch

Frustrating, isn't it? I have the same issue when a recipe calls for a "bunch" of parsley. Sure wish they would give measurement even if in weight, or even number of stems. I could deal with the strength of the fresh herb if I could have a baseline/ballpark amount to start.

Some day, someone will figure out a way to measure fresh herbs, but we're not there yet. Moisture content varies a lot, as does the strength of the herb,and supermarket basil tends to be pretty stemmy, so weights aren't that helpful. Volumes are worse, a "cup of leaves" could be any amount. You'll probably just have to go for something that looks like a supermarket "bunch", or "small handful", though that varies by the grocer, the season, and probably the area. Fortunately the quantity isn't critical in this recipe- you could keep adding to the food processor until it looks more or less like the picture and will cover your pasta; it should be a lot easier if you make it a second time.