Use a food processor to coarsely chop washed basil leaves.Add a drizzle of olive oil and pulse to lightly coat the leaves with oil; this will keep the basil from turning black in the freezer. You can also try blanching them: Remove basil leaves from the stem and toss them in a pot with boiling water for 3-5 seconds. You can also tear the basil leaves and put them in an ice cube tray. 4 â Dried Drying is another popular method to preserve your basil. Pin It. By signing up, I agree to the Terms & to receive emails from the âRachael Rayâ show. The Spruce / Cara Cormack Chop and Freeze . Puree and freeze fresh basil in these 3 easy steps: Prep: Remove the basil leaves from the stem, then wash and dry completely. Keep your basil fresh for weeks with this super simple tip! Make Basil Pesto. One of the easiest ways to preserve basil is to freeze the basil leaves. Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water. Bring a pot of water to a boil. First, remove the lower leaves, and use those up first. Instead of bringing it indoors here are some options for how you can preserve basil. Propagating supermarket basil through cuttings is a relatively simple process. If any of the leaves are touching the water, they will quickly turn black. Clean the leaves and rub them with olive oil before putting them in a plastic bag and freezing. Sign Up. Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil per 1 cup of basil. Roll up in paper towels. The best way to store basil for the short term is to put the stems into a vase of water, and keep it at room temperature. Like many herbs, the more frequently basil is pinched or cut, the more leaves that will be produced. Get Our Best Recipes, Life Hacks, DIY Ideas & More⦠Delivered Right to Your Inbox. Place the paper towel in a plastic bag and you can store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Alternatively, you can pick the basil leaves, lay them in a single file in a paper towel, and roll up the towel around them. Dry Basil in a Dehydrator. Once cold again in you can dry the basil leaves with a kitchen paper (squeezing the leaves as well to remove any excess water) and place it in a plastic bag in the freezer. Once grown to a large enough size, store bought basil can also be used to take cuttings. Then, pour olive oil over them and freeze. Put fresh basil leaves into a colander that fits into the pot (it's important to have the basil in something so you can quickly remove it all at once). You can use paper towels to keep your basil fresh while also conserving space in your refrigerator. Wash your basil leaves in a colander or salad spinner. Want More? Freezing fresh basil leaves is a very effective method of preserving their taste and aroma. Store Fresh Cut Basil â make it last in your kitchen for a couple of weeks. You can simply freeze the whole basil leaves or chop them and store them in a container or freezer bag, but keep in mind that they might shrink a little. Scoop the resulting mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. Share. Dry Basil in the Microwave. However, it is the one that requires a bit more work and more time. This method can keep your basil looking green and fresh for a week or longer. Hang Basil to Dry. Place the leaves on damp paper towels and roll them up. Place the rolls into a zip lock bag. Email. Basil in plastic bag Store the basil in a plastic bag. How to blanch & freeze basil leaves: Wash & dry basil leaves. Tweet. Puree: Use a food processor to puree the fresh basil leaves with olive oil.