Harvesting basil: Drying and pickling make the herb durable
Created: 03/22/2022, 11:30 am
By: Joana Lück
Not only the correct plucking needs to be learned: Basil is a filigree plant whose leaves can be preserved by drying or pickling.
Munich – As soon as you have transported the basil plant home from the supermarket, the leaves are already drooping.
Even experienced gardeners are familiar with this scenario.
But in addition to harvesting the right stuff, you can also make basil leaves last longer by drying, pickling, and even freezing.
The editors know what to look out for.
Harvesting basil: Drying and pickling make the herb durable
Basil leaves should be plucked properly.
(Iconic image) © Michael Malorny/Imago
Whether as a topping for tomato-mozzarella, pasta dishes or in gin and tonic: basil is a real all-round talent in herbal cuisine alongside rosemary* and mint.
But everyone who has basil in a pot on the windowsill knows that the plant from the mint family is a filigree plant whose leaves can quickly taste dry or pungent if not cared for properly.
It is therefore advisable to harvest basil less often and generously, even if you do not want to use all the leaves directly.
The following methods of preservation are available for basil*:
Drying: To do this, hang the basil stems upside down in a relatively dark and dry place and wait about two weeks.
The leaves should then be removed from the stem and will keep for several weeks in a tightly closed jar.
An additional advantage of this method: During the process, your pantry or cellar smells pleasantly spicy.
Pickling: Basil is good for pickling in oil or vinegar.
Not only is it preserved, but it also releases its essential oils into the liquid, giving you either basil oil or vinegar.
Freezing: Like most herbs, basil is also suitable for freezing*.
Processing into pesto: together with olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, salt, pepper and parmesan, you get a classic pesto alle Genovese.
If you share basil from the supermarket*, it also has a longer shelf life.
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Harvesting basil: Picking it up also needs to be learned
If you simply pluck individual leaves from the basil plant as you need them, you will usually experience a blue miracle.
If you harvest several shoot tips at once*, the plant uses this and it quickly forms new leaves.
You should also harvest the leaves in the morning after watering if possible.
*24garten.de and RUHR24.de are offered by IPPEN.MEDIA.
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