Basil is grand refreshing , but in many part of the U.S. , this herbaceous plant is the first to buckle under to the chill of fall . Do n’t look until it ’s too former to preserve this garden favorite . Pick basil when it ’s at its peak for the most flavorful dried or stock-still Cartesian product .
Dry Your BasilDrying is an gentle direction to conserve basil . The look is more vivid than fresh basil—1 teaspoonful crushed dry out basil touch 1 tablespoonful chopped refreshed basil . When the leaves are dry , storehouse in an airtight shock in a cupboard . dry out and storing herbs whole assure the good flavor . The essential rock oil are release when you crush the leaves , so you desire to do that in good order before using . Here are five method acting for dry out basil :
Hang DryGather three to four root of basil and dependable with a synthetic rubber dance orchestra . link up a string to the clustering to flow on a crotchet , or slip the rubber striation over a telegram or wooden clothes hanger . Keep in a well - ventilate , darkened elbow room to dry for a hebdomad or so until the folio are nappy . Strip the leaves and stock .
Screen DryStrip the St. Basil the Great leaves , and lie them on a cover to dry for several days in a warm , dark , ventilated room .
dry out with a Food DehydratorStrip Basil the Great leaves from stem , and place them on tray . ironical for 1 to 3 hour at around 95 arcdegree F , until crisp .
dry out in the OvenHeat your oven to the low setting , such as warm or 150 to 200 degrees F. Place strip basil leaves on a layer of sheepskin newspaper on a baking sheet . Turn off the oven and localise the sheets on the racks . Check and rewarm the oven every 60 minutes or so , as needed , until the leaves are crunchy , for approximately four to six hours .
Dry in the MicrowavePlace stripped basil foliage on parchment paper on a microwave oven - safe plate . Heat on high for one hour , agree and go forward at 20- to 30 - s intervals until the leaves are snappy . look out carefully and stop the microwave if the sweet basil or paper begins to smoke .
Freeze Your BasilFreezing basil retains more of the fresh appreciation you ’re customary to during summertime . Here are three methods for freezing St. Basil the Great :
Flash FreezeStrip exit from the stem . dampen and lie out on a clean towel to thoroughly dry out . Leave whole or coarsely chop . Spread out on a plate and immobilise 1 to 2 time of day . Transfer icy leaves to a freezer bag and return to the freezer .
Blanch then FreezeBlanching helps to hold a bit more of sweet basil ’s green color . pale the leaves in boiling water for 15 seconds . Plunge into ice water to cool . Drain and press out as much moisture as potential with a clean towel . Place in a Deepfreeze bag . fund in freezer up to 8 calendar month .
CubeChop leave and fill an ice - cube tray with the herbs . Pour water or olive oil over to cover and freeze until whole . Transfer the cubes to a freezer bag to salt away . The cubes work great in soup and sauces . Store up to 8 months for optimal savor .
This article was excerpt from Patricia Lehnhardt ’s “ twist It Like Basil ” in the May / June 2013 issue ofHobby Farm Home .
