Technical Ways on How to Store Asian Basil After it is Harvested

Harvesting Asian basil is easy—just carefully pick the leaves with the stem and branch early in the morning. Do this before the herb plant flowers. But storing Asian basil is another different story. Here’s how to store Asian basil after it is harvested.

After washing the leaves in cool water, separate or pinch off the leaves from the stem and branch. Then place them on cookie metal sheets neatly and flatly, not over crowded. Then store the harvested Asian basil leaves in the freezer. This is the best way on how to store Asian basil after it is harvested. It keeps the Asian basil leaves crisp and fresh. If there is a bountiful harvest, and the freezer is full, have some of the frozen Asian basil leaves placed in plastic containers with the covers sealed. Then put these back inside the freezer. This does not occupy too much space.

Another option on how to store Asian basil after it is harvested is put them in plastic packets or small plastic bags after being frozen. Have the opening of the plastic packets sealed with a plastic sealer. The packs filled with Asian basil leaves will now look like sealed candy plastic packets one buys in grocery stores. Then place these plastic packets back into the freezer. And this also makes the Asian basil packed leaves always available throughout winter time.

Try also to mix Asian basil with olive oil then placed in ice cubes in the freezer. For this procedure, have fresh Asian basil leaves finely chopped and then stick them together with the use of enough olive oil before putting them in ice cubes. In this method on how to store Asian basil after it is harvested, butter may be used instead of olive oil for a cheaper alternative.

Finally, room temperature has a lot to do with how to store Asian basil after it is harvested. The ideal is 0 degrees centigrade with about 90 to 100 percent humidity. Remember to keep the Asian basil leaves in covered and sealed containers and to keep them away from the heat that emits from refrigerator fans.

In some parts of Asia, Asian basil is preserved by mixing it with special oils and spices and kept in air-tight containers. Olive oil is a favorite Asian basil additive. Some mix the leaves with lots of whole black pepper bits and stored dry in sealed containers. Still, the best and sure way on how to store Asian basil after it is harvested is freezing it.

Originally posted 2009-07-14 15:58:33.