Harvesting and Preserving Basil
One summer, my friend Karen had “the mother-load” of basil harvests. She handed me an armful of basil as if it were an extravagant bouquet, with more to spare. I never take it for granted. When it grows, I savor it — or save it.
For those looking for a way to save your basil, preserving basil in salt is a simple and long-lasting method.
What you need to start:
- 1 cup fresh, packed basil leaves (or adjust for smaller batches)
- 1 cup salt (sea salt, Pink Himalayan, or Kosher, non-iodized)
- Glass Mason Jars for storage
- Lid for an airtight seal
Layer fresh basil leaves with sea salt in a jar. Store the jars in the freezer, and these fragrant leaves will not turn “brown” — they will darken (a richer, deeper green), and will last for up to six months, or even longer. It’s flavor and freshness will be remain, adding a bit of summer zing to a winter tomato soup. Try Basil Salt, by chrurning the salt and basil leaves together in a coffee grinder, you’ll have a beautiful green salt to elevate warm, savory dishes all winter long.
Salt defnitely trump preserving basil in oil — which could lead to botulism — a bacteria that is impossible to detect by taste or by smell. If you do try the oil method, follow this safe method to prevent botulism.
And while batches of pesto is also great option — especially without the cheese for freezing — sometimes you just want pure basil leaves preserved. Freezing alone can make basil slimy, and drying strips it of its flavor-rich oils. After years of trial and error, this salt preservation method has become my go-to.
So the next time you’re lucky enough to have a basil bounty, try this method and keep a jar of summer green tucked away for whenever you need it.
Basil salt is for cooking and recipes — and makes a nice addition to winter soups — the freshness of summer plopped into your wintry tomato bisque soup.
Please read this to learn how to preserve basil in oil and prevent botulism! This is vitally important as you cannot taste or smell botulism!
34 Comments
Carol
This is RIGHT on time! A friend gave me a freshly picked bushel of basil today and I was wondering how to preserve it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Mickie
Does this work with other herbs? (I’m thinking specifically of cilantro)
Susan
would a freezer bag work as well as glass?
SusieJ
Yes… it would work! Just be careful to keep it steady when unloading the precious cargo!
SusieJ
Yes! It does. All herbs can be preserved in this way. And don’t forget edible flowers — and how pretty that would look!
Darlene
What a fantastic idea. Unfortunately, my basil “crop” was pitiful this year, but I’ll be ready for next year!
Becca Anne
Do you think that sea salt is a must? What about coarse kosher salt? I have too much of it, but no sea salt!
Love this idea!! Will do it tonight if I can!
Shenia
Will the glass Jar break though?
Kristina
I am also wondering if you can use any other salt. I just did a small jar with sea salt but do not have enough to do more. Thanks!
SusieJ
I would not use an iodized salt… kosher salt or pickling salt will work!
Sharon Kirkwood
Oh this is welcome advice. I just started to plant herbs (Sage, basil, rosemary, thyme) and would throw out the unused remains from the garden since I had so much left over.
I will use this method, now that I found out how to save these herbs.
Thank you so much
Sharon
Enid Morales
I learned recently of another way to preserve herbs: Take an ice tray and place several leaves in each hole. Then add olive oil to almost cover the leaves. Freeze overnight and transfer to a plastic bag. This way, you get the fresh herb & the olive oil you’ll probably need in your recipe. Remember to write the herb’s name if you’re freezing different types.
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Margo, Thrift at Home
great tip! I will try this. My basil did great this year and I’ve been making lots of pesto, but I will try to preserve leaves as well.
Michelle jadaa
amazing!! must try this…im tired of buying those tiny pathetic looking bunches at the supermarket but as you say freezing my own doesnt work.Thanks a bunch:)
Carolyn
Very good ideas and I will try them.
Thanks
Janet
This idea for freezing my basil is awesome,just in time for our first real hard freeze.
teresa
thanks – this is really helpful. i have a nearly indestructible basil plant, but can not eat all of the leaves it produces. I hate throwing them away! Thank you for this! (plus i HATE pesto, so that has not been an option 🙂 )
Bridgette Nelson
Thanks for all your ideas, I am destant to try everyone of them for preserving herbs.
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Nicki
Let me make sure I understand: freeze for 6 months and then it lasts for years?
SusieJ
Yes… the biggest problem is keep it from getting moisture… sometimes putting rice in the bottom of the jar helps.
Bubbz
Your recipe says to use in 6mo. But then goes on to say it will last for yrs…?? Which is it? Plz don’t spam my email , a clear answer is all I need thanks in advance.
SusieJ
Yes, when I originally found the recipe, that was the recommendation from the source. But I have now had my salt for five years, and it is still the same! I’m still using it. In fact, I put all of the salt and leaves in a coffee grinder, and made a shakeable green salt. So, thank you for pointing this out. I have updated the post to reflect this discovery.
Mary M Braunlich
Doesn’t the basil absorb the salt? Hubby and I have to be careful with our salt intake. Thank you for your input! Have a blessed day!
SusieJ
Not really! It just seems to keep the basil crisp.
Mary M Braunlich
AWESOME!! That is what we will do with our Basil harvest this year! Now we will have fresh Basil year round instead of having to buy the dried at the store! We just gave it away as we didn’t know how to preserve it. Thank YOU Susiej!
Paula
I can not find any instructions anywhere on the making of the basil salt. Am I missing something? I clicked on every link I could find regarding the making of basil salt.
SusieJ
Here’s the link to the Basil Salt! I’m not sure why it’s not working — if you click on the picture of the Basil Salt in the post, and also the words, Basil Salt, it should take you right there? Is it not showing up? Let me know… thanks.
Paula
I tried clicking on everything, the links that were active just loop back to the same place and never go to instructions. I tried again on my phone and also on my desk top PC.
Thank you
SusieJ
My goodness Paula! You are definitely right. Thank you for showing me there is some kind of glitch in my website — and being so patient while I figured this out. Things are now fixed, and I have recovered the post. I am pasting the recipe here — but you can now find it, I hope, here:
With a just a few pulses of your coffee grinder, you can preserve your fresh basil in salt, and enjoy the fresh flavor all year long. Here’s the recipe for Basil Salt:
Renee Genge
Can you freeze salt packed basil in glass jars?
Suzanne
This looks so good! What a fun gift to make for friends or to enjoy yourself!
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Can I make with other kinds of herbs?