Harvesting basil: how to store, is it possible to freeze, in what way the product will contain more vitamins?

Everyone wants to always have on hand fresh greens and be sure that it is grown without the use of chemicals. In the summer it is quite possible, but the cold season makes some adjustments.

But what to do in the winter? How to leave greens for the winter to keep it nutrients and vitamins? There are many ways to store basil, which we describe in detail in the article.

We will tell the most common ways of harvesting this green for a long period, and also provide the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Storage preparation

For this It is important to follow a few simple rules:

1. the process of pruning should be done only in dry weather, preferably in the morning, as soon as the dew dries;
2. to get a delicate and juicy taste, you need to collect greens from those bushes on which flower buds have not blossomed;
3. cut branches need a maximum of 15 centimeters - it is in these areas grow the most useful and delicate leaves;
4. pruning carried out twice a month - this way you can get young leaves and make a bush spreading.

The most suitable varieties for long-term storage:

• Magic Blue;
• Magic White;
• Yerevan;
• Ararat.

However, it is worth noting that other varieties of basil have the ability for long-term storage, but with careful observance of the technique of implementation.

Collected plants need:

1. rinse gently with running water;
2. put in a colander until all the water is drained;
3. then lay the greens on a paper or cloth towel in a thin layer until completely dry.

If there are dry, yellowed or spoiled leaves on the branches, you should definitely get rid of them.

How to keep fresh?

There are two options.

• The first - in the refrigerator. Prepared greens are placed in a plastic bag, tightly closed and put in the compartment for fruit.

  In this form, the plant can be stored for a week.

• The second is in water at room temperature.. Put basil in a container with water. This capacity can be placed in any convenient place. It is necessary to periodically spray the greens and pour the evaporating water. In a similar way it will be possible to keep fresh greens for three days.

Both in the first and in the second case all the useful properties of greenery are preserved.

How to prepare for the winter at home?

For any method of storage can not use metal utensils, because the greens will enter with the surface of the vessel in the oxidation reaction and spoil.

Plastic is also not suitable for storage, because often such containers are made from low-quality materials, and this fact can spoil the whole taste. The most suitable options are ceramics or glass..

Is it possible to freeze?

Let us examine how to freeze the plant in a special freezer or refrigerator freezer.

1. Prepared basil cut into necessary pieces.
2. Put greens in a bag or plastic container and close tightly so that air does not pass.
3. All this put in the freezer, where you can store the plant throughout the year.

In this case, virtually all nutrients will be preserved, and only a few vitamins will suffer.

There is a second method of freezing.

1. To do this, the leaves should be cut as small as possible and put into ice molds, filled with water.
2. Once the cubes are well frozen, they need to be removed from the mold and put in a regular plastic bag.
3. You can store such cubes for a long time - up to a year.

Such basil is often used in hot dishes, especially in soups, stews, roasts.

We offer to watch a video about another method of freezing basil:

Drying

In order to harvest basil in this way, no special storage conditions are required.

1. Leaf plates to separate from the stems, chop them.
2. After that, the greens must be laid out in one thin layer on a dry paper towel and placed in a well-ventilated room.
3. Twice a day, the plant must be mixed so that it is compressed. To bring the leaves to the state when it starts to crumble is not worth it. Just wait until it breaks into large pieces.
4. Ready basil is placed in a glass container, tightly closing it.

In this form, the plants are stored for three months. Dried basil can be added to liquid and stews.

To preserve useful items in this seasoning, you need to dry it in a special dryer or oven.

We offer to watch a video about basil drying:

Pickling

1. Put salt in the container so that the bottom is not visible.
2. The leaves are separated from the stems, you can chop them, and you can leave it whole.
3. Lay the plant in a thin layer and sprinkle with salt again. Thus, the green is laid until it ends. But after every 10 layers of basil it is necessary to press carefully, but so as not to damage the leaf plates.
4. As soon as you lay the last layer, you need to sprinkle it with a large amount of salt.
5. After that, the container with the foliage needs to be thoroughly shaken so that the spice gets into all the chinks and soaks each leaf.

You need to place the container with the plant in a dry cool place.. In this form, greens can be stored for a long time - about 6 months. It is possible to use such a plant as well as fresh in any dishes according to taste preferences. The advantage of this method of storage is that it retains all the benefits of basil.

In olive oil

1. Basil leaves should be placed in any container and sprinkled with salt, shake well.
2. Olive oil should be poured into a container so that it covers all the greens.
3. Container tightly closed. In this form, basil will continue for 3-4 months.

We offer to watch a video about harvesting basil with olive oil:

Preservation

Vinegar is considered an excellent preservative.

1. In the container you need to pour basil in the amount of a quarter cup.
2. Then 400 ml of red or white wine should be poured into the container (or the same amount of ordinary apple cider vinegar).

The plant should stand for a month in a dark cool room.

You can use not only the leaves themselves, but vinegar. It is enough to drain the liquid and add it to any salads as a dressing.

Nutrient elements in a minimum amount are preserved during conservation.

Pesto Harvesting

To make this sauce, you will need the following ingredients:

• basil (4 parts);
• olive oil (1 hour);
• pine nuts (1 hour);
• Parmesan (0.5 h).

All components are ground in a blender or coffee grinder, then mix everything well. This sauce is stored in the refrigerator for a month.

With longer storage sauce acquires a bitter taste. It is best to use pesto as an addition to pasta..

We offer you to watch a video on how to store basil in the form of pesto:

Tincture

Vodka will help keep the product as long as possible.

1. Pour the leaves into a glass jar in about 1/5 capacity.
2. Top foliage pour vodka, but not until the end of the banks.
3. Put the tincture in a dark place for a day.

From now on basil will be ready to eat throughout the year. After 24 hours the aroma of the plant will only increase.

This tincture can be used even in cocktails, and you can pour a teaspoon into soups. This will give the dishes a pleasant aroma and a touch of spice.

When nervous tension can be taken as a medicine tincture one tablespoon three times a day. The duration of such therapy should not exceed five days.

Which way is best preserved vitamins and nutrients?

Nutrients and vitamins are stored in larger quantities in the following storage methods:

• freezing;
• drying;
• salting

In other storage options, useful substances are also preserved, but their amount will decrease by several times. A summary table of the advantages and disadvantages of all storage methods.

Basil is a plant that is widespread throughout the world.. It is used to prepare various dishes. Now there are many opportunities to have greens on your table throughout the year and know for sure that the basilica has all its benefits.

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