Popular as a seasoning, basil is a versatile herb that can provide a number of health benefits Despite its Asian origin, basil has become an icon of the Mediterranean cuisine and came to Brazil along with the Italian immigration. But then, the question arises: how to better store and preserve basil?

Read also: How to keep leftovers in the refrigerator

How to store basil?

1 - Sanitize

"The food, in general, should be washed in clean running water and placed in a solution of one tablespoon of sodium hypochlorite for every liter of water," explains nutritionist Dayse Paravidino.

This is the case with basil, which needs to stay at least ten minutes in this mixture before going into the refrigerator. This way you get rid of all the microorganisms potentially hazardous to health.

2 - Dry well

With the help of a paper towel or a clean dish towel, dry the leaves and branches very well (one by one). This is because the less humidity they have, the longer they will last in the freezer or refrigerator.

3 - How to conserve basil?

Then, remove the leaves from the branches and cut them as you prefer: in very small pieces or almost whole. The ideal is to leave them ready to go straight into the recipe. oxidative process ", says Dayse.

4 - Keep

"Fresh leaves can be kept in the refrigerator, preferably in a glass jar with pieces of paper towel on the bottom and on top of them, for up to four days," says the expert.

5 - How to preserve basil? or freeze it

According to the professional, you can also freeze basil in ice cube trays, so every time you need to prepare a tomato sauce or pesto, for example, the recipe is much more practical.