Basil – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

From seasoning soups and herb bread to being a main ingredient in pesto, basil is a diverse herb found in many savory dishes. Its use transcends cultures; it can be found in foods around the globe. Unbeknownst to some, there are a few different basil types, and some are used as health remedies in traditional medicine practices from Asia.

Learn all about basil: where you can find basil near you, how to keep it fresh, and even learn how to grow it yourself so you can enjoy fresh basil all year long.

What is basil?

Basil is a culinary herb that comes from the mint family. Basil leaves grow on plants that range from one to five feet tall, and fresh basil is typically sold on the stems so you can break off the desired number of leaves. In dried form, you get pieces of the leaves in small bottles.

Basil is typically added to dishes during the final stages of cooking to add a strong flavor. It’s a primary ingredient in pesto, used in marinara sauce, soups, and on pizza.

Commonly used types of basil:

• Sweet basil
• Thai basil
• Lemon basil
• Holy basil

Where did basil originate from?

Basil is native to central Africa and Southeast Asia. Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese cuisine use basil in many of their traditional recipes. Over the years, its use has spread worldwide and is a pantry staple that some home cooks use daily.

What is the nutritional value of basil?

Basil is low in calories and fat-free, with two tablespoons containing just one calorie. It has trace amounts of many vitamins and minerals, with the highest concentration being vitamins A, C, and K. While you don’t want to eat bowls of basil to get in your RDA of vitamins, it does give a nutritional boost to the foods you put it in.

In the natural health community, holy basil is often discussed as a go-to herb (usually in the form of essential oils) because of its various therapeutic properties and a high amount of antioxidants believed to benefit the body. Both Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors and Ayurvedic medicine doctors use it in their practices.

How is basil grown?

Basil is grown both indoors and outdoors and does equally well in both under the right conditions. It is annual and grows up to five feet tall. The basil plant produces rich, green-colored leaves, which grow back multiple times throughout the growing season.

It grows best in hot, dry climates to grow year-round in the southern United States. Basil needs to be in good quality, well-aerated soil and get plenty of sunshine. If you choose to grow a pot of basil in your home, keep it in a window that gets lots of sunlight.

How long do basil plants last?

Potted basil plants generally grow new leaves for up to a year. Some skilled gardeners can keep them producing new leaves for two to three years. Grown outdoors in large quantities, they will last one growing season.

When is basil in season?

Basil cannot stand cold weather, so it needs to be started from seed and then translated outdoors after the risk of frost has passed. In warmer climates, it can be grown all year long. With modern harvesting and transportation methods and technology, it’s possible to get fresh basil 12 months a year no matter where you live.

What’s the best way to store basil?

After you get fresh basil from a store near you, it’s best to use it up within 2 to 3 days. To keep it fresh for up to a week, wash the basil, dry it off, and place it between sheets of paper towel. Then put it in a zip-top bag, remove excess air, seal, and refrigerate. Remove basil as needed, replacing it in the bag afterward.

Another method to preserve it for up to two months is to place washed, and dried basil leaves in a glass jar and fill it with olive oil until the leaves are covered. Cover the jar and refrigerate, using basil as needed.

Drying basil leaves in the open air or in a dehydrator will extend their shelf life by two to three years. Once dried, place in a sealed container. The flavor will not be as strong as fresh basil and weakens as it ages.

A final way to preserve basil is to freeze it. Wash the leaves and blanch in boiling water—drain and place on a parchment-lined baking tray. Freeze for one to two hours and then transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to six months.

How to tell if basil has gone bad?

The best rule of thumb to determine whether the basil has gone bad is to let your senses be your guide. Does it look bad? Are the leaves limp and turning black? Does it have a rotten smell? Has it turned into a slimy substance? If you answered yes to any of these three questions, toss it out!

What can I substitute for basil?

Herbs are unique. Each one has an extraordinary flavor, and it’s impossible to have an exact match substitute—even sweet basil and Thai basil taste quite different from each other. Fortunately, basil is often used in combination with other herbs and spices, so if you need to leave it out, doing so often won’t drastically affect the overall flavor of the final product. But if you want to make a substitute, the following herbs can help replace the flavor:

• Oregano
• Terragon
• Thyme
• Savory
• Italian seasoning
• Cilantro (in Asian recipes)

You can easily shop for basil via Instacart when you want your groceries delivered. After adding a product to your virtual cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products or substitutions.

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