John M

You do need to wash fresh basil before using it, and it’s a step you shouldn’t skip.   Fresh basil straight from the garden or the grocery store can carry dirt, tiny insects, and even residue from handling.   Washing fresh basil is quick, simple, and makes a huge difference for both food safety and … Read more

Do you need to wash basil before making pesto? Yes, you absolutely do need to wash basil before making pesto, and it’s a step you shouldn’t skip. Washing basil before making pesto removes dirt, grit, and any tiny critters hiding between the leaves, which is essential since pesto is served raw. You need to wash … Read more

Do you need to wash basil? Yes, you absolutely do need to wash basil before using it, whether it’s fresh from your garden or from the grocery store.   You need to wash basil because it can harbor dirt, tiny insects, and residual pesticides that you definitely don’t want in your pesto or on your … Read more

Yes, you need to trim your basil plant, and regular trimming is one of the most important things you can do to keep it healthy and productive.   If you’ve been asking yourself whether you need to trim basil, the short answer is a definite yes, because pruning directly affects how much basil you’ll harvest … Read more

Yes, you need to thin basil seedlings for the healthiest, most productive plants.   If you’ve ever sown basil seeds and watched them sprout into a dense little forest, you know exactly why thinning basil seedlings is a step you can’t skip.   Those tiny seedlings might look cute packed together, but they’re actually fighting … Read more

You do not need to refrigerate basil, and in fact, doing so is one of the quickest ways to turn those vibrant green leaves into a sad, black, slimy mess.   If you’ve been wondering if you need to refrigerate basil to keep it fresh, the short answer is no, because basil is a tropical … Read more