Preserving stuff - 1. Basil

Emmia

sarah1972 said:

Emmia said:

sarah1972 said:

I have basil all year round by having a plant indoors x

But the OP said they didn't want that, as it won't thrive.

I was waiting for them to come back and say why it won’t thrive 😉

Lack of watering or over watering or light levels - and they don't use it frequently enough.

It doesn't matter, it's not an option the OP wants 

twopenny

Going to try the basil in oil in the freezer first.

I need to chop some as it's about to go to seed. Fingers crossed it will be mild enough to sprout again for the freezing idea.

I live in a tiny place with dry wall, double glazing and because of an injury hot and dry in winter so living plants and flowers don't do well

sarah1972

Emmia said:

sarah1972 said:

Emmia said:

sarah1972 said:

I have basil all year round by having a plant indoors x

But the OP said they didn't want that, as it won't thrive.

I was waiting for them to come back and say why it won’t thrive 😉

Lack of watering or over watering or light levels - and they don't use it frequently enough.

It doesn't matter, it's not an option the OP wants 

Sorry to have tried to help, I won’t make the mistake again 

sarah1972

twopenny said:

Going to try the basil in oil in the freezer first.

I need to chop some as it's about to go to seed. Fingers crossed it will be mild enough to sprout again for the freezing idea.

I live in a tiny place with dry wall, double glazing and because of an injury hot and dry in winter so living plants and flowers don't do well

Thank you, yes that’s not ideal for growing indoors. 

I put any excess into oil in a squirty bottle, make pesto and put into sauces that I freeze 

twopenny

That's an interesting idea.

I'm cooking for one so a squirty bottle would be too much but it's got me thinking about containers. I know I can do it as ice cubes but I hate ice and the cube tray is my nemisis.

But I'm going to trawl the shops when out. Small travel bottles and such. See what's there  

MarriedtoFinn

Just a thought but maybe small travel bottles and such might not be food quality/standard and may not be suitable for food,  or food that's being frozen.  Some plastics leach their plasticising chemicals into the food at low temperatures.
I have seen some fancy new style ice cube trays these days that may be easier to use than what you have been used to in the past.  May take all the hassle out of it.  (Know what you mean though!).

twopenny

Good point about the food safe aspect. I'll have a look around.

I've just frozen stewed apple for individual sauce portions in Fairy Cake cases. That would be messy for oil

badger09

You could try something like this. Much easier to use than the standard ‘hard’ plastic trays. 

https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/
simply-everyday-silicone-ice-tray-grey-393773?srsltid=AfmBOooZ5eoxyj8uKgcO3Y_TdAbo_lXPfFr83h6MC-yqOJd4lMNZT-hQ

Haven’t tried these but we use similar, for  ice cubes

Other discount stores are available😇

twopenny

That did cross my mind Badger. I'm curious about them but prefer a material that stands still.

Maybe this is a time to experiment

Tenbury

I grow basil all year round,mostly for pesto, if your windowsill isn't sunny enough just rotate the pot every couple of days.
Should your only window face North,or  ,bit like my place ,every available inch of windowsill is occupied by cacti, pick up a discarded fish tank off freecycle/similar, put a cheap growlight pad over it and use that anywhere.(good for salad leaves as well, the tall tunnel tanks try something like F1 Lizzano tomato ).
Fairbanks are wasted on fish!