Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly.

How to tell if Basil is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your basil has gone bad. Some common traits of bad fresh basil are discoloration, a moist texture and a rotten smell. Basil will first become limp and then the green leaves turn black.

Dried basil that is going bad will change color from dark green to brown as it looses its natural oils with age.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Basil to extend its shelf life?

The best way to keep basil fresh is to cut off the tips of the stems and place them in a glass of water (about 1" deep) and cover the top of the glass loosely with a plastic bag. Change the water when it begins to get cloudy. The basil will keep fresh like this longer if left on the shelf than in the refrigerator where it will quickly turn black.

Dried basil is best kept in the pantry in an airtight container free from moisture, light and heat. That means away from the stove, refrigerator and other appliances that can cause heat. For information on substituting dried for fresh basil, see our fresh vs dried post.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long is Basil good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does basil last? That depends. How long does chicken last? In general, foods last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Basil lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Basil.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Basil shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!