If you have a basil plant and it has flowers, don’t throw them away because you can use them in different ways. Below we show you everything.
Basil is one of the most loved and used aromatic herbs. Its scent and flavor is truly unique and almost everyone loves it. It completes many dishes and gives it that extra touch that cannot be missing. Precisely because of its so much use, it is often decided to plant it near home.
Whether you have a vegetable garden or a simple balcony, just put a pot and start growing. This way you will always have it at hand and you won’t have to ask your greengrocer. It will always be fresh and caring for it is really simple. Just have a few small precautions and it’s done.
What you don’t know, however, is that you don’t have to throw away the basil flowers. In fact, these are also edible and you can recognize them because they are similar to ears of corn, only they are slightly smaller and thinner. They grow and are usually cut and thrown away. But now we’ll show you why you absolutely shouldn’t throw them away.
Don’t throw away basil flowers
As we have just said, basil has spikelets on each stem where there are small white flowers. These are usually cut off when they reach a few centimeters. In fact, cutting will allow the stem to grow and consequently to have more basil leaves.
Some of these spikelets, however, you can grow them up to a maximum of 10/15 centimeters to be able to use them in the kitchen and beyond. When they have reached this length you can proceed to cut them but be careful because this does not wear out as well as the leaves but must first be dried.
So the spikelets are edible but must be dried first. Once they reach a decent length you can detach them from the basil plant which will continue to grow even more and you can put them in the sun for several hours. Be careful that there is no wind otherwise the spikelets will fly away.
Once they are dried, it will take about 48 hours, you can use them in different ways. However, we recommend placing this herb in a jar with a lid to ensure that it retains its aroma. But let’s see how to use them in a very simple way below.
Basil vinegar: here’s how
With dried spikelets you can make a vinegar with basil footprint by simply pouring the dried spikelets inside the bottle. Leave everything to infuse for about 7 days and then filter the mixture. Here you will have obtained a basil vinegar in a very simple way without going to the supermarket.
Create a floor plan
With basil spikelets it is also possible to multiply the basil and give birth to a new seedling. In this case, it is advisable to dry the spikelets directly on the plant. As soon as they are, rub them then on soft soil mixed with sand. The latter must always be humid and exposed to the sun.
If you do this in spring or summer, the result is assured. After a few weeks you will see the first leaves sprout and slowly the plant will begin to grow. These are just a few methods to use basil differently and you must at least give it a try.
