Why did my basil turn purple when soaked overnight?

Question

I picked my fresh basil and it looked and smelled wonderful.

I soaked it in a bowl of water overnight and this morning I was going to make Pesto. Well....my gorgeous basil has turned purple. It is like all the flavor was sucked out of the leaves and into the water. I was not expecting that...is that what happened?

Answer 1

What has happened is your basil has be discoloration and decay to them, This is caused by letting them soak in water over night. By having them soak in the water they loose their freshness and flavor.

Usually when you pick the leaves of your herb plant you want to use them right away, If you want to pick them and use them later then you want to take some stem with it so you then can add the stem of your basil in a small glass of water to keep it fresh.

So yes your not going to get the flavor your wanting from the basil you have..Sorry..

Answer 2

If you cut the basil with a knife before running it under water, you may have broken down the cell walls of the herb and if this is the case, it can cause brusing.  Basil is a very sensitive herb as it is and it's not unusual for it to turn purpl due to bruising.