Herbs Herbs Herbs - Day three!

Hello again Sunshine!  Today I am looking at preserving in oil in mason jars!

Herb Infused Oils:   The above was made with fresh mozzorella, fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and basil infused oil.  Using an infused oil for fresh salads and antipasto trays will spoil you with the wonderful depth of flavors!  I sometimes have the above as my evening meal on Friday night with a nice pinot noir! 

There are a couple of ways to prepare herb infused oils...  The mason jar method... and the crock pot method.  Important note:  you must use dried herbs for these oils... http://www.oliveoilsource.com/page/infusing-olive-oil

Check out this link to THE OLIVE OIL SOURCE for information on why.  Mainly to prevent bad bacteria from forming.  So DRIED HERBS ONLY for oil infusions.

Mason jar method

1/2 ounce or 2 tablespoons dried herbs of your choice

8 ounces EVOO ~ or sunflower, safflower oil

Sterilize Mason Jars

Put the herbs into the sterilized jars.

Heat the oil on low, just until warm. Pour the oil into bottles, over herbs.

Allow the contents to cool. Seal bottle with a lid or cork. Allow to sit in a cool spot out of direct sunlight, for about 1 week before using.

Strain out the herbs and refrigerate for use later.

***Oils should be used within 2 months, maximum. 

Good choices for herbal oil infusions include: basil, bay, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, savory, tarragon, and thyme

 

Crock Pot Method for Herb Infused Oil....Clean and sterilize a mason jar, and remove any woody parts of the herbs. Place the herbs in a jar, lightly packed, and pour olive oil over the herbs. Place the jar & oil in a crock pot of water and set it on the very lowest heat setting.  The water in the crock pot should come at least 2/3 of the way up the side of the jar. This method of infusing oil lowers the incidence of bacteria growth in the oil. Let the herbs infuse for 24-48 hours in the low heat, then strain and discard the herbs. Refrigerate the jars for up to 2 months.

Let me know if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them!