Why A Pound Of Basil Can Cost As Much As A Pound Of Wagyu Beef

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Common herbs like basil aren't generally considered luxury foods, but their prices can reach surprising heights. In fact, 1 pound of freeze-dried basil can cost hundreds of dollars. A common brand, Litehouse, is available at Walmart for over $26 per ounce, or around $425 per pound. Meanwhile, a 3-pound pack of Japanese Wagyu New York strip steaks from Costco will run you around $123 per pound, which seems like a downright bargain. Why is this herb so expensive compared to top-quality steaks?

The answer is simple: water. Freeze drying removes nearly all of the water from food (around 98%, according to Penn State Extension), making it good for long hikes. Basil is around 92% water, meaning this process will have a significant impact. The exact amount of water loss during freeze drying will vary, but these herbs seem so expensive because they're much more concentrated — more leaves with less water, so you'll use less each time. In that context, this basil's price is roughly in line with other freeze-dried herbs.

Of course, you can always try to store your fresh herbs better by snipping off the stems and keeping them in a jar with water, but freeze drying provides a significant improvement in shelf life. The process removes moisture without destroying the leaves' cell structure, preserving flavor and appearance while also offering potency and longevity.

Each version of basil has its own benefits, and per-pound price comparisons vary based on the amount you'll likely use with each method. Still, to get a sense of how processing affects prices, Litehouse estimates that its 0.28-ounce jar of freeze-dried basil is the equivalent of three fresh bunches. Its approximately $7 price tag then looks cheaper than buying three 1.5-ounce bunches, which Walmart sells for about $4 apiece (or $40 per pound).

Regular dried basil, however, comes in at an even lower price than both freeze-dried and fresh. Walmart's Great Value brand costs roughly $1 for an 0.8-ounce bottle (or about $20 per pound). That 0.8-ounce jar is roughly equivalent to 4 ounces of fresh basil. The calculations here are similar to the freeze-dried version, but the processing is different: This type is air-dried, with hot air circulating around the leaves until the moisture has mostly evaporated. That process does tend to remove more of the flavor than freeze drying, though.

There's still one other, less-popular basil option: frozen chopped basil. Available from brands like Dorot Gardens at some grocery stores for around $21 to $31 per pound and sold in a 2.6-ounce container, this basil is flash-frozen into small cubes that each equate to about 1 teaspoon. You can freeze basil at home, too, if you like this idea but can't find this particular product.