We know you stay up nights pondering this question. Like, why do my mint and basil turn brown in the fridge? And why is my cilantro already wilted? OK, maybe this isn’t on the top of your mind but we do have tips on how to store your herbs.
It’s Not Easy, Being an Herb
Anyone who cooks knows that it’s hard to keep your herbs fresh. The fact is herbs need to be stored in a certain way. Otherwise, you end up with brown, discolored, and or wilted herbs. But how to do this when they wither so fast? Well, that’s where these tips to store herbs come in handy. Note: there are different methods for soft herbs and hard herbs.
Soft Herbs
The soft herbs are the ones with tender green stems. Cilantro, parsley, dill, mint, and basil are some examples. Almost every part of these herbs can be used to add flavor to your dish so it’s essential that you store them properly.
The first thing to know about soft herbs is that air is the arch nemesis when it comes to keeping them vibrant. Soft herbs require water and indirect light. The following are the top tips for how to store these soft herbs:
- First, remove the rubber band or twist the tie on the bunch. Clean the herbs by swirling them gently in your salad spinner. Next, dry them in the salad spinner as well. Make sure there is no excess moisture on the leaves.
- Trim the bunches from the bottom about half an inch. Collect them together in small bunches. Fill small glass jars for about 1-2 inches with water. Arrange the bunches of herbs in the jars like small bouquets.
- Cover the jars with clean plastic bags and seal them from the bottom. The water will keep the bunches fresh and hydrated.
- Store mint, cilantro, parsley, and dill in the refrigerator.
- Keep basil on the countertop away from direct sunlight. Extreme temperatures tend to spoil basil.
Alternatively, you can also dry these herbs. If you use a lot of fresh sprigs for garnishing the dishes, this could make sense for you. To dry the herbs, spread the bunches out and hang them in small groups on the kitchen twine. Make sure that they are away from direct sunlight. Within 2 weeks the herbs dry out. You can then store them in small containers.
Hard Herbs
The hardier herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano require a different approach. The best way to keep these fresh is to wrap them in a damp paper towel and refrigerate. For hard herbs, you’ll need to change out the paper towel as they dry out.
Another way to store these herbs is to freeze them. Wrap hard herbs in paper towels and freeze them in resealable freezer bags. If you use these methods to store your herbs, they will last you for weeks, sometimes months.
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