Keep Your Herbs Fresher Longer Using These Test-Kitchen Tricks
- Method 1: Hang in Bunches Knowing how to dry herbs will keep you stocked on herbs year-round. ...
- Method 2: Wrap Wrap small bunches of fresh herbs in a damp paper towel and keep in an airtight resealable bag in the refrigerator. ...
- Method 3: Cover in Water Trim ½ inch from the herb stems and place in a jar or cup with water. ...
- Method 4: Microwave ...
Full Answer
What's the best way of storing my herbs?
How to store herbs and spices
- Buy whole spices. Whole spices such as nutmeg maintain their freshness longer than ground ones. ...
- Keep cool. Keep spices and herbs away from heat and direct sunlight. ...
- Buy just what you need. ...
- Spices don't last forever. ...
- Test for strength. ...
- Keep dry. ...
- Measure correctly. ...
- Some like to chill. ...
- Lock it down. ...
- The daily grind. ...
How do I harvest, dry, or store my herbs?
How to Store Herbs
- Discard Any Moldy Herbs. Discard any dried herbs that show the slightest sign of mold. It will only spread.
- Store Herbs in Airtight Containers. Store your dried herbs in airtight containers. ...
- Label and Date the Containers. Label and date your containers.
- Place Containers in a Cool, Dry Spot. Place containers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. ...
How to store fresh herbs so they last longer?
There are few things so ... goes a long way. While refrigerating or freezing herbs usually guarantees a longer shelf life, you can also store your fresh herbs on your kitchen counter at room temperature by treating them like a vase of flowers. Keep the ...
How to store fresh herbs like a pro?
Try one of these methods to keep your herbs at their freshest in your refrigerator:
- Store unwashed with the root ends or stem ends in a jar or glass of water with a plastic bag over the leaves (for herbs purchased with root ends this ...
- Wrap unwashed herbs in damp paper towels and put in an open plastic bag;
- Place unwashed herbs in special produce storage bag.
Tender vs. Hard
To know how to best store an herb, fist you have to determine if it’s tender or hard. Tender herbs have soft stems and leaves like, cilantro, parsley, and basil; tarragon also can fall into this category. Hard herbs have a woody stem, like rosemary, thyme, marjoram and oregano.
Washing Herbs
Some say not to wash herbs because it adds moisture, but the truth is, when you bring herbs home from the supermarket, they are already wet. It has been my experience that herbs do best when washed under cold water and spun in a salad spinner. Washing and spinning them removes any debris or germs that will feed decay.
Keeping Herbs Fresh
After the herbs have been washed and spun in the salad spinner, trim the ends of the stems. Remove any wilted or browned leaves. Fill a glass or Mason jar with an inch of water. Place the herbs in the jar like a bouquet of flowers. To store parsley and cilantro, loosely cover with a resealable plastic bag or cling wrap.
How Long to Store
If you follow the proper care, fresh herbs can last for up to three weeks. Below is a quick list of the most common herbs and their average life span. When the herbs start to turn dark, brittle or the stems show signs of mold, it’s time to toss them.
How to Store Herbs in the Fridge
To store tender herbs in the fridge, fill a tall glass with cool water. Take your herbs and trim the stems before placing them, stem-first, into the water (like flowers). Change the water regularly (every few days).
How to Store Herbs Whole in the Freezer
Freezing works well for basil, chives, oregano, lemon balm, mint, and tarragon. They can still be used like normal fresh herbs in cooking, though they will be limp and wet within a few minutes out of the freezer. If they are stored in an airtight container, frozen herbs can last for up to a year.
How to Store Herbs in the Freezer Using Oil
Place your chopped herbs in an ice cube tray and pour olive oil over them until fully covered and freeze them. When you are ready to cook with your herbs, the olive oil for your recipe will already be included in your cubes. Basil freezes well in olive oil; so do parsley, cilantro, and sage.
How to Store Herbs as a Puree
An herb puree is a particularly good way of storing large harvests of one plant. Purees can also be customized with other flavors as a way to meal prep in advance. A pesto sauce is a good example of something that requires large amounts of one herb and that can be frozen for later use.
How to Store Herbs at Room Temperature
While refrigerating or freezing herbs usually guarantees a longer shelf life, you can also store your fresh herbs on your kitchen counter at room temperature by treating them like a vase of flowers.
How to Store Herbs After Drying
Drying herbs is a popular and time-honored way of preserving the flavors of fresh herbs. Hard herbs dry particularly well.
How to Store and Organize Your Spices for Maximum Freshness and Flavor
Tired of a messy spice rack? We’ve got easy tips for keeping your spices and herbs fresh, organized and ready to use.
How to Store Spices and Herbs
Most of us have a collection of dried spices (like cinnamon, paprika, cayenne, nutmeg, turmeric) and dried herbs (like oregano, basil, sage, cilantro) sitting in containers in our kitchen—and we’ve usually got bunches of fresh herbs we’ve acquired from the market or in a meal kit.
How to Organize Spices in Your Kitchen
One of the best ways to organize your dried spices and herbs is to ensure you can see everything you’ve got, not just the stuff you use all the time. After all, it’s a waste when a spice disappears into a corner and you forget you even have it—then you buy it all over again.
How to Know When Spices Are Past Their Prime
Wondering if your spices are too old to use? Generally, ground spices will last about six months, while whole spices can retain their flavor for up to five years. But before you throw out a spice, try sprinkling a little on your hand and smelling it. Fresh spices should be very fragrant, while old ones won’t have much scent at all.
How to Revive the Flavor of Aging Spices
If you’re planning to use a spice that you suspect has been sitting there a little too long, try reviving the flavor by heating it up a little. Just warm up your skillet over medium heat, and toss in as much of the spice as you’re going to use that day.
How to Make Your Own Simple DIY Spice Blends
Now that you know how to store and organize your spices and herbs in the kitchen, we’ve got some helpful tips on how to mix them to create your own blends to use in your cooking. Making your own DIY spice blends can be more economical than buying them premixed, and you can adjust the seasonings to your own taste.
How to Store Fresh Herbs So They Last
Using fresh herbs is a great way to brighten any dish and bring it from just ok to wow! But sometimes a little goes a long way with fresh herbs and you can be left with a whole lot leftover from one recipe. Or you have an overabundance of herbs from your summer CSA or your backyard garden and want to make them last as long as possible.
How to Store Soft Herbs: treat as flowers
Storing soft herbs in jars with water prolongs the life of the herbs by keeping them alive like flowers.
How to Store Hard Herbs: prolong moisture content
Storing hard herbs in damp paper towels prolongs their moisture levels and keeps them fresher, longer. You’ll notice there is one herb included in here that is not technically a hard herb: chives.
The Best Way to Clean Herbs
Herbs can be very dirty and gritty, whether coming from the supermarket or the farmer’s market. The best way to clean herbs is to fill up a big bowl with clean, cool water. Dunk the herbs in the water, letting all the dirt and grit sink to the bottom a few times.
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