the best way to store herbs!

Sharing the BEST way to store herbs, to keep them fresh for 2 weeks or more!

I’ve tried EVERYTHING to keep my herbs fresh for more than a minute!

I hate wasting food. As a recipe creator and food photographer I often find myself with so much “extra”, that I struggle to use/store/freeze before it all goes bad. I’ve learned how to freeze ingredients, get creative with recipes, and store items as best as possible to prolong freshness.

And herbs are a particular thorn in my side.

While I certainly use fresh herbs as a full-on ingredient in many recipes, more often than not I simply need a bit for garnishing a dish that I’m shooting.

Which leaves me with the challenge of making what’s leftover last till the next time I need it.

here’s the hands-down best way to keep those herbs fresh!

I think it might have been an old copy of Cook’s Illustrated (whose “tips” pages were always my favorite part of the magazine), but years ago I found this technique and I’ve never turned back!

And the best part? It takes about 10 minutes to do!

give your herbs their own little ecosystem!

I’m not sure of the science behind this but creating a little ecosystem for your herbs is the key to keeping them as fresh two (or more) weeks later as the day you bring them home. You’ll want to do this within a day or two of bringing them home (keep them in their plastic bag in the fridge till ready to prep):

Remove any twist tie or rubber band and place the herbs in your salad spinner. Fill with cold water, give them a good swish and repeat one or two more times. Spin dry.

Lay the herbs in a single-ish layer on a kitchen towel, and blot the tops. You don’t have to get them completely dry, just remove any excess water.

Gather the herbs up and give the bottoms a nice snip – this will even them up and assist with water absorption. Remove any leaves that look like they’ll be below the water line.

Place your bunch in a jar or glass and fill with cold water. Place a ziploc or plastic bag over the top and secure the bottom of the bag around your jar with a rubber band. Store in the fridge.

And that’s all there is to it!

I use this technique mostly with parsley and cilantro, as those are the herbs I use most frequently and come in the largest bundles.

Do you have any tips to share on storing herbs? Let us know in the comments!

the best way to store herbs!

sherisilver

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Equipment

• salad spinner
• kitchen shears

Instructions

 

• Remove any twist tie or rubber band and place the herbs in your salad spinner. Fill with cold water, give them a good swish and repeat one or two more times. Spin dry.
• Lay the herbs in a single-ish layer on a kitchen towel, and blot the tops. You don't have to get them completely dry, just remove any excess water.
• Gather the herbs up and give the bottoms a nice snip - this will even them up and assist with water absorption. Remove any leaves that look like they'll be below the water line.
• Place your bunch in a jar or glass and fill with cold water. Place a ziploc or plastic bag over the top and secure the bottom of the bag around your jar with a rubber band. Store in the fridge.

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About the author

Sheri Silver

Sheri Silver is a New York-based food photographer and recipe developer who has been cooking and baking for over 30 years. She works with brands, authors and restaurants to create recipes that are as beautiful as they are foolproof - and every recipe on this blog has been made, tweaked and eaten in her own kitchen.

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