This Simple Hack Will Keep Herbs Fresh for Longer
Never throw them out again.
It happened again. You purchased a fresh bundle of cilantro in hopes of making some delicious guacamole for your Tuesday night tacos, but when you opened the produce drawer, you were met with black, wilted leaves and the feeling of utter shame and defeat. We’ve all been there, and we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way. You can keep your herbs fresh for longer with one super simple hack.
We always think we have more time, especially when it comes to fresh herbs. You need them in so many recipes from pasta with fresh basil and tomatoes to parsley chopped in a fresh tabbouleh salad. The thing is, you don’t always need to use a whole bunch for every dish, so unless you’re willing to get super creative in your kitchen within a few days of buying those tiny greens, it can be extra frustrating when they go bad and you have to toss them out.
I have personally grown pretty tired of this, and so I went in search for any tricks that could help preserve my fresh herbs for longer. I’ve read previously about freezing your herbs in oil in an ice tray to use them in recipes, but this doesn’t quite work when you need chopped fresh herbs to top off a salad (or let’s be real, a pizza) — so I dug a little deeper.
The Best Way to Keep Herbs Fresh For Longer
According to The Kitchn, herbs can go bad because of too much moisture or too little. That being said, prep your herbs for longterm storage by first washing them in cold water and allowing them to dry completely before prepping them for the fridge. You can place them on a paper towel to dry or run them through a salad spinner.
Next, fill a tall glass about halfway with cold water. Trim the ends of your herbs and submerge them in the water, then place the glass in the fridge. Make sure that you change the water in the glass every two to three days, and you’re golden!
Typically, my herbs will last in the fridge for about four days. After trying this hack, I’m happy to report that my cilantro bunch has lasted over a week. That means I’ll be enjoying some tacos and guacamole this weekend!
We hope you love this hack as much as we do, and get some good use out of those herbs!
