Let’s talk about how to store parsley, cilantro, and other fresh herbs. I use glass jars to store my fresh herbs like a bouquet of flowers. Not only do they look beautiful in your fridge, but it allows your herbs to last for up to six weeks!
How to Wash Fresh Herbs
When I bring cilantro or fresh parsley home from the grocery store, the first thing I do is wash the herbs. I fill a large bowl with 10 cups of cool water and ¼ cup of 5% distilled white vinegar. Then I take the herbs and separate the pieces. This is the best way to ensure it all gets washed. Once everything is in the bowl, and the bunches are separated, I allow them to soak for just two minutes. Don’t forget to set a timer.
After they are done soaking, I put them in a colander and gently rinse them with water to remove any leftover debris. To help remove excess water I give them a spin through my salad spinner before laying them on a clean towel to dry on the kitchen counter.
Cilantro and parsley do not need to be bone dry before they are put away like fruit does. I’ve found that washing these herbs first is a great time saver as they’ll be ready to put away while I wait for other fruits and veggies to dry.
If I am washing more than one bunch of herbs at a time, I will use fresh water each time. There is usually such a large amount of dirt that comes off of the herbs that I don’t want to reuse the water.
How to Store Fresh Herbs
I like to store my cut parsley, cilantro, and other fresh herbs in pint-sized mason jars. Trimming the ends of the stems with kitchen shears or a knife and cutting board is an effective way to make the herbs last longer.
I cut off about a ¼ inch from the ends of the stems in order to ensure the stems are able to absorb the water. Then I place the herbs into the water, making sure the stems are fully immersed. If there are any leaves towards the bottom of the stems, I remove them and set them aside for chopping so they are not immersed in the water.
If you are storing multiple herbs at a time, you can use a Sharpie marker to label your jars so you don’t get them mixed up.
I recommend using filtered water or whatever water you would normally drink for storing your herbs. You want to keep in mind that anything in your water will be pulled into the herbs while they are being stored in the water. Our water has so much chlorine and fluoride in it that it would kill the plants. So, keep this in mind when selecting water for storing your cut parsley and cilantro.
Once the herbs are in the water of the mason jar, I pull out any of the pieces that have shorter stems and are not touching the water. I chop these pieces up and place them in a smaller glass mason jar, along with any of the smaller pieces I removed from the lower ends of the stems.
These chopped pieces get stored in the fridge, but will not last as long. You will want to use these first, but this allows you to not waste any of your fresh herbs.
Give It a Trim
Every 7-10 days, you will want to take the bunch of herbs out of the jar and give the ends a trim. The freshly cut stems open up the vascular system of the plant and allow them to take in fresh water. It is the same reason you should cut the ends of fresh flowers every few days in the vase. It will make them last longer!
In addition to cutting the ends, you will also want to replace the water in the jar. After trimming the ends and putting fresh water in the jar, place the herbs back in the fridge and they will be fresh for another week!
You can store the jar of herbs in your fridge door so they are less likely to get knocked over. If you have littles who aren’t gentle with opening and closing fridge doors, you may want to put them on the top shelf of the fridge.
The mason jar holding the herbs does not need any plastic wrap over it. I have tried to reduce all plastics in my home and these fresh herbs will last 6-8 weeks by themselves in the jar without anything else as long as you follow these instructions.
Herbs can be used in a variety of recipes and will provide you with an easy way to add flavor to any dish. Next time you are shopping, skip the dried herbs, buy them fresh and give this method of storing them a try.
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