How to Store Fresh Herbs so They Last Longer

By
Jovana N
-
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Fresh herbs seem to go bad really quickly so we researched the best ways to keep them in our pantry longer. Doing these things will help you get more out of your fresh herbs and prevent food waste, so let’s get to work.

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We only made batch no 1 a couple months ago, but we’re almost ready to make another bottle of rosemary-infused olive oil! It’s *so* easy to make and tastes AMAZING as an oil used in Italian recipes, salad dressings, and of course, with some salt and fresh ground pepper and (homemade!!!☺️) bread. Here’s how Andrew made ours: Heat a full fistful of fresh rosemary with a bottle of high quality olive oil on the stove until it boils. Remove from heat and let cool completely before funneling back into the olive oil bottle. (We let ours sit covered on the stove for three days—with rosemary still in—because we kept forgetting to buy a funnel. If you have the space to do this, I would bet it made for an even stronger infusion.) and that’s it! We love this recipe, and it smells SO GOOD✨ — #diy #garden #gyo #growyourown #gardenrecipes #herbgarden #cooking #foodphotography #habitandhome #seasonspoetry #herbs #oliveoil #kitchengarden #urbangarden #urbangardening #brooklyngarden

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Soft or Hard Herbs?

Herbs can generally be divided into soft and hard herbs, and knowing which ones you’re dealing with can help you a lot when it comes to preserving them. Soft herbs include mint, parsley, basil, etc., while hard herbs include oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

Washing and Drying

Carefully washing your herbs will remove bacteria and dirt and help prolong their shelf life, but only if you thoroughly dry them. Use a salad spinner to make sure all the excess water is out before storing them.

Soft Herbs

Soft herbs are best stored in a mason jar like this: gather them together like a bouquet of flowers, then trim the ends. Place the herbs in a jar filled with just enough water to cover the stems without touching the leaves. Seal the jar and keep in the fridge. Make sure to change the water every few days.

Hard Herbs

Hard herbs will remain fresh the longest if you keep them in a damp paper towel placed in a tightly sealed container you will keep in the fridge.