Are your herbs spoiling? You’ve to store your fresh herbs to use later on.

Fresh herbs always add a unique flavour to cuisine and are the main ingredient of any recipe. However, if not stored correctly, herbs spoil. Growing herbs can be challenging. You have to put in all your effort to get the result. Therefore, you've got to use techniques to keep herbs fresh for longer.  

Here are some easy and practical tips for keeping your herbs fresh so you can use them in your recipes and make them delicious.

Know the Herb Type

It is essential to know what herb you have and what you need to store it separately. The physical appearance of each type makes it easy to differentiate between them.

When you touch some herbs, you'll feel a smooth texture. These are tender herbs. You can also eat these herbs. But some may taste bitter. These include mint, parsley, dill, and basil.

They have woody stems and tough leaves. The oregano you use in baking items is a complex herb. And the rosemary in oils is also woody.

Examining the herbs' nature, you must use methods to preserve them because techniques might be different. You'll observe that freezing is better for storing herbs.

Quick Version

Here are some quick and simple tips to follow for the maximum life span of your fresh herbs.

You can use warm water to rinse the herbs thoroughly. Swirl the herbs to remove any debris or dirt. Now, the herbs are cleansed. Layer each one on a paper towel to allow the excess water to absorb. Dry these herbs after washing. You can either put them in sunlight or clean them with tissue.

After that, you must place the hard herbs on wet tissue paper. Then, wrap the roll in a plastic sheet and keep it in the fridge.

To store tender herbs, cut the decayed parts of stems or leaves. Transfer the herbs to a giant water container. Then, soak the herbs and dry them. You can store them in zip-lock bags. Now, place the jar in the fridge.

For basil, snip the bases of the stems and place them in a jar with two inches of water. Please keep it in a cool and dry place, avoiding sunlight exposure.

Long Version

Let's look at the herb-storing techniques to keep them fresh for longer.

Do you wash the herbs?

Can you store herbs bought from the market directly in your refrigerator? Or would you like to give them a quick wash first? Many people suggest washing herbs to remove dirt or pests, whereas a few do not advise avoiding moisture. In contrast, many markets have damped herbs on their shelves to keep them fresh and pretty.

Let's test which herb’s freshness lasts longer. Take a bunch of parsley and cilantro and split both into halves. Wash off the half bunch in cold water and let the other half remain unwashed. Spin the half-washed bunch to dry it. Then, store both the washed and unwashed bunch in a partially zipped plastic bag in the refrigerator.

The unwashed bunch decays faster than the washed one. It is due to dirt, bacteria, or any pest that decayed the herbs a few days before the decay process of washed herbs.

Alternative Storage Methods

Sometimes, you stock more herbs than you need. In this situation, it's essential to store the herbs properly. Freezing or drying are two alternative methods.

Some of the most effective storage methods are mentioned below. You can use these to keep your herbs fresh.

● Put herbs in a towel and seal the bag. The bag will become airtight, and air or moisture will not damage your herbs. This simple method is suitable for both tender and brutal herbs.

There is another method to keep your herbs, such as parsley and cilantro, fresh in your fridge:

● For this, trim the stem bases of tender herbs and dip them in the water in a jar. Invert the zipper plastic bag to wrap the upper part of the herbs. Seal the bag tightly over the jar for longer results.

● Moreover, using a lid jar can also be helpful. You can place the trimmed ends of stems in a jar with water. Turn the top of the herbs and close the jar with the jar cover. Then, store it in the refrigerator.

Drying

Herbs dried at home or bought from the market are the same. It's important to note the herbs are dry; otherwise, they will decay. If not dry, you can dry them in a microwave to use as a spice rub.

Thus, store the dried herbs in a glass jar to retain their aroma for months in cupboards or even years in your refrigerator. You can also use dry herbs in stews and sauces.

You can add these herbs to pasta sauce and other sauces like pesto and chimichurri or garnish them at the last minute.

Freezing

One of the best ways is to freeze herbs; this keeps them fresh for longer.

Hardy Herbs

For hardy herbs, you can place the herbs in a towel and store them in a sealed bag. When sealed, freeze them.

Soft Herbs

Mix soft herbs with other spices, such as oil or water, and freeze them. They will stay fresh even after a couple of months.

Conclusion

If you want to keep your herbs fresh, store them correctly. Drying and freezing are the primary herb-storing methods. We all know saving your freshly grown herbs is essential because they are expensive. It would help to use a sealed bag or glass jars, and you will let herbs last longer.

All the above techniques are adequate, so don't hesitate to try them. Follow the above guide to prevent herbs from being wasted.