Life In Self Quarantine: How Do I Keep My Herbs Fresh For Long?
Discover > Texas Home Cooking > Life In Self Quarantine: How Do I Keep My Herbs Fresh For Long?
With shopping trips becoming few and far between, keeping produce fresh till the next grocery run has become something of a new challenge. Maybe we should turn it into one of those hashtag challenges that are trending online. #Myherbsdidn'tdieonme! I love the way herbs bring a dish to life.
They can instantly add color, freshness and crunch and so, play a vital role in elevating refrigerator leftovers. However, I am ashamed to say that the frequency of throwing away rotten herbs in this past month, has increased in my kitchen.
Storing fruits and vegetables is quite simple. But my real struggle is trying to keep my herbs fresh. Coriander, mint, parsley, and rocket are always in my refrigerator and always on my shopping list.
The limited shopping trips due to the current COVID-19 situation means that I now need to buy fresh herbs enough for at least 15 days. The first few weeks were complete failures with me ending up with bunches of black, rotting cilantro (how long does cilantro last?) and dry withered mint.
After a lot of experimentation, I finally found some not too perfect ways to keep those delicate, fragrant and much needed herbs alive for little longer than they would like to.
Store in Wet Towel
Quite simply, storing fresh herbs in water is quite effective. The refrigerator essentially pulls out moisture from things. To prevent soft herbs from losing moisture, it is favorable to provide a source of moisture that can protect them.
Use a wet paper towel to wrap your soft greens like cilantro, parsley and tarragon. Roll them in the towel and place the roll in a zip-loc bag. Check on your herbs every other day to re-wet the towel if it is dry. I have found that this way, they stay fresh up to two weeks.
Store in Water
Just like a bouquet of fresh flowers, you can fill a jar with some fresh water and store your herbs in it. Start by trimming off any brown spots on the stem-ends and place them in the jar.
Put a bag over the leaves or the entire jar. Make sure to secure the bag with a rubber band. Keep this in the refrigerator and keep an eye on the water and the health of the stalks. Chives (how long do chives last?), rosemary, and thyme usually stay well for 2 weeks this way.
Freeze the Extra Herbs
You may want to consider freezing the extra bunches that are not going to be used immediately within the first couple of days. Honestly, I have tried freezing herbs in a number of different ways like chopping them up before freezing them in single serving bags. But they do turn a shade of unappetizing brown this way.
A new knack that doesn’t let this happen is storing leaves in oil. Fill your ice cube tray partially with oil and place chopped leaves into each cube. This technique is best suited for hard herbs like sage or oregano that can be added to a dish while cooking along with the oil they're frozen in.
The herbs really infuse a special flavor to the oil that in turn lends another dimension to the dish. With this method, you can also add the herbs anytime to dressings, soups and sauces seamlessly.
Make an Herb Puree
This can get a little more tedious than the others, but it will be worth it. Separate the thick stems from the herbs and take the leaves off. Once you have close to two cups of herbs, blend them with 1/4 cup of olive oil.
Alter the quantity of oil as per the quantity of the leaves. Once you have a smooth puree, you can either freeze the puree in an ice cube tray or in a Ziploc bag. You will have herb oil ready to be stirred into pastas (how long does pasta last?) or sautéed into stir fry veggies.
Should You Pre-Wash Herbs Before Storing Them?
I usually don’t. I find that the excess moisture on them hurries up the rotting process. Unless, you are going to process them further, like make a puree or store them in oil.
If despite your best efforts you still find yourself that your greens are turning brown on you, snip out all the dying leaves that may be causing the other leaves to rot too. Fingers crossed and hope for the best!
What are the ways you keep your herbs fresh? Share your secrets in the comments below!
P.S. Interested in growing your own parsley? Our friends over at Happy DIY Home has an excellent resource on how to grow and harvest your own parlsey here.
