How to Store Fresh Herbs

Whether you want to take full advantage of your kitchen garden or hope to spice up this week’s meal plan with fresh herbs from the farmers market or grocery store, it’s handy to know the best way to store herbs so they last as long as possible. Read on to learn how to determine which category of herbs you have and how to keep them looking and tasting fresh longer.

See more: How to Store Strawberries So They Last Longer

Know Your Herbs

Sounds simple, but knowing your herbs is crucial to learning how to properly store them. You can almost always divide herbs into two categories: tender herbs and hardy herbs.

Tender Herbs

Tender herbs have soft stems and leaves and are delicious additions to a wide variety of dishes. They are best added near the end of the cooking time due to their delicate nature. A few popular varieties include:

• Basil
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Mint
• Parsley
• Tarragon

See more: Herbs for Health: The Benefits Growing in Your Garden

Hardy Herbs

Hardy herbs have harder, less delicate stems than tender herbs and add rich aromas and fragrances to soups, stews and roasts. A few of the most common varieties include:

• Bay leaves
• Marjoram
• Lavender
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

The Crucial First Step

Whether you want your basil to last long enough to make pesto over the weekend or need rosemary for multiple meals throughout the week, the very first step is to thoroughly wash and dry your herbs. This removes any surface bacteria or grime that may have crept onto the stems or leaves of your plants before they made their way into the house. Carefully rinse them in cool tap water and either air dry them on a clean towel or use a salad spinner to shake off excess liquid. You want the herbs to be as dry as possible before you store them.

See more: How to Make Fresh Produce Last Longer

Storing Tender Herbs

Tender herbs have soft stems and leaves. These plants often thrive in cool jars of water, the same way you would keep flowers.

Storing tender herbs in the fridge is simple. Trim the base of the herbs, after you’ve washed them, and remove any wilted or brown leaves. Fill a small jar or container with about an inch of cool water and place the herbs in the jar. Place the jars in the fridge and loosely cover them with a plastic bag to prevent premature browning. Change out the water in the jars every other day.

Basil is the one exception to this rule. You can follow all the above steps, but leave the jar on the kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight, instead of inside the refrigerator.

See more: 8 Best Herbs to Grow in Your Windowsill

Storing Hardy Herbs

Hardy herbs, which have hard stems that resemble miniature branches, need moisture and as little oxygen as possible.

In order to keep hardy herbs in the fridge, remove any browning stems or leaves from the plant. Assemble them on a damp paper towel in a single layer. Gently roll the paper towel to create a cocoon around the herbs. Place the rolled paper towel in an airtight container or a sealed bag to prevent oxygen from prematurely browning the herbs.

See more: How to Freeze Pesto to Make the Most of Your Basil Harvest

How Long Do Herbs Stay Fresh?

Bear in mind that even when you store herbs properly, they will only last for about two to three weeks. If you want to extend their shelf life above and beyond that, you need to freeze, dry or otherwise preserve them.