Keeping Fresh Herbs Vital
Treat your herbs like a fresh-cut bouquet by trimming the stems and placing them in a small glass of water, then covering the leaves loosely with a plastic bag. This simple method maintains humidity and prevents premature wilting, extending the life of tender herbs by over a week in the refrigerator.
Distinguish your herbs by texture
Soft-stemmed herbs like parsley, cilantro, and basil need moisture to survive, whereas woody-stemmed herbs like rosemary and thyme prefer to stay dry.
- small drinking glass
- plastic produce bag
- sharp kitchen shears
- rubber band or twist tie
Create a micro-climate
The goal is to simulate a greenhouse environment. Covering the leaves traps moisture and prevents the circulating air of your refrigerator from drying them out.
The method.
Trim the stems
Use sharp shears to cut off the bottom half-inch of the stems. This removes the oxidized ends that prevent water absorption.
Hydrate
Fill your glass with just enough cool water to submerge the cut ends. Ensure no leaves are sitting in the water, as submerged foliage will turn to mush.
Enclose
Slide your plastic bag over the top of the herbs, letting it rest around the rim of the glass. Secure it loosely with a band if needed to hold the shape.
Refrigerate
Place the glass on a refrigerator shelf where it won't be knocked over. Keep basil out of the fridge; it turns black in the cold and prefers to stay on the counter in a sunny spot.
Other turns to take.
The Paper Towel Method
For particularly delicate herbs, wrap the damp (not dripping) bundles in a slightly damp paper towel and place them in a sealed container or bag.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Change the water in the glass every two days to keep the stems clean and the environment fresh.
If you see leaves turning yellow or dark, remove the entire bundle and pick through them to salvage the green parts before they infect the rest.
Woody herbs like rosemary should be wrapped in a dry paper towel and placed in an airtight container rather than being put in water.
The ones that keep coming up.
Can I store mint this way?
Yes, mint reacts very well to the water-glass method and will often stay fresh for two weeks or longer.
Why does my basil turn black?
Basil is a tropical plant. The temperatures in a standard refrigerator are too low and cause the cell walls to collapse.
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