Kitchen Tip: How to Prepare, Store and Use Fresh Herbs, by Heinen's on YouTube. 4 min 26 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 26 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Sort your herbs into soft stem types like basil, cilantro, parsley and dill, and hard stem types like rosemary, thyme and oregano. They need different storage.
Rinse the herbs under cool running water and shake off the excess. Pick out any wilted or slimy leaves before storing.
Dry the herbs well with a clean kitchen towel or a salad spinner. Wet leaves rot fast in the fridge.
For soft stem herbs, trim the ends and stand them upright in a glass jar with an inch of water, like flowers in a vase.
Loosely cover the jar with a plastic bag and store it in the fridge. Change the water every day or two.
For basil, keep it at room temperature in a jar of water instead of the fridge, since cold turns the leaves black.
For hard stem herbs, wrap the bunch loosely in a slightly damp paper towel, place it in a plastic bag and store it in the fridge crisper drawer.
To use, strip leaves from hard stems by pulling downward, and chop soft herbs just before serving so they keep their flavor.
Tips and common mistakes
Never store herbs wet. Damp leaves are the main cause of slime and mold.
Chop delicate herbs like basil and cilantro at the last minute to keep their aroma.
Freeze leftover chopped hard stem herbs in olive oil in an ice cube tray for later cooking.
Questions
How long do fresh herbs last in the fridge?
Soft stem herbs in a jar of water usually last about one to two weeks if you change the water. Hard stem herbs wrapped in a damp towel last one to two weeks as well.
Why does my basil turn black in the fridge?
Basil is sensitive to cold and darkens below about 50 F. Keep it in a jar of water on the counter instead.
Can I store all herbs the same way?
No. Soft stem herbs do best standing in water, while hard stem herbs prefer a damp paper towel and a sealed bag.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
