Find out the best way to store fresh herbs so they stay fresh as long as possible. Whether you grow herbs in your garden or buy them from the grocery store, this will keep them from turning yellow and slimy much longer so you can enjoy green and vibrant herbs in your food.
Fresh herbs wake up your palate with every mouthful. They add fresh flavors to any recipe, plus they make your everyday meals look extra fancy and beautiful. Chicken noodle soup with fresh herbs is absolutely more delicious with fresh herbs. I love sprinkling parsley and cilantro on my omelets, casseroles, pasta dishes and almost everything else.
The only downside to fresh herbs is that they wilt and spoil so quickly. There are so many different methods that people suggest to make fresh herbs last longer. I tested several of the most popular ones to find the one that works the best.
Not only will this method make your herbs last much longer, but they will be washed and ready to use, so you'll use them more often because it makes it easy and convenient. I store fresh herbs like this every time I meal prep for the week.
Watch the Video of How To Store Fresh Herbs:
(you can see 3 methods of storing herbs to compare which one works the best)
How To Store Fresh Herbs
- Get rid of the rubber band or twist tie that's holding the herbs together.
- When the herbs are held together tightly, they will start to spoil much faster right at that point. Sorting through the herbs will give you a chance to get rid of leaves that are starting to wilt, turn yellow or slimy. (They will make the rest of the herbs go bad faster too.)
- Next, wash them really well and dry them until they are just slightly damp. They should not be completely dry. A salad spinner works great for this.
- Extra moisture will make the herbs wilt and spoil much quicker, but if they are completely dry, they will wilt faster too.
- Place the herbs on a paper towel and roll up the paper towel loosely. A clean, thin kitchen towel will work too.
- Place the herbs inside a ziptop bag but leave it partly open.The paper towel will wick away any extra moisture and keep the herbs fresh.
The other great thing about storing herbs this way is that you always have clean, dry herbs available. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I don't add herbs to food just because I'm too lazy to wash it:). It's also much easier to chop herbs when they're not wet.
Can You Freeze Fresh Herbs?
Yes! If you have a huge abundance of herbs that you know you won't be able to use in 2 weeks, chop up the herbs and freeze them. They taste really fresh and stay bright green as well.
I learned this from my Mom when I was a little girl. Since we always had a garden, we would have tons of herbs. Mom would chop up dill, parsley and green onion, place them in separate storage containers or even freezer ziploc bags and freeze.
Use a spoon to scoop out however much fresh herbs you need for a recipe and add it in.
Want More Tips For Storing Produce So It Lasts As Long As Possible?
Check out my ebook, The Home Cook's Handbook. I tested so many methods of storing fruits and vegetables to find the ones that work the best. Not only will you get those tips, but also so many more helpful kitchen resources, like meal prepping, meal planning, how to freeze food, pantry staples and so much more.
Thank you for the great tip on storing the herbs in the fridge using a paper towel.
I usually buy a bunch of herbs. I wash and dry them. Mince and keep them in a glass jar in the freezer.
Thanks Olga, I was wondering what to do with all my parsley and basil I have in my container gardens
I'm going to wash, spin in salad spinner, chop and then freeze for later use. I tend to use more herbs in the fall and winter when I'm cooking more hot soups, stews and pasta dishes that require herbs.
I love your recipes and blog . Thanks so much.
Alayne
I'm so glad this was helpful for you, Alayne. Fresh herbs really help to brighten up a dish.
I want say that I got this tip from Olga couple years ago. I just never liked my herbs to be frozen. It really works. My herbs stay fresh for at least a week or more. Thanks Olga for the great tip. I’m so happy you’re back!!!! Cute kiddos:)
I'm so glad this tip was helpful for you, Olga. Thank you for taking the time to write.
This was so helpful. I've felt guilty throwing away spoiled herbs because I don't' use them up fast enough.
Another thing that I do sometimes if I know that I won't be able to use up the herbs that I have, is to chop up the fresh herbs and to freeze them and then I add them to soups and salads and it works great. A trick my Mom taught me:).
Wow now I really get how to store fresh herbs gotta remember to wrap up loosely in the paper towels and then leave the zipper loc bag open thanx tons luv
It really saves me some money not to have to throw out half of the herbs that I buy. Another benefit is that they are already washed and ready to go, so they chop much better when they aren't too wet.
Yup ditto 4 shizzzssss, not to mention also a big huge time saver for when I need em in a jiffy. Btw olya, I'm gonna try one of your omelette hash dishes tonight. I'll let ya know how it goes gurl , keep them good eats comin yeaaaaaaa babyyyyyy
Wow now I really get how to store fresh herbs gotta remember to wrap up loosely in the paper towels and then leave the zipper loc bag open a little bit thanx sooooo much luv such gr8 tips
Hi Olga, you didn't say how long your herbs last when stored like this. I'd be curious to see how it compares to my method. I learned this years ago when I was working at a restaurant: get rid of the rubber band, wash the bunch (no drying), wrap the stems in paper towel which I then soak under the tap, gently squeeze out excess water, place wrapped bunch in a plastic bag and get rid of as much air as you can when you place it in the fridge. Keeps fresh and crunchy for at least two weeks. I store everything green this way, even celery. I should try your method, too. Perhaps divide a bunch of parsley in two and compare. Kitchen experiments, you know.
That is a great experiment, Dorina. I would love to hear the results. The herbs usually last for about a week and a half or so, but usually I use them up faster.
Olga,
Any specific salad spinner you would recommend?
Thx!
Hi Olga,
I have the OXO salad spinner and it works great.
Hi Olga,
I also store all fresh herbs the same way. Another way I also do is: chop any herbs you want, mix them with a little olive oil and put them in ice cubes container and freeze it. Any time you need it just take one or more cubes and put in soups,gravy,etc.
Hi, Olechka!
Thank much for your great job on your website. I absolutely love it (pictures, decoration, colors your explanation etc.)
and cooked some of your recipies. I also love your tips. It's a great idea to store fresh herbs using paper towels and even more to dry them using a salad spinner. You are so smart because I have a salad spinner but never used it for drying fresh herbs. I like others just minced it's and store in my freezer using plastic bags. Your idea is much better. You can use them for decoration or minced later. GREAT JOB!!!
GOOD LUCK and BLESSING TO YOU!!!
Hi Nina!
Thank you for taking the time to write! I am so glad that the tips are helpful to you. God bless you too.
Hi Olga!
I usually store my herbs in container in freezer, but I was just wondering how long do they herbs last like this in paper towel?
this is a great idea! we've recently been given the opportunity to particpate in the Bountiful Baskets program in our area and frequently the add-ons include fresh herbs which I've been just trying to use up in the first couple of days of receiving them. I have heard of others drying them, but would prefer to keep them fresh for longer. thank you!!
I always mince my herbs, and store them in the freezer in ziplock bag. My mom gave me that idea after i've complained to her how my herbs bunch would spoil, and it was a waste. And its already washed and minced, ready to add to any dish.
Thanks for the great tip, Olga. I almost never buy fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley because my chickens end up getting most of it. Can this method be used to store herbs in the freezer?
I usually mince the herbs finely and store in the freezer in a sealed container. It'll be great added to soups, casseroles, etc. What do you mean that your "chickens end up getting most of it?"
However, I prefer the taste of fresh herbs, and only freeze them if I can't use them up quickly enough.
Olga, I have real live chickens in my backyard, they are the lucky ones who get all the table scraps:)
Ah! I see, Marina! Now it all makes sense:). Good for you. That is awesome.