How to properly store and use them for the future
One thing I get asked a lot is how do I store my herbs so that they will last longer?
I guess this is coming from people who have bought fresh herbs and watched them die and go brown. If chefs know how to do one thing well, it is stretch a product that we purchase. So take it from me and take care of your fresh herbs because they are costly and the scraps you may think are bad can actually be used for many things.
I’m going to go through 3 ways you can get a longer life out of the herbs you have in the fridge and in your garden.
1. How to store them in the fridge
2. How to properly dry them out
3. Transplanting them to keep indoors
If you are planning on buying herbs and keeping them in the fridge for later use, there are a few things you can do, to help them last longer
Proper Fridge Storage
Take them out of the packages and let them breathe (that means out of those plastic containers or bags you have purchased them in)
Use a damp paper towel and wrap the herbs (this helps keep them vibrant and happy)
Store them in a place where they won’t be crushed by other heavy vegetables
If you have a small container, put them inside and lay them flat and place a lid on top, that way the cold air in the fridge will keep them cool, but not cold enough so that they die
If they have a root, which things like green onion or cilantro commonly have, leave it on (it makes it last longer)
Keep a reusable bag with the end cuts in it somewhere in your fridge or freezer, so you can keep it for soups, sauces and stocks (take it from me, stretch and save as much food scraps as you can)
Drying Herbs
When you grow herbs outside and it gets cold, they can easily be harvested and dried out to be used throughout the year. So here is how I dry mine out, so they can be used throughout the year
*When it comes to basil, I just pick all the leaves off and make pesto or I let the leaves dry out and put them in a bag to use as dried herbs
Cut them from the bottom and put them into a colander do they can be washed thoroughly in the sink
*Some herbs will grow back on their own every year if you keep the root in the ground, so don’t cut too far down the plant (oregano, chives, rosemary, thyme and sage all grow back)
I spin them in salad spinner to dry them out, but if you don’t have a spinner you can lay them out on a towel to dry out
Leave them out to dry fully so there is no water left on the leaves
Once they are dry, spread them out on a large baking sheet and leave them on a table or large counter
They should be somewhere that can get some air and sun to help them dry out (maybe on the floor, near a vent and under a window to get some sunshine)
Once they are dry, I like to put them into separate bags depending on the different herbs and label them
Don’t worry about crushing them up, since you can easily do this in your hands when you want to use them in whatever you are making
Transplanting
I also wanted to say that if you don’t plan on picking your garden herbs, they can also be easily transplanted into small pots to take inside during the cold weather. All you need is some nice potting soil and some medium size pots. Do not use the soil from the ground. I tried this last year and they died within a few weeks. There aren’t enough nutrients in the soil to let the plants survive. By moving the herbs inside, you can save money and save your little plants!
I wanted to let you all know of one more thing before I go; if you're rosemary or thyme goes brown in the fridge, it can still be dried out and saved for a stock or soup. It may look bad, but it still has some life in it, so keep it and try not to throw it away
Well I hope you guys found these tips helpful and you will use them the next time you want to get a longer shelf life out of the groceries you buy. Take care of the herbs you buy!
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