There's nothing quite like using fresh herbs in the kitchen! Whether it's flavourful dill, aromatic coriander, parsley, oregano or tasty thyme.
And there's nothing quite as frustrating as bringing home herbs because you're excited to use them in a new recipe, and before you get the chance they've gone slimy or dry...
Let's talk herb storage so that you can get the most out of your fresh herbs in the kitchen!
Basil
Basil does not like the cold, so always store it on the bench top. For basil without stems, you can wrap the leaves in a damp paper towel and keep it in a loose plastic bag. For basil with stems, put it in a glass jar like a flower bouquet in a few cm of water. Put a loose plastic bag on top and be sure to change the water every day. When stored properly, basil will stay fresh about three or four days.
Coriander
Once you bring your coriander home, remove the rubber band holding the bunch together. Leaving it on will actually cause them to break down and decay faster.
Place coriander upright in a clean glass or jar filled with a few cm of water, as you would a bouquet of flowers. Loosely cover the leaves with an upside-down plastic bag and keep it cold in the fridge. When stored this way and with the water freshened every day or two, coriander should keep for about a week.
Dill
Simply wash in cold water, remove excess moisture with a salad spinner, and wrap the bundle of dill in several damp paper towels. Place the wrapped stems and leaves in a plastic bag (old salad bags work perfectly for this!) or another airtight container. Fresh dill can usually be stored in the fridge for several days.
Mint
The best way to store mint is in the fridge where it will stay nice and cool.
If your mint has both leaves and stems, you can store it upright in a glass or plastic container. Add a few cm of water at the bottom the container to so the cut stems are able to soak, but the leaves are not submerged.
Alternatively if you have loose mint leaves, wet a paper towel and then ring it out. Add the leaves to the damp towel and gently fold the sides over the leaves making a small packet. Transfer the packet to a plastic bag or container with a lid and close it up. Keep it in the fridge and enjoy your mint for several days.
Oregano
Fresh oregano must be stored in the fridge. If you've just got leaves, simply place a slightly damp paper towel in a plastic bag with the oregano and leave some air in the bag.
If your oregano still has stems with leaves, place it in a glass of water with a plastic bag loosely tented over the glass. It should stay fresh for up to a week.
Parsley
Snip off the bottom of the stems. Make sure the leaves are completely dry. Better to hold off rinsing your parsley until you're about to use it. Put in glass jar with a few cm of water. Loosely cover the leaves with an upside-down plastic bag and keep it cold in the fridge. When stored this way and with the water freshened every day or two, parsley should keep for about a week.
Rosemary & Thyme
Store these hardy herbs in the fridge for maximum freshness. Simply wrap them in a slightly damp paper towel in a plastic bag and leave some air in the bag. Will stay fresh for up to a week.
