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Recent herbs are culinary powerhouses we lean on so as to add taste and shade. Only a handful of chopped contemporary parsley can rework a dish from flat to contemporary, whereas a sprig of contemporary mint can elevate a drink from boring to undeniably refreshing.
However utilizing up contemporary herbs isn’t all the time straightforward — particularly when recipes hardly ever name for a whole bunch for use, which leads to a stockpile of leftover herbs in your crisper drawer that finally go to waste. After only a day or two these stunning, leafy bunches of herbs wilt and discolor. Throwing out the unused herbs is without doubt one of the most dreaded elements of shopping for them (they’re costly!), so we regularly keep away from buying them simply to forestall that from taking place.
To assist save your herbs from going unhealthy, we put 5 widespread storing strategies to the check. We purchased a bunch of contemporary parsley, divided it into 5 equal parts, and saved it for a whole week. On daily basis we checked in on it, monitoring how contemporary every technique stored the parsley. Among the strategies carried out higher than others, however there was one clear winner that stored the parsley contemporary all week. Listed below are the strategies we examined.
How We Examined These Herb-Storing Strategies
The very first thing I did was search the web for probably the most dependable and trusted strategies of storing contemporary herbs. After a little bit of analysis, I narrowed it down to 5 storing strategies that had been the most well-liked. The primary two strategies I made a decision on had been wrapping them in paper towels and stashing them in zip-top baggage. Some folks claimed that utilizing dry paper towels labored finest, whereas others swore by damp paper towels, so I examined each strategies. The second hottest storing technique I got here throughout was storing them in just a few inches of water in Mason jars, like flowers. Once more, this technique had a little bit of discrepancy on-line. Some folks claimed that overlaying them loosely with a zip-top baggie labored finest, whereas others claimed that protecting them uncovered was the way in which to go, so I examined each. I additionally needed to check storing the herbs immediately of their bag from the produce part to see what would occur, so I used this technique because the management.
To maintain issues truthful, we divided the identical bunch of Italian, flat-leaf parsley into 5 equal elements for the check. I let the assessments sit within the fridge for one week and checked in every single day.
Storing Technique: Saved in a Mason Jar of Water within the Fridge, Coated (aka the Coated “Bouquet” Technique)
About This Technique: Probably the most standard strategies for storing herbs I got here throughout on-line was the “bouquet technique.” This technique of storing herbs has you place the herbs stem-side down in a Mason jar stuffed with water, identical to you’d a bouquet of contemporary flowers (therefore the identify). The thought is that the stems drink up the water and preserve the leaves crisp, hydrated, and contemporary. Inside this technique, there have been two sub-methods that individuals swear by: Some folks cowl the highest of the herb bouquet with a plastic bag, whereas others depart it uncovered. This check is for the lined variation (extra on the non-covered one under), which was a bit extra widespread and the logic appeared to take a look at: In line with Bon Appétit “This technique permits moisture to remain in whereas ethylene escapes,” leading to herbs that keep brisker for longer. I positioned the parsley in a Mason jar stuffed with just a few inches of water, loosely lined the highest with a big zip-top bag, and popped it within the fridge.
Outcomes: This technique didn’t work very properly. Lots of the parsley was wilted and the leaves turned limp and misplaced their shade.
My Takeaway: Not solely did it look like there was no profit to overlaying the parsley, however it additionally truly appeared to make it wilt quicker. The parsley was unhappy, wilted, and not match to to prepare dinner with. I sadly needed to throw out about 50% of it.
Storing Technique: Wrapped in a Dry Paper Towel and Saved in a Zip-High Bag
About This Technique: Arms-down the most typical technique I discovered on-line for storing contemporary herbs is to roll them in a paper towel, place the roll right into a zip-top baggie, and stash it within the fridge. However, once more, there are two camps that individuals follow for this technique: Some folks use dry paper towels, whereas others declare that damp towels work higher. This primary check makes use of dry paper towels. The thought is that the dry paper towel absorbs the surplus moisture that may trigger the herbs to wilt, and the dry atmosphere prevents them from rising mildew. It’s the identical logic behind storing contemporary salad greens with a paper towel. The thought appeared to take a look at, however the outcomes proved in any other case.
Outcomes: This technique was not very profitable. The paper towel (regardless of beginning off dry) was moist by the third day. The herbs had been nonetheless inexperienced, however fairly limp. The stems had been not crisp and perky, and the leaves misplaced their construction.
My Takeaway: The herbs had been nonetheless adequate to be chopped up and thrown right into a recipe that will get cooked (like falafel), however I wouldn’t use them in a salad or as a garnish. For the quantity of effort it took to wrap the parsley, I don’t suppose this was value it.
Storing Technique: Saved Straight in Produce Bag
About This Technique: We used this technique because the management. We saved the parsley immediately within the grocery retailer produce bag and stashed it within the fridge — no trimming, washing, or drying in any respect. We frivolously rolled the bag up and positioned it seam-side down within the fridge.
Outcomes: This technique was surprisingly profitable. The herbs stayed moist, perky, and crisp. There wasn’t a ton of wilting and so they remained vivid inexperienced and comparatively contemporary. The principle concern is that the tops of the herbs that had been nearest the opening of the bag dried out and wilted — and the bag accrued a superb quantity of moisture that induced among the leaves to get slimy.
My Takeaway: This technique wasn’t horrible, so for those who’re pressed for time you possibly can depart your herbs of their produce baggage. After every week, virtually all the bunch was useable and I solely needed to throw away about 20% of it. It was surprisingly profitable.
Storing Technique: Saved in a Mason Jar of Water within the Fridge, Uncovered
About This Technique: This check was identical to the bouquet technique, solely with out overlaying the highest of the herb bundle with a bag. I positioned a bunch of parsley right into a Mason jar stuffed with water and popped it immediately into the fridge.
Outcomes: This system stored the parsley brisker than the lined variation, however the outcomes had been nonetheless not that spectacular. I solely needed to throw out about 20% of the parsley, which is about how a lot went to waste within the management technique.
My Takeaway: This technique did appear to increase the shelf life higher than simply storing it within the produce bag, however solely marginally. And the largest draw back is that any leaves that come into contact with the water get slimy. It’s a reasonably stable technique of storing herbs, and it beat out a lot of the different assessments, however it’s not a game-changer.
Storing Technique: Wrapped in a Damp Paper Towel and Saved in a Zip-High Bag
About This Technique: This technique is similar precise course of because the paper towel-wrapped technique, solely utilizing damp paper towels as an alternative of dry. You simply wrap them in a humid paper towel, place the roll right into a zip-top baggie, and retailer it within the fridge. However the trick is to ensure that the paper towel is damp, not moist. Getting the paper towel too moist can lead to mildew development. We ran our paper towel below water and wrung out the surplus moisture. HuffPost notes that this technique is finest for “herbs equivalent to cilantro and parsley,” and The Pioneer Lady additionally swears through the use of damp paper towels to retailer her herbs, so I used to be keen to provide it a attempt.
Outcomes: This technique labored considerably higher than wrapping the herbs in dry paper towels. After every week within the fridge the parsley appeared simply as contemporary because it did once I first purchased it.
My Takeaway: The damp paper towel remained damp all week, however it by no means appeared prefer it was too moist or sopping. I didn’t must throw out any of the parsley and it was simply as crisp and inexperienced because the day I purchased it.
After testing all of those strategies for storing herbs, the clear winner was wrapping the parsley in damp paper towels and storing it in a zip-top baggie. It stored the parsley contemporary and vibrant, and there was virtually no spoilage — even after seven days. However in case you are brief on time or just don’t have zip-top baggies available, storing herbs in grocery retailer produce baggage is surprisingly profitable. It doesn’t preserve them as contemporary, however it beat out a number of of the opposite strategies and is a superb, straightforward various.
Your flip: What’s your go-to technique for storing herbs? Allow us to identified within the feedback!
