The Eye-Catching Hack That Makes Fresh Herbs Last Longer

Fresh herbs are the chef's kiss to a perfectly prepared dish. The potent flavor and pleasant aroma they add to a meal can't often be substituted with anything else. Whether it's fragrant cilantro for a vibrant salsa or glossy tarragon for a classic béarnaise sauce, adding fresh herbs can make or break any culinary achievement. The problem is that fresh herbs only stay fresh for so long.

A delicate herb like parsley can lose its luster in just a week, leaving you with a slimy, wilted memory of a once enticing ingredient. When you bring fresh herbs home from the store, there isn't much time to use them before they deteriorate unless you take special precautions. Certain herbs are hardier than others and tend to have a longer shelf life, but in the end, none of the precious herbs we use to enhance our culinary creations last as long as we would sometimes like without some help.

Keeping herbs fresh is as simple as storing them in water, but how you store them in water makes all the difference. You wouldn't want to completely submerge them in water because that will encourage spoilage, but not enough moisture and your herbs could dry out. One eye-catching hack to extend the shelf life of your favorite herbs is to make a bouquet of your precious greenery.

Start by separating your herbs and rinsing them off under water from the faucet. Once free of debris, pat them dry with a clean towel. Water can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so take care to dry them off as best as possible to avoid this.

When your herbs are cleaned and dried, cut about half an inch from the bottom of the stem. Once they're trimmed, bunch your herbs together like a little flower arrangement. Take this newly formed bouquet and place it in a container with a couple inches of water, ensuring that none of the leaves are touching the water as you do so. Lastly, place a clear plastic bag over the top of the bouquet.

Trimming the stems from your herbs helps them take up water and remain fresh and firm. By ensuring no leaves are touching the water, you'll avoid premature rot, as well as an unpleasant smell that could develop from your bouquet. Placing a plastic bag over your fresh herbs will retain humidity and keep excess oxygen away, which will keep your herbs perky, green, and flavorful.

Once you have your verdant bouquet arranged, the next step is to store it in an appropriate place. Most herbs being cared for this way will do best in the refrigerator, though you'll want to be careful to place it in a spot where it won't be easily knocked over. One notable exception to this is basil, which will last longer in water if it simply sits on your kitchen counter away from direct sunlight.

Something to keep in mind is that while most fresh herbs can benefit from being stored in water, hardier herbs tend to do better with different storage methods. Herbs like rosemary and thyme are better suited wrapped up in a damp paper towel and placed in the fridge inside an airtight container to retain their moisture. This will extend the life of hardier herbs by a few weeks on average. Freezing herbs is another option if you want to keep them around even longer.

Utilizing these hacks to keep your herbs will preserve the flavor and aroma of these culinary staples, and it will also save you money. Extending the life of your fresh herbs will have you spending less on your next trip to the grocery store. Reducing food waste by storing herbs correctly can benefit your wallet just as much as it will your palette.