Helpful Lesson 9: Store Your Herbs Carefully

I love fresh herbs. They make such a difference in my dishes! I was told, many years ago, to stand the bunches in a glass of water in the refrigerator and, for the first few days, that worked but, eventually, the leaves started to get mushy so, clearly, that was not a good method. Ashley Mason and Alex Delany of Bon Appetit have a few tips on how to store your herbs so they last longer and you're more apt to use them.

The biggest suggestion they have is to rinse off the herbs as soon as you get home from the market. Giving the whole bundle a proper wash rehydrates the leaves so they stay fresher longer.

Step 1: Trim the ends with scissors and pick off old leaves.

Freshly cut stems help herbs absorb water better.

Step 2: Spin the herbs.

Place the herbs in a salad spinner and fill it with cold water. Agitate the herbs with your hands to loosen dirt from the stems and leaves. Then drain the spinner. Repeat this process until the water is clear, and spin those herbs dry.

Step 3: Store the herbs.

Transfer the herbs to paper towels, then roll them up in the damp towels and store them in a plastic bag. You want to keep some moisture in there, so they stay fresh. You can refrigerate them for up to a week, pulling a few leaves whenever you need.

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/herb-prep-cleaning-tip

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