Fresh Herb Storage & Preservation Tips

The Best Storage and Preservation Tips for Fresh Herbs

If you’re a fresh herb fanatic but don’t have the time or space to grow your own you’ve probably wasted a lot of money throwing away parsley, cilantro, dill, basil and other such herbs you were sure would last in your fridge. Daily trips to the supermarket are not the answer! Fiorentino’s Farm Market shares our best techniques for fresh herb storage and preservation. These tips can be applied to herbs purchased at your local farmers market, supermarket or picked from your own garden!

7-Step Guide to Fresh Herb Storage

Before we get into the ways in which you can enjoy your favorite fresh herbs all year long, we have to differentiate the two categories: Hardy vs. Tender. Hard herbs have a woody stem such as rosemary, thyme, marjoram and oregano. While tender herbs have a soft step and include cilantro, parsley, basil and tarragon.

Washing: Some say not to wash herbs because it adds moisture and can lead to quicker wilting. But if they’re not picked fresh from your garden we advise washing all fruits, vegetables and herbs before consumption to remove dirt and debris.

Invest in a Salad Spinner: If you’re serious about your fresh herb storage a salad spinner is a must! Not only does this affordable gadget help during the washing process, it also quickly dries the herbs in 2 simple steps.

Remove Wilted/Brown Leaves: Trim the ends off the stems and remove any wilted or brown leaves; these can speed up the spoil timeframe and ruin the whole batch.

Hardy Herb Storage: Arrange them on a slightly damp paper town in a neat, single layer. Roll the paper town and transfer the bundle into a Zip Lock bag and store in the refrigerator.

Tender Herb Storage: Add an inch of water to the bottom of a large Mason jar and add your tender herbs sticking straight up. Seal the jar completely with the lid or, if the herbs are too tall, a plastic band and seal with a rubber band. Store in the refrigerator promptly.

Basil Storage: While it is considered a tender herb, the storage of basil is a bit different. Follow the same tender herb storage instructions but leave the basil at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.

Lifespan: Tender herbs, including basil, will last for 2 – 3 weeks, while hardy herbs can be stored for 1 – 2 weeks.

We hope you can use our herb storage instructions and enjoy the fresh taste all year long! Refer to our summer produce preservation guideline to extend the delicious summer season.