How to Store Fresh Herbs in Fridge
I love fresh herbs. When my husband and I started dating, we bonded over our love of cilantro (a hotly divisive topic, I know!). But anytime I’d buy herbs, I’d use them once, they’d die (a quick and then slow, slimy death) and I’d be bummed. That was until I learned the best way to store fresh herbs, but here’s the proper way for how to store fresh herbs in the fridge so they’ll last (for days and even weeks)!
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How to Store Fresh Herbs in Fridge
I think I’ve seen every which way to store fresh herbs in the refrigerator and only one of them really works. It’s not putting them in a cup of water or keeping them in the plastic container they came in – nope.
Plain and simple, the best way to keep fresh herbs fresh is to wrap them loosely in a wet towel (or paper towel) and put them into an unsealed bag. I use thinner dish towels and these reusable bags – since you know we don’t do much in the way of single-use anything in our house! And these half gallon bags are usually perfect for storing herbs in the refrigerator.
Yo can use plastic bags and paper towels until you get yourself off of single-use items.
Do Fresh Herbs Go In The Fridge
Yep! I’ve tried them on the counter and it doesn’t work.
How to keep Fresh Herbs in the Fridge
Wrap & Bag Fresh Herbs
With dry (can wash before or after storage) herbs, they need to be wrapped in a damp towel and then placed into the bag. The refrigerator keeps them cool, the towel keeps them with easy access to moisture without being wet. It’s so basic, but it extends the shelf life of your herbs dramatically.
Maintain Dampness of Towel
The only thing you need to do is keep an eye of the damp towel. Redampen as needed. I’ve had herbs stay fresh this way for 2-3 weeks. Wild, right? Basil might start to brown a bit around the edges, but it’s not immediate!
Rebrighten
If your herbs are a bit wilty and you want them less so, you can remove the herbs from the fridge and place them into a bowl of ice water. Do this just before serving, however, as the shock of the color water won’t last very long.
Truthfully, I don’t do this much as I usually cut up the fresh herbs anyway!
How long do Fresh Herbs Last in the Fridge
A general rule of thumb here is 1-3 weeks (if the towel stays damp). I’ve found my towels stay damp for days at a time, but you’ll have to watch out. My towels are also thicker than paper towels, so they can hold onto more water.
- basil – up to 1 week
- parsley – up to 2 weeks
- cilantro – up to 2 weeks
- oregano – up to 3 weeks
- chives – up to 3 weeks
- thyme – up to 3 weeks
- rosemary – up to 3 weeks
More Ways to Store Fresh Herbs
If you have an overwhelming amount of fresh herbs, don’t fret. There are a number of ways to use them up. I have recipes below, but a few tricks up my sleeve before that! Side note: each of these ways is great for super happy herbs and even wilted leaves!
Freeze Fresh Herbs in Butter
A few summers ago, I went to town with a few chives plants and then the chives went to town, growing in our garden. I LOVE chives so I couldn’t bear to just throw them in the compost bin.
Instead, I chopped a bunch of chives up and mixed them in a cube of butter. I also added a bit of salt and freshly cracked pepper (and some lemon zest if I know myself). You can freeze it all together, but I like to freeze herb butter into pats!
Put the herb butter onto the middle of a piece of parchment paper (or a piece of beeswrap). Roll it into a roll (like a round cube of butter). Let it chill completely and then slice into ½″ pats. Freeze them individually for a few hours, then place into a sealed container. Pull them our one at a time!
You can freeze herbs of any variety and mixture – not just chives! I loved herbed butter with grilled meats, grilled veggies, and any kind of potato. Oh and pasta!
Freezing Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil
You can also freeze fresh herbs in olive oil. Chop up your fresh herbs (one type or a mix) and divide them into ice cube tray compartments. Then pour olive oil over them (don’t overfill the compartments).
Freeze until frozen (not much longer), then remove the herbed oil from the ice cube trays to a sealed container. Again, I love these bags for freeze herb butter and herb oils.
Drying Fresh Herbs
Ok and the ultimate in how to store herbs: drying your own fresh herbs not only saves money but it saves A LOT OF FRESH HERBS. You’ll have a new appreciation for those packed bottles of dried herbs. Read the full write out of how to dry fresh herbs here (pictures and all). My favorite herbs to dry are oregano, thyme, and basil!
Recipes with Fresh Herbs
Let’s be real though – all the way here at the end of the post, I know. Fresh herbs are AMAZING! And now that you know how to store fresh herbs in the fridge (the right way), let’s talk about recipes to use them up!!!!
French Potato Salad
I don’t like traditional American potato salad, but French potato salad is truly divine. The dressing is olive oil, dijon mustard, and fresh herbs. Everybody always loves it when I serve it up. And it’s made with fresh dill and chives! Save this one!
Pico de Gallo Recipe
My first post that ever went viral on Pinterest, this is the best pico de gallo recipe. It’s straight forward and delectably perfect! Great to make ahead to let it sit. It uses a lot of fresh cilantro.
Whiskey & Orange Juice
Fresh herbs make cocktails infinitely better. They’re the i-Ching! This whiskey and orange juice cocktail is elevated with fresh rosemary simple syrup!
Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza
Another great recipe with fresh dill is this sun-dried tomato pizza. Using premade dough, it’s topped with sliced sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, and olive oil. Serve for a main dish or cut up into smaller pieces for an appetizer!
Cornbread Appetizer
An unexpected find in Chicago, this Greek Cornbread appetizer takes a classic favorite cornbread and tops it with feta, fresh thyme, lemon zest, and honey for a shockingly delicious dish!
Citrus Vodka Punch
Another cocktail recipe with fresh herbs, this citrus vodka punch is centered around fresh herbs, using fresh basil and mint to infuse this party cocktail. A perfect batch cocktail and a great one to make in advance!
