How Do You Keep Cilantro And Other Herbs Fresh?

Cilantro adds bold flavors to your food, but it does not keep fresh longer. So, what can we do? how do you keep cilantro and other herbs fresh?  We will look at 4 methods that can help extend the life of your herbs.

We are living in crazy times where we are being asked not to go out unless it is essential, and I don’t think going out to get cilantro would be considered essential.

So how do we overcome this scenario?

If you have a garden then you are all set, however, if you live in an apartment as I do then there are a few tricks we can use to help herbs like cilantro stay fresh longer.

Today we are going to look at 4 methods that will lengthen the lifespan of your herbs.

Before we look at them, let me share with you which method I prefer to use.

Method: Place cilantro in a jar & cover.

1. Snip off any leaves that are turning color.
2. Snip off the bottom of the stems.
3. Place them in a jar with water and cover them with a plastic bag such as a zip lock bag.
4. Check them every couple of days removing any leaves that are going bad.
5. Only rinse the leaves that you plan to use.

Where we stay, we can purchase 3 bunches of cilantro for $1.20.  This is a great deal as the bunches are huge.  But the real challenge is, we can never use them before they go off.  

Cilantro can usually last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator before it starts to go off.

To overcome this problem, We tested 4 methods to extend the life of the cilantro.  I’m assuming these methods would also work with other herbs such as parsley and mint etc.

The methods we are going to test are:

• Method 1: Wrap cilantro in paper towels.
• Method 2: Wrap cilantro in a dishtowel.
• Method 3: Place cilantro in a jar & cover.
• Method 4: Place cilantro in a zip lock bag and freeze.

Method 1: Wrap Cilantro In Paper Towels

Lifespan: 12 days

Steps

• Snip of any leaves that look yucky or are turning yellow. 
• If the leaves look wet or have moisture on them, separate them and place them on a dish towel and let them dry at room temperature. Don’t pat dry them, as it will damage the leaves and cause them to go off quicker.
• Once they are completely dry.  Wrap them in some paper towels.  Don’t wrap them up too tight.
• Place your wrapped Cilantro in a zip lock bag, squeeze out any air in the bag.
• Place the bag in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf.
• Check it every 2 days.  Remove any leaves that are going bad.
• Don’t forget to rinse them lightly before using them.

I have also used this method with mint and fenugreek and it worked well.

Some people use old newspapers to wrap their herbs but I don’t like the thought of wrapping food with paper that has ink on it. 

I prefer to use paper towels when using this method.  It just seems to be a safer option for today, plus not many people buy newspapers nowadays anyway.

This method works very well and can definitely help the cilantro last longer.

Method 2: Wrap Cilantro In A Dishtowel

Lifespan: 10 days

This method is very similar to the paper towel method.  They both work very well.

Steps

• Snip off the leaves that look yucky or are turning in color. 
• Make sure the Cilantro is completely dry.  If it’s wet or moist place it on a paper towel to dry at room temperature.
• Once dried.  Wrap them in a dish towel leaving room for them to breathe.  Don’t wrap them up too tight or this will damage the leaves.
• Place it in a zip lock bag, make sure there is no air in the bag.
• Store it in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. 
• Check them every 2-3days.  Remove any leaves that are going bad.
• Remember to give it a rinse before using.

If you have a dish towel that you can spare for a week or two, then this method might be worth trying.

If you are like me that goes through dish towels like there is no tomorrow, then consider using a different method.

Method 3: Place Cilantro In A Jar & Cover

Lifespan: 16 days

This is the method I prefer to use.  I find this method helps the cilantro stay fresher the longest in the refrigerator.

It’s the next best thing to growing your own herbs.

Steps

• Snip off any leaves that are turning yellow or look yucky.  You will always find a few leaves that look a bit limpy.  Removing these leaves will extend the life of the cilantro.
• Snip off the bottom of the stems.  This will help them absorb the water more easily.
• Fill a jar with some water.  Make sure there is enough water to cover all the stems.  You can use any type of jar you have around the kitchen.  Before using a jar, make sure it is completely clean otherwise the cilantro will go off sooner than later.
• Place the jar in the refrigerator and cover it with a plastic bag.  I like to use a zip lock bag so I can reuse it.
• Check every 2-3days.  Remove any leaves that are changing color or going bad.
• Change the water every 2^nd day.
• Don’t forget to rinse your cilantro before using it.

This is a great method that works very well with many other herbs. I find changing the water in the jar every couple of days makes a big difference.

I came across this method online and gave it a try.  I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked.  We usually buy multiple bunches of cilantro at a time and found this method worked the best for us.

Method 4: Place Cilantro In A Zip Lock Bag And Freeze

Lifespan: over a month.

This is my second favorite method.  Whenever we buy Cilantro, we always put some in the freezer. 

This method isn’t any good if you are going to use Cilantro for garnishing as it becomes a little mushy after thawing out. 

But this method works great if you are going to use it during the cooking process to make dishes likes stews, pasta sauce, curries, etc.

Steps

• Snip off any leaves that are going bad or changing color.
• Rinse lightly under the tap.
• Let it dry naturally by placing the leave on a paper towel to absorb any water.
• Once it has completely dried, chop it into small pieces.
• Place the chopped Cilantro into a zip lock bag and freeze.

This method extends the life of the cilantro the longest but you won’t be able to use it for garnishing.  Well, you could, but it becomes a bit limpy after it thaws out. 

Final Thoughts

The methods we covered in this article will help to extend the life of your cilantro and these methods can also be applied with other herbs such as basil, mint, and fenugreek, etc.

We live in strange times with all the restrictions and lockdowns happening.  By finding ways to extend the lifespan of our fresh ingredients, will not only save us money but keep everyone safer.

To decide which method you should use, just think of how you will be using your cilantro, will you be using it for garnishing or will you use it during the cooking process?

For cooking & garnishing:

• Method 1: Wrap cilantro in paper towels.
• Method 2: Wrap cilantro in a dishtowel.
• Method 3: Place cilantro in a jar & cover.

For cooking only:

• Method 4: Place Cilantro in a zip lock bag and freeze.

Don’t forget you can use more than one method and split your cilantro and your herbs.

If you find your cilantro and herbs are going bad quickly, we hope this article has given you some ideas on how do you keep cilantro and other herbs fresh longer.

If you use any other methods, please share them in the comments.

Let’s share and learn together!

Happy Cooking!