Store fresh herbs

Storing fresh herbs can be tricky. But here I describe how to grow and maintain your herbs and various techniques for preserving them.

Herbs are delicious recipe seasonings. And fresh herbs are the tastiest and look the most beautiful. But do you know the feeling when you buy a plant and it starts to droop. Watering does not help. Or you can buy a container with fresh herbs, but you only need one or two stems. Preserve fresh herbs is the theme of today.

Jump to:

• A container with fresh herbs
• In the garden during winter times
• Store a box with fresh herbs
• Other techniques for storing and processing fresh herbs

A container with fresh herbs

Such a nice container from the supermarket or garden center in which fresh herbs are growing. You put them indoors, give them enough water and yet they don't survive. It works best to put them outside in the garden or a large pot after the frost period during the summer until the end of September. Nice in the sun, that's what herbs love. Make sure they get enough water if there is not enough rain.

In the garden during winter times

Chives, thyme and rosemary can usually get through the winter frost in the garden. However, with a very severe winter they can get frost damage. In the winter period you make sure that you repot the plants to a larger pot with fresh potting soil. 

Place the plants in partial shade in a place where it is neither freezing nor too hot. Water when the soil gets too dry, but don't let it dry out.

Store a box with fresh herbs

With a box of fresh herbs you don't have the luxury of planting. In that case, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days by turning them in a slightly damp kitchen roll. Because they do not dry out, the herbs stay fresh longer.

Other techniques for storing and processing fresh herbs

If you are not going to use them yet, the following tips may be an option:

• make a pesto or herb butter. Especially delicious with parsley, chives and basil.
• As a variant of still water, make a delicious herbal water by adding basil or rosemary.
• freeze the herbs by zipping them off the stem, washing and drying or
• finely chop the herbs and put them in an ice cube tray. Top it up with oil or water. Use oil when you add the herbs to, for example, pesto or use it for baking. For example, water is very suitable when you add the herbs to soup.