Fresh herbs: How to use them and preserve them

Having fresh herbs to cook with means being able to add a touch of flavour and aesthetics to any dish. Wondering how to take full advantage of these fragile yet flavourful herbs? And how to properly store them? Read on to find out!

Chopped herbs in containers

Extremely practical, chopped herbs sold in plastic containers are a great ally in the kitchen. Are you wondering what to do with the leftovers? There are several ways of preserving your fresh herbs, but know that they don’t keep for much longer than 7 or 8 days in the fridge.

The first solution is to remove them from their plastic container, place the stems in a glass filled with 2-3 cm of water, and store them in the fridge. If you change the water daily, you should be able to stretch them 2, maybe even 3, weeks.
The second option is to remove them from their plastic container, rinse them thoroughly, wrap them in a damp paper towel, and store them in the fridge. It’s important to keep the paper towel humid at all times.
Another solution is to rinse your herbs under water and store them in a Ziploc bag. Make sure to remove all the air from the bag so that it sticks to the herbs and prevents them from browning.

Potted herbs

Potted herbs can be easily grown on your balcony.
Some perennial varieties, such as tarragon, rosemary, thyme, etc., grow year-round, while others, like basil, need to be purchased every year.
Fresh herbs require light (between 6 and 8 hours of sunlight each day) and regular watering. Herbs can spend their entire life in a pot on a windowsill . . . and they make a pretty addition to any décor!
To help your herbs stay fresher, longer, make sure you pinch them (prune the young shoots) and remove any flowering buds, which are especially common on basil.
Speaking of basil, make sure to give your basil plants ample water; they need frequent watering during the dryer months, otherwise they’ll just end up flowering.
When should you water your herbs? During the summer, it’s preferable to water them at night, when the risk of evaporation is lower. In the spring and fall, opt for a morning watering routine.