In The Kitchen Cooking Tips & Techniques

How to Store Parsley, Cilantro, and Other Fresh Herbs

Have you ever had trouble keeping fresh herbs fresh? This super easy trick keeps fresh herbs useable for a couple of weeks.

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
how to store parsley and fresh herbs
Elise Bauer

Have you ever had trouble keeping fresh herbs fresh? Do your cilantro and parsley go wilty, limpy, or dry after a few days?

Several years ago my mother taught me this super easy trick, which really works, and keeps fresh herbs fresh and useable for up to a couple of weeks. The trick involves the clever use of a plastic bag.

Now, I don't know why this works. It just does.

how to store parsley and fresh herbs
Elise Bauer

How to Store Parsley, Cilantro, and Other Fresh Herbs

Method

  1. Prepare the herbs:

    Snip off the bottom of the stems. Make sure the leaves are completely dry. Better to hold off rinsing them until you're about to use them.

  2. Put the herbs in water:

    Fill a jar or a water glass partially with water and place the stem ends of the herbs into the water in the jar.

  3. Cover and store:

    If you are storing the herbs in the refrigerator, cover loosely with a plastic bag. Cilantro loves cool temperatures and should be stored in the refrigerator. Parsley can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. According to Harold McGee, basil is ideally stored at room temperature and not in the refrigerator, because it is susceptible to damage from cold.

  4. Change the water as needed:

    Change the water after several days if the water starts to discolor.

    Fresh parsley, cilantro, basil, and other fresh herbs can last up to 2 weeks or longer when stored this way.