Herbs are much needed in the food to add flavor and beauty. The herbs are used to garnish the food and also it has health benefits. Herbs make boring food look nice and also added in the veggies or cereals, and meat. No matter how much beautiful herbs are, they get rotten very soon. To use them with food, they can be stored and used for the long run. Two types of herbs exist and they can be differentiated as tender and hardy herbs. Leafy varieties are included in tender herbs. These have soft stems. Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, and dill are included in the Tender herbs. On the other hand, woodier stems are included in hardy herbs. The variety includes rosemary, thyme, and oregano. These herbs can be grown in less water.

Where to Store these Herbs

Tender leaves possess the qualities of a live flower and you can keep them in the water at room temperature. The temperature of the fridge and air dry the leaves as these leaves are so delicate. Cilantro and Parsley can be saved in the cold but cover them in plastic before putting them into the fridge. They last longer if you change the water regularly. Hardy herbs are stored dry. You can place them in bottles or plastic bags. To be on the safe side, you can change their wrapping every couple of days.

Are Herbs should be Washed Before Storing 

Herbs should be washed before storing them. It is also important to dry them before the wrapping and storing process. It prevents them from getting wet and moldy. The procedure for washing Tender herbs is simple. Hold from the stem and pluck the leaves and dip in the cold water. After that shake them to dry. They can be dried easily. The procedure for the Hardy herbs is as follows. Swirl them in the cold water. Spread them on a dish and towel to dry before putting them into the fridge. In this way, the dirt stays on the towel or dish and herbs are cleaned easily. In the end, you can store them in a Plastic bag.

How long the Herbs Last

It depends on the procedure of storing the herb. Few herbs last for weeks while others are used fresh. Certain factors contribute to their long stay. These factors include the quality of the herb you have purchased, how you wash and dry them. Also, notice that either the leaves are rotten or not. Mint last about 3 to 4 days, Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Dill last about a week to 10 days approximately. Rosemary, thyme, and oregano last about two to three weeks.

The procedure for Storing Fresh and Dry Herbs 

You can freeze the fresh herbs in the freezer but never freeze the dirty herbs. Clean them before storing, the proper process of storing herbs consists of two to three steps.

• After washing dry, the herbs properly and chop them.
• Take an ice cube tray and put the herbs inside it and fill them with oil before freezing.
• Take out the frozen cubes whenever you need to use them in cooking.

Fresh herbs are washed and dehydrated for the storing process. Dry herbs are washed and then dehydrate at a low temperature about 95F to 105F. In this way, you can draw the moisture from it. Time varies based on herb type. At the end store them in an airtight container.