Fresh herbs are a great way to add an extra kick of flavour to your meal. From zingy coriander to earthy basil, there are so many delicious varieties to choose from, and they’re cheap to buy from the supermarket too.
However, although they are affordable, you don’t want to be wasting them. Fresh herbs can wilt pretty quickly after you bring them home from the shops, turning brown and slimy – which is not what you want to be adding to your meals. Thankfully, one storage tip from iconic chef Gordon Ramsay can help you to prolong the lifespan of your fresh herbs.
In a bid to help budding chefs get the most of their money and make fresh produce last longer, Gordon shared a helpful tip which was posted on the Hell’s Kitchen YouTube channel.
If you struggle to prevent your herbs from wilting, the solution is all about where you store them in the fridge.
He said: “Herbs are great for adding flavour without spending a fortune.”
And to keep them ‘at their best’, all you need is a glass of water.
How to keep herbs fresh
The next time you bring a bunch of fresh herbs home from the supermarket, don’t put them straight in the fridge or crisper drawer. Instead, put them stem-side down in a glass of water, and put this in the fridge.
Gordon says this will keep them fresh and not wilted for up to a week – which gives you a lot more time to use them before they go off.
However, if you’ve really stocked up on the herbs and don’t think you’ll be able to get through them all, Gordon has another excellent tip that could come in handy.
Gordon said: “If you’ve got extra herbs left over, save on waste by making an amazing flavoured oil.
“Place washed and dried stems in a bottle, cover with warmed olive oil, then seal and leave to infuse.”
This affordable and tasty hack is great for drizzling over salads, pasta and so much more, and you can easily customise it to suit your taste. For example, rosemary oil could be great for potatoes, while basil oil works for things like pizza, bruschetta or anything tomato-based.
