Extend the lifespan of your vegetables by following this one extra step before storing

Add herb leaves to the dish enhances its aroma and makes it more visually appealing. Stocking herb leaves at home will save housewives a lot of time without having to run out to buy them.

However, if you don’t know how to store them properly, the herb leaves will wither quickly. Many people buy herbs, put them in plastic bags, and store them in the refrigerator, but this method only works for a few days.

The chef advises that before storing the herb leaves, you need to do an extra step to make them last longer.

Specifically, you need to remove rotten, yellowed leaves to prevent them from infecting the other leaves. At the same time, do not remove the root of the herb.

You prepare a basin of clean water and add a tablespoon of salt, stir well until the salt dissolves. Note that salt has good antibacterial properties, so it will help keep the herb leaves clean and fresh longer. Then, dip the root of the herb in the water for about 5 minutes.

Then, you immerse the entire leaves as well, soak for a while.

Next, you change to a clean basin, add a tablespoon of baking soda. Then, put the stem of the herb into it and soak for 5 minutes. Baking soda helps clean dirt and soil that cling to the stem. After 5 minutes, remove the herb and use a paper towel to dry. Do not leave the herb damp as it will rot.

After pre-processing, you can start storing them:

Store in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator

You wrap the herb with food wrap, tightly wrap the root part, and then store it in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. This way, the herb can be kept fresh for 1-2 weeks.

Store in the freezer compartment

You remove the root of the herb and use a sharp knife to finely chop the herb depending on how you want to use it. Then, you cut them into 3cm long sections if you want to stir-fry…

You prepare a clean plastic bag, put the herb in the bag, remove all the air from the bag and then tie it tightly to prevent moisture loss of the herb and to prevent the herb from smelling outside, affecting the refrigerator.

Finally, you put the bag of herb leaves in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator and store it. You can store as much as you like, and herbs stored this way can last up to half a year. When cooking, you just need to take out the herb and use it immediately, no need to thaw.

If you don’t have a plastic bag, you can use a fresh-keeping box or a plastic bottle and store it in the freezer.

You can refer to other ways to store herb leaves:

Hydroponics

You put the herb plant in a glass jar, gently to avoid damaging the roots. Then pour a little water in and add a little sugar. The water in the jar will help keep the herb fresh and even grow.

This storage method helps the herb stay fresh for a few months. Whenever you want to use it, just trim the desired amount of herb.

Keep in mind that because hydroponic-grown herbs, the water tends to become smelly, so we should change the water 2-3 times a week.

Growing in pots or foam boxes

If you have a balcony, you can plant the remaining herb in foam boxes or flower pots. Herbs are easy to grow, and doing so ensures freshness. You can harvest whenever you want to eat.

According to Xe và thể thao