Cilantro in many places is also known as coriander. It is a fragrant herb that is mainly used for dressing and garnishing dishes. It is used for lending its flavor to many cuisines, however, the delicate nature of the herb makes it spoil very quickly. However, there are three very simple methods of storing this herb and preserving its flavor. Let’s check out those methods of storage.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 15 minutes
Resources Required:
- Cilantro leaves
- A vase
- Water
- One brown paper bag
Instructions:
1. Storing fresh cilantro for short term
You can preserve the freshness of your green cilantro for a couple of days in a very easy way.
- First of all, you should check the cilantro bundle for wilted or discolored leaves and remove them. You must wash the leaves carefully so as to remove any dirt and chemicals and then bunch them up in the same direction.
- Use a knife and chop of around half an inch the bottom of the stem as it will open the stems and would assist in keeping the leaves fresh for quite some time.
- Take a vase and fill half of it with cold water and arrange the cilantro stalks just like you would arrange flowers in a vase.
- Then open up a paper bag and cover the vase with it and refrigerate the cilantro vase at 45’F. Keep changing the water of the vase daily and consume the cilantro within 10 days.
2. Storing fresh cilantro for more than 10 days
- In order to preserve the cilantro for more than 10 days, you must freeze it. First, take the leave off from the stems and fill up the ice tray cube cups with cilantro leaves.
- Spread some water over the ice tray by completely immersing the leaves inside and then freeze.
- After two days, you can remove the cilantro cubes and place them in a freezer bag. You can always thaw a cilantro cube whenever you require it. This will keep the cilantro fresh for around two months.
3. Storing cilantro for a long period of time
- In order to store cilantro for any period between 2-6 months, drying the leaves is the best way. Firstly, unbundle the cilantro and throw away the wilted or discolored leave.
- Wash the cilantro in running water and then chop half an inch of the stem. Make a bundle of the cilantro stalks once again and tie it with a rubber band or a string.
- Take a paper bag and puncture it with a few holes for ventilation. Place the bunch of cilantro leaves inside the paper bag and close the bag from the top by tying a string around the top.
- Place the bag in a dark place for around a week or 10 days until the leaves are dry. You can then shake the dry cilantro leaves off the stems and then store them in an air-tight jar.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can we store cilantro by either drying method or freezing method?
Freezing method: First of all, select the cilantro and make sure you have discarded the discolored leaves. Next, you should wash the cilantro in cold running water so as to get rid of dirt and other chemicals that the leaves might have. Then, place the washed cilantro leaves on a paper towel/napkin and pat it dry with the help of another paper towel/napkin. Place a cookie sheet and cover it with cilantro pieces and then place the cookie sheet inside the freezer. Once the cilantro leaves are frozen, you can remove the cookie tray from the freezer.
Drying method: Collect the cilantro make sure that the leaves are clean. If not, then wash them and dry them like when you do before freezing them. Make a bunch of cilantro stalks by tying the bottom of the stems with a string and then place them in a paper bag upside down. Puncture the paper bag with a few holes for ventilation and hang the paper bag in a safe place. The paper bag will prevent the cilantro from getting dust and dirt. Let the cilantro dry for around 1-2 weeks.
Quick Tips:
- Cilantro is best when it is kept refrigerated as it stays fresh for a longer period of time.
- While storing these green herbs, either cover them up loosely by using a plastic bag or you can also wrap them up in a newspaper so that they stay fresh for long.
Things To Watch Out For:
- You should only wash the cilantro when you are about to use them.
- It is better to store the stalks of cilantro as it is in the refrigerator.
- You can also wrap them up in a newspaper so as to absorb the extra moisture and preserve their freshness longer. The trick is to let them stay dry – the drier they are, the longer they will stay fresh.
