Keeping Herbs Fresh

Fresh herbs are great to have on hand for healthy cooking, and it's easy to grow your own herbs. I've had success with both organic rice hull herbs and herb gardens in a pail. I like these so much that I added them to our product line at EarthlyGoods.com. Now that summer is coming to an end, it's an opportune time to get indoor herbs started.

Until you've started your own crop of indoor herbs, how can you keep herbs fresh if you've purchased them at a farmer's market or grocery store? There is a simple, effective method that can keep many herbs fresh for weeks. This is especially effective for basil and cilantro. Here's all you need to do:

As soon as you bring herbs home, remove any twist ties or rubber bands, trim the stem ends about 1/2 inch, and place in a few inches of water, enough to cover the base of the stems. Then cover the entire batch of herbs with a plastic bag that you've cut several holes in. Thin plastic produce bags, like you get at the grocery, work well.

Place this in a well-lit area, out of direct sun. You'll notice in a few days that some herbs will begin to sprout roots. You'll need to add fresh water to the container as needed.

Some people who use this method have been able to plant the herbs once they've rooted; others say that they have kept herbs fresh for up to 6 weeks. It's a simple way to get the most mileage out of your herbs and have fresh ones handy in the kitchen.