How to Store Coriander/ Cilantro and Keep it fresh Longer

How to store coriander: Coriander or cilantro is a very popular herb to use in most Asian and Indian recipes. Once you buy a bunch it is difficult to use it up at once and later it spoils. If you too have faced difficulty in keeping fresh herbs fresh, these 3  super easy method will help you keeps coriander and other herbs fresh for weeks.

If your fresh herbs or coriander wilts and goes limp or dry after a couple of days, try this super easy trick to store coriander that works like a charm. With this method, you can easily store and keep coriander fresh and usable for many weeks. 

You can store most fresh herbs like this. This way, depending upon storing method coriander lasts 1-3 weeks in the fridge.  It works with parsley, mint, basil, sage etc.

3 Methods of storing coriander and keep it fresh to Last it Longer.

Wash Properly to Remove Dirt 

First of all, fill plenty of water in the sink, hold the bottom of bunch open it and swirl it in plenty of cold water to clean it and remove the dirt. Repeat it twice or thrice, till coriander is washed and cleaned.

Method 1 : Store in Paper Towel

• Shake it to remove excess water droplets stuck on leaves. It is must because too much water can rot  the leaves quickly. So if you are storing coriander in the fridge with this method it is most important to get rid of any droplet of water on leaves.  
• Now you can put it to dry before storing in the fridge. I always put it under a fan on a dishtowel to spread up the process.
• After that in a plastic or glass container place a paper towel at the bottom to line it and place the coriander with the stalk as it is.
• Place another Paper towel over it, cover it and then close the lid. With this method, coriander stays fresh for 2-3 weeks and is quite usable.

Method 2 :  Storing Coriander leaves 

• If you just want to store just leaves and use the stem for something else like I do, there is this cool trick to snip coriander leaves in a minute.
• After washing and drying, I simply hold a bunch of coriander and move the fork through the leaves to separate the coriander leaves from the stem. 
• Stem still has some leaves attached but I do not throw them. Coriander stem has a lot of flavours and I use them in plenty of other dishes. Like green chutney, Vegetarian Thai green curry paste, to make vegetable stock, or flavour soups and curries.
• If you follow the process and dry out excess moisture before storing the coriander leaves it will stay fresh for a long time. In fact you can pretty much store most of the fresh herbs similarly. 

Method 3: Soak in Water Method

• This method also starts with proper washing and cleaning of coriander stems and leaves by getting rid of dirt and debris. 
• Trim the roots or lower stem of coriander stalk.
• Next allow the coriander leaves to dry to remove the moisture. You can use paper towel to dab them.
• Now fill a small glass jar with cool water and place the bunch of coriander so that end of the stem are submerged in the water. Keep the leaves of the coriander above the water. 
• Now cover this coriander in glass jar with a ziplock bag. DO not zip it keep the opening of the bag loose and keep the covered jar in the fridge. Change the water every 2nd day. This will keep the coriander fresh for 1 week.