Keeping Fresh Mint Fresh (& Other Herbs)

Our answer

When you are buying mint and other cut herbs try to pick ones which look fresh and perky. If they are packaged check the sell by/use by dates and look for ones with dates as far away as possible. Herbs like a cool but not cold environment so when you get the herbs home store them in the refrigerator but try to store them in the door and avoid storing them at the back of the fridge where it is much colder and the herbs can become "burned".

Also the freshness of your herbs can be maintained by wrapping the herbs in some lightly dampened kitchen roll (paper towels). Pop this bundle into a resealable bag and store in the fridge, as described above. For bunched herbs you can do this as soon as you get the herbs home, for packaged herbs do this after you have opened the bag. Herbs like mint keep best if left on the stalk but for leafy herbs such as parsley and coriander (cilantro) you can pick the leaves and put them in an airtight box, then cover with a piece of lightly dampened kitchen roll before sealing the box. They will keep for 24 hours like this, but again try to avoid storing them at the back of the refrigerator.