How I keep cilantro usable for 10-14 days

[Mosca]

Cilantro ticks me off. It grows like a weed, but once it bolts it’s done, so it’s hard to keep it growing in a deck box. It’s readily available in the store, but it doesn’t last long if all you do is keep it in the plastic bag; in about 3-4 days it starts getting mushy.

What I started doing a few months ago:

When I get home, I take the cilantro and wash it thoroughly, right away, and I pick out any leaves or stems that show signs of rot. I use one of those spinner things to dry it, then I blot it with paper towels and let it sit out for about an hour.




Then I unroll a long piece of paper towel, and line the cilantro all along it,




Roll it up like a nut roll,




And put it back in the plastic bag from the grocery store, without closing the top. At first I didn’t put it in the bag, but I think I get an extra couple days by doing this.




Then I put the bag in the crisper drawer, in the fridge. I keep the humidity slider right in the middle.

It’s like new for about a week, good enough to use as a garnish. For the next 3-4 days, some will be good, some will be wilted, but none will be mushy. I use the good stuff for garnish, I chop the wilted stuff into my pico de gallo. The wilted stuff tastes fine. After that, some will be wilted but okay to use in salsa, and some will be wilted to starting to go mushy. That could be anywhere from 10 days to 14, depending on how old it was when you bought it.

It's 99¢ a bunch here right now. I know, I’m dithering over like 45¢ worth of cilantro. But I just hate to waste stuff.

[Panhead John]

Good tip, it works. I do the same thing…..also do it with celery and green onions.

[Mosca]

Yep for the green onions, I never tried it with celery tho.

[captainlee]

Lettuce too.

[smokenoob]

Yes, needs to last in case the next snow storm blows in! 😁😎

[captainlee]

Yep, it's trying hard. Good snow on 70 Copper Mountain. Didn't quite make it here. 4 degree wind chill, temps in the teens.

[SheilaAnn]

I do this with most everything! Remember when I made that cured salmon the other week? The dill i have is still fresh and crisp.

Another tip: if you have radishes and/or carrots and/or any veg that has long stems? Don't cut them off for storage. Keeps fresher longer.

[shify]

I do that with all leafy things, Cilantro, parsley, romaine, and also do it for green onions and radishes

[Rob Johnston]

All great stuff. Thanks everyone!

[texastweeter]

Alton brown puts the cut stems in a glass of water and covers with a shower cap

[Andrrr]

This is what I do but with a plastic bag and it lasts at least as long. The only downside is the bag can take up a lot of room.

[RobertC]

This is what I do, when I remember to do it. I've also tried the paper towel thing, and I think this works better (but takes up more room).

[Mosca]

That didn’t work for me, but I don’t think I trimmed the stems first. I do it with celery that’s a little limp.

[Attjack]

That's what I do as well.

[TripleB]

We generally shop on Saturdays for the following week's menu. So if I need more cilantro for a recipe, I just buy it. Cilantro is cheap.

But always amazed and impressed by what others do.

[Mosca]

I’m always thinking I should meal plan, but I never do. I just buy a bunch of stuff that I think we’d like to eat, then wing it.

[hoovarmin]

Great stuff, Tom!