How to keep greens fresh in the refrigerator for a long time

Not every housewife knows how to store herbs in the refrigerator. For many, in just 1–2 days, the herbs dry out or wither, or even become completely covered with mucus. They not only become tasteless, but also lose almost 100% of their nutrients. It’s good when there is a vegetable garden nearby, from where you can pick another bunch of fresh dill, parsley or green onions. And if not? Then all that remains is to apply methods for long-term storage of greens - and we will tell you about them in detail.

Preparing greens for storage

Greens must be prepared before storing. Main preparatory stages:

Sorting and removal of defects. After you get home, sort out your greens:
carefully examine each leaf for yellowness, dry branches, and insects. They need to be removed from the greens.
The stage of removing dust and germs involves washing the greens. Rinse the spice under running water or soak it in a container. If you wash in a bowl, change the water several times to remove all dirt.
Drying. Shake the water off the greens. Place paper or waffle towels on the table. Spread the wet leaves and leave them until the liquid has completely drained. To consolidate the effect, blot the greens on top with a towel.
Placement in packaging. Complete the preparation of fresh spices by sorting and packaging.

Important!
It is not recommended to wash under running water: parsley, onions, garlic and dill. Lightly wet the sponge and wipe each leaf.

How to revive

It is possible to revive wilted greenery. You will need a container, water and table vinegar. In slightly acidic water, turgor returns to the leaves and stems. For half a glass of liquid, 0.5 tsp is enough. vinegar. The water is needed cold. Wilted greens must be kept in it for at least 1 hour.

Warm water can also be used. With its help it is easy to restore the aroma of parsley. Just rinse the stems and they will smell again. Lettuce leaves should be kept in a warm bath for 15 minutes. Contrasting temperatures revive wilted bunches well. First they are dipped in hot, then in cold water.

How to properly store greens fresh in the refrigerator

Each type of green plant requires certain storage conditions. On average, the freshness of greens can be extended by 1-3 weeks. It all depends on following the rules for saving spices.

How to store parsley in the refrigerator

Preserving parsley in its original form is a difficult task. After all, it begins to fade in the first hours after being collected from the garden. What can we say about storing it in the refrigerator? To prevent it from fading, you need to artificially saturate it with moisture.

Collect the sorted parsley into a bunch.
Fill a small plastic glass halfway with water. Place parsley stems in it.
Place a plastic bag over the leaves. Place the packaged parsley at the bottom of the refrigerator where the temperature is acceptable for storing it.

Helpful advice! Change the water in the glass every day, and then the parsley can stand for 30-50 days.

Storing green onions in the refrigerator

Green onions are the most common herb used. It can be stored for up to 60 days if the air temperature is maintained at 0°C. At 2-4°C. The onions will keep for up to one month.

There are several savings options:

Place the unwashed onions in a plastic bag, closing it tightly or tying it. Make 5-7 holes in it with a toothpick so that air can enter there. Place the bag with other vegetables.
Wrapping in kraft paper will allow you to preserve onions for 14-20 days. Blot the greens with a damp sponge to remove large particles of dirt. Place on craft paper and spray with cool water on top (use a spray bottle for convenience). Roll the paper with the onion into a bundle, hiding the ends inside. Place the resulting “cocoon” in a refrigeration unit.

Storing mint in the refrigerator

Mint is a fragile plant, even if all storage conditions are met, it will remain fresh for no more than 7-8 days. You can save it by wrapping it in a damp towel. First, sort out the mint, discard the blackened and yellowed leaves. You should not wash the plant before storing, as this will shorten its life. Place the sorted leaves in a slightly moistened terry towel and place on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. You can preserve mint for longer than 7 days only in frozen or dried form.

Storing spinach in the refrigerator

Spinach, like mint, quickly loses moisture and wilts. You can store it for fresh consumption, following all storage rules, for one week. Sort purchased or cut spinach and discard all unwanted leaves. There is no need to rinse them right away; you will do this just before preparing the dish. Place the sorted greens in special food bags with ready-made holes. Place in the refrigerator. The only way to preserve spinach for six months is to freeze it in the freezer.

Storing basil in the refrigerator

This aromatic herb should only be stored refrigerated. Long exposure to sunlight and high temperatures will quickly ruin it. Spice storage options:

The first method will preserve the basil for 7 days. Place the greens in a container or plastic bag and store in the refrigerator.
The second method will keep the spice fresh for 2-4 months. Dig up the basil bushes directly with the root system, shake off the adhering soil, and rinse under a small stream of water. Fill a plastic cup halfway and place the plant roots so that they are covered with water. Change the water every day to avoid breeding pathogenic bacteria.

Advice! If you decide to freeze basil, leave only the leaves. The fact is that stem cells, under the influence of low temperature, lose their structure and turn into a mucous substance after defrosting.

Storing sorrel in a refrigeration unit

Sorrel can be stored in the refrigerator for a week. Rinse in water and dry dry. Place in polyethylene packaging or container. Use a container with holes. Place the sorrel in the vegetable compartment.

Storing dill in the refrigerator

Dill is stored in a refrigeration unit for 7-10 days. Wash and dry a bunch of greens, take cling film, wrap the dill in several skeins, and put it in the refrigerator.

The second method will allow you to preserve the spice for 2-2.5 weeks. Take a glass liter jar. Tie a bunch of dill; no need to wash it. Place it in a jar and cover with a plastic lid.

Storing lettuce leaves in the refrigerator

You can store salad leaves in the refrigerator for a month. Cut a head of fresh lettuce into sheets. Wrap each one in cling film and then place it in a plastic container. Place in the refrigerator away from other fruits and vegetables. Protect from excessive moisture to prevent the lettuce from becoming moldy.

Keeping cilantro fresh in a refrigeration unit

Delicate cilantro is used in small quantities. Extend its lifespan:

For one week. Take a plastic container, line the bottom with a thick paper napkin, put in the peeled cilantro, and close the lid tightly. Place the container on the bottom shelf with the rest of the vegetables.
For 2-2.5 weeks. Place the cilantro in the bottom of a half-liter jar, leaves down and stems up. Boil a small amount of water, cool to +3-4°C. Pour water into the jar to cover the leaves. Change the water every day.

Storing arugula in the refrigerator

The shelf life of arugula in the refrigerator is short, only 4-5 days. Take freshly cut grass, sort it out, discard all the limp and yellow leaves. Then, tie them into small bunches and wrap the stems with cling film. Place the resulting bundles in a plastic container.

Helpful information! Arugula tends to absorb various odors. Store only in hermetically sealed containers and away from vegetables that emit strong aromas.

Keeping celery fresh in the refrigerator

You can store celery stalks in a refrigeration unit for 20-30 days. Take a thick plastic bag, place celery in it, place it at the bottom of the refrigerator with other vegetables. It is important that the petioles collected or purchased are juicy. If they are limp and flexible, they will be stored for no more than one week.

Keeping wild garlic fresh in the refrigerator

Ramson is the most difficult spice to store. No matter how hard you try to maintain its juiciness, pleasant appearance and taste longer, it will not last more than 4 days. Externally, the wild garlic may not change if left for more than 4 days, but the taste and smell will be spoiled.

It should be stored in the refrigerator in a closed, airless bag. There is no need to wash before storing. Sort out the leaves, put them in a plastic bag, release as much air as possible by hand, but if you have a vacuum machine, use it. Add to other vegetables.

Containers, available materials

If the refrigerator has a special compartment for placing green products, there will be no problems with choosing a container. In its absence, use various available materials:

Vacuum bags. The peculiarity of this container is the absence of air and high humidity inside. This is the best way. This is how greens stay fresh for up to a month: onions - 30 days, parsley, dill and their other families. - 3 weeks. The principle is that, after placing the product in the package, the air is pumped out of it. Products made from polypropylene are most preferred. Cheap ones often break the seal. Greens are stored in such containers in sprigs or chopped form.
Glass. Instead of vacuum containers, use jars that are tightly closed with nylon or glass lids. A good microclimate is created inside them to preserve the green environment. Herbs stay fresh for 2-3 weeks. The containers themselves are safe for humans, but they take up a lot of space in the refrigerator and accumulate condensation inside them, which must be released periodically.
Plastic container. To store herbs, use containers with lids that are tightly closed, preventing the penetration of oxygen into it. In them, the leaf remains fresh for 2-3 weeks. Sorrel, parsley, and lettuce feel especially good.
Plastic bags are the simplest and most affordable means of storage. If you put parsley, onion, dill in them and blow out the air, the cut plants will remain green for a week.
Packaging paper is often used, but is not highly effective. The material is not airtight and gets wet quickly. Due to high humidity and free access to air, greens lose their freshness after 5–7 days.
Textile. With this method, cotton napkins or towels are used. Before wrapping the herbs, the material is moistened with water. It is possible to keep plants fresh in fabric for 1–2 weeks.

If you wish, you can try each method and choose the most correct one.

Container for storing greens in the refrigerator

It is not recommended to place spices without packaging. Firstly, in this form it will retain its appearance and taste for only 1-3 days, and secondly, the plants will absorb the smell of other products that are in the refrigerator. For storage container use:

Vacuum packaging. They are one of the best ways to preserve spice. Use containers and plastic bags as vacuum containers. Place the greens in one of the containers provided and close tightly. Air from outside does not penetrate into the packaging, which allows the plants to maintain their appearance and taste. Store sorrel, tarragon, and lettuce in an airless space.
Bags (plastic and polyethylene) are a convenient and inexpensive way to store spices. Place green plants in a bag and make several small holes. Use bags to save celery, basil, parsley, and dill.
A glass jar will keep dill, cilantro and parsley fresh. Place bunches of greens in a container and close the lid tightly. The fresh look of the plants will last up to two months.
Wet wrapping paper is a great option for storing mint and spinach in the refrigerator. For wrapping material, use cotton or linen fabric. There is no need to wet it completely so that water drips from it; spray the cloth from a spray bottle and wrap the greens tightly.
Freezer – will preserve green products for 5-7 months after storage. Sort the spice, wash off the dust and soil particles, and dry. After:
Chop the leaves or cuttings, place in an ice container, and fill with purified water or butter. Place in the freezer for a day. Then, so as not to clutter the ice compartment, shake out the frozen spice cubes and put them in a bag. Place them back in the freezer for storage.
Salt is one of the natural preservatives. The method of using it is simple: one part of salt is spent on five parts of spice. Rinse the greens thoroughly and dry. Grind the leaves of the plants and sprinkle them with salt. Place the resulting mixture in a glass jar, sealing it.
Water will preserve the original appearance and taste of greens with stems. Take a shallow plastic or glass glass, fill it halfway with water, place a bunch of dill, parsley or cilantro, and put it in the refrigerator. Change the water every day. The spice will last up to one month in this form.
In dry form, or rather dried, greens can be stored for more than one year. You can dry: parsley, dill, spinach, caraway seeds, fennel, sorrel, cilantro, mint, lemon balm. Grind the spice and dry in the sun. Place in a glass container that will close tightly so that no insects can get in.

Advice! To reduce contact between plastic and green foods, place a paper towel on the bottom. The paper will also absorb excess moisture that may appear during storage.

Spice storage areas

The storage location determines the useful life of the plants.

The first place in terms of how long it takes to preserve greens is taken by the freezer. In it, green products retain their taste and beneficial properties for 6 months. Place plants washed and dried. Use plastic bags as storage containers.
Second place goes to saving products in the refrigerator. Store the spice in the bottom of a cold cabinet, where the temperature is optimal for the vegetables. The freshness of the plants will be 1-2 weeks.
The third place is occupied by the kitchen cabinet. Place the greens in a glass of water or wrap them in a damp cloth. In this form it will last 2-3 days.

General recommendations

Greens are not a fastidious crop when it comes to storage, but often difficulties arise when they begin to rot the very next day after harvest.

When storing greens, follow the recommendations:

Avoid sudden changes in temperature. This will cause the greens to quickly wither or begin to rot.
Observe temperature conditions. The optimal temperature for storing it is 7-13 degrees Celsius. In this case, it will retain its taste and valuable properties for a long time.

Avoid high or low humidity in the storage area. In the first case, the greens may begin to rot quickly, and in the second, they may dry out and wither.
Keep it away from direct sunlight unless it is drying naturally. It is better to choose dark places.
Avoid storing greens outside of the refrigerator for long periods of time. This is due to its rapid deterioration when oversaturated with oxygen.

When properly stored, greens not only retain their beneficial properties, but also their rich and vibrant taste - both fresh and cooked.

How long to store greens in the refrigerator

Name of greenery	Shelf life in the refrigerator	Shelf life in the freezer
Dill	Stored in a container with water or a glass jar for up to 50-60 days; The package contains 7 days.	In thick cellophane or cling film for six months.
Parsley	With stems in water 20-50 days; In a container for up to two weeks.	Six months in polyethylene packaging.
Sorrel	Can be stored for up to two weeks, regardless of packaging.	Six months regardless of packaging.
Mint, lemon balm	A damp towel stays fresh for one week.	Shelf life 4-5 months.
Onions with green feathers	With roots in water for up to 3 weeks; In a damp towel for up to 2 weeks.	4-6 months. You need to freeze chopped onions into slices, doused with softened butter.
Basil	Storage in a bag – one week.	Six months.
Spinach	Storage in perforated polyethylene packaging is 5-6 days.	Six months.
Cilantro	Two weeks if the stems are in water; A week in another package.	Six months in plastic packaging.

Advice! To preserve greens longer, you do not need to wash them before storing them.

Long-term preservation of green onions

To keep your greens fresh for as long as possible, you will need onions. Depending on the volume, you need 1-2 onions. To keep greens for a long time, do the following:

Wash the roots from the soil, but do not touch the green part;
Cut the onion into 4-8 pieces (depending on size);
Place chopped onions in the bottom of a container or other container;
Place greens on top;
Change the bulb when it stops smelling.

With this storage method, the greens will be fresh for several weeks. The time for replacing onions is individual, depending on the volume of the container and the size of the onion. The main thing is to remember to check whether the onion gives off a characteristic smell.

Secrets of storing greens

Storing in a vacuum container is the easiest way to store greens.
To keep spices in the refrigerator longer:
wrap in damp kraft paper or towel;
Do not place greens on the top shelves of the refrigerator.
Maintaining the optimal temperature regime, which should not exceed 0+3-5°C, will help keep the herbs fresh in the refrigerator. Therefore, it should be placed for long-term storage at the bottom of the refrigeration unit.
To avoid causing the spice to rot, be sure to sort it out before adding it. Throw away damaged leaves.
A dry environment and the temperature regime of the refrigerator close to zero will not allow the greens to wither.
There are several ways to revive greens if they are a little wilted:
Soaking the stems in water with the addition of vinegar will restore the freshness of “drooping” parsley, cilantro, or dill. Fill the glass halfway with cold water, add a few drops of nine percent vinegar. Place a bunch of spices in it. After a few hours, the greens will be saturated with water and regain their previous appearance.

Storing greens in the refrigerator or freezer will help out in the most unexpected moments. Stock up on fresh spices for future use. Now you already know how to store it correctly!

You need to know this

Before we talk about how to keep greens fresh longer in the refrigerator, it’s worth talking about some nuances. To follow the recommendations correctly, you should learn about preparing greens.

Do you need to wash your greens?

Many people say that it is necessary, but it is not so. There are several storage methods in which unwashed greens are preferable. Therefore, we advise you to read the recommendations carefully.

How to properly wash greens?

It is not recommended to rinse greens under high pressure of water. This way you risk damaging it. After this, it will begin to rot, turn yellow, and lose its taste. It is better to spend more time, but keep the foliage and stems intact.

This amount of water is enough to rinse the greens well and not harm them.

How to prepare greens?

Before storing, be sure to sort out the greens. Pay special attention to rotting leaves and stems. They need to be trimmed so that there is no rot left at all. It is also necessary to remove dried and yellowed areas.

How to store greens in the refrigerator?

Any material is suitable for storage, with the exception of unpainted metal. Upon contact with it, some types of greens lose their taste and appearance. It is best to use utensils from:

Plastic;
Glass;
Ceramics.

Where to store greens?

Traditionally, greens are stored in vegetable and fruit boxes. The lowest temperature is maintained there. Due to this, the risk of rotting and the appearance of pathogenic bacteria is lower. But if you're storing your greens dry, in an airtight container, the entire bottom half of your refrigerator will do.

It is important to remember that the higher the greens and the greater the temperature differences in the chamber, the less time they will be stored. This is another reason why you should not put hot food in the refrigerator.

How to keep dill fresh?

Use these simple recommendations to preserve the beneficial qualities of dill for the whole year.

Method 1

Grind the dill in any way. Place in a plastic bag. Place an onion in a bag and replace it with a new one weekly. Also air the bag every week.

Method 2

Wet the towel with water and wring it out a little. Place the prepared dill in one small layer. Roll the towel into a tube and place it in the refrigerator.

Method 3

Wrap the prepared dill in white paper and place in a plastic bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator's vegetable storage basket.

Method 4

Unwashed, carefully selected, wrap the dill in a plastic bag. Get all the air out of it and tie it well. Place in the freezer for storage. This method is intended for long-term storage of dill for the winter.

Method 5

Divide the dill into small bunches. Wrap each of them with cling film. Place the resulting skeins in the freezer. So, we will preserve the appearance and quality of dill for up to 6 months.

Features and methods of storing basil?

The methods for storing basil are the same as the methods for storing many types of herbs.

Method 1

Freeze basil, keeping its shape. Place the prepared leaves on a tray and place in the freezer. Once frozen (1-2 hours), transfer them to prepared food containers with a tight-fitting lid. Do not pack tightly, otherwise the shape of the leaves will not be preserved.

Method 2

If you do not need to store basil for a long time, simply wrap it in cling film and put it in the refrigerator.

Method 3

Freezing. To freeze, you will need an empty milk carton. Cut off the top of the box, wash and dry it. Place prepared basil leaves in it. Then place the box in a sealed bag and put it in the freezer.

Method 4

Trim the stems a little, place the basil bunches in a glass of water so that the water does not touch the leaves. Place the glass in the refrigerator. This will extend the shelf life of the basil to up to a week.

Method 3: method from the channel “Kitchen Inside Out”

This option is taken from one of the most popular cooking channels.

Let's look at how to keep dill fresh for a long time, but the technology is suitable for any greenery.

Step 1: Rinse the greens thoroughly

This option even allows you to restore freshness to the greens if they are slightly wilted.
First, rinse with plenty of water. Do not fold the shoots, they must be wet

Step 2. Place the bundle in a container

Use a glass, jar or any other suitable container.
You need to install wet shoots immediately after washing

Step 3: Put on the bag

Select a suitable size plastic bag.
Pull it over the top. There is no need to fix it, it should be positioned freely

Step 4. Make sure there is moisture in the container
It’s simple: water collects at the bottom in a layer of 4-5 mm. Do not need anymore

Step 5: Place on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator

The bundles are stored vertically. Condensation collects inside, and this is normal.
If you placed wilted plants, then in 2-3 hours they will become fresh, as if they had just come from the garden.

Step 6: Use as needed

The greens are stored in this form for about a month.
To prevent it from wilting, add a little water periodically, as in the photo above.

How to keep spinach fresh?

To store fresh and frozen spinach for as long as possible, use the following tips.

Method 1

Wrap the leaves in thick paper. Moisten it with a spray bottle and put it in a bag. Freshness will last up to 3 weeks.

Method 2

Lightly compact the spinach and place it in glass jars. Spinach will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.

Method 3

Place the leaves in plastic containers and place in the refrigerator. The container must be tightly closed with a lid.

Method 4

Freezing chopped greens is very popular among housewives, because... In the future, spinach will be easy to use when added to various dishes. Place the leaves, finely chopped with a knife, blender or chopper, into ice trays. After freezing, remove the resulting cubes. They can be used all winter.

Advice!
For freezing and storing chopped spinach leaves, it is convenient to use plastic cups, which should be wrapped in cling film.