The 2 Storage Methods To Keep Parsley Vibrant And Fresh

Storing herbs properly can be the difference between finally using that whole bundle to its fullest potential and discovering it a week later, browned, mushy, and just sad. Caring for fresh herbs is a love language of the culinary world that only gets easier with practice and offers plenty of rewards. You've already learned when to use fresh herbs over dried, so if you've finally committed to adding fresh herbs as a regular to your grocery trips, keep reading to learn how to maximize the shelf life of your next bundle of one herb that's always worth keeping in your kitchen: parsley.

For parsley, storing it in water or wrapped in a damp paper towel are two of the best ways to keep it vibrant and fresh. Before storage is even considered, you must first master picking the best bunch worthy of making it back home. All it takes is looking out for some telltale signs.

Much like cilantro, parsley can easily get lost in the mix of herbs in the market. When picking the best bunch of parsley, BBC Good Food recommends picking bright green bunches, with no wilting or discoloration. If you're seeking a milder parsley taste, opt for curly parsley, which is commonly used as a garnishment. For a more robust flavor, choose flat-leaf, or Italian, parsley, which was hailed by James Beard as "coarser, more roundly flavored" than its "moss-curled" cousin in "The Fireside Cookbook." 

Once you have purchased your parsley, it is important to store it correctly to ensure that it remains fresh for as long as possible. If you're not immediately using it for that perfect finishing touch to your dishes or to make Sicilian chicken soup or parsley sauce, there are two main methods for storing parsley: in water or a towel.

Aaron Hutcherson, food writer and recipe developer for The Washington Post, shares two methods for storing parsley: in a jar with water or wrapped in a damp towel. To store parsley in water, Hutcherson advises placing parsley in a glass, jar or quart container with an inch or so of water and keeping it covered in the refrigerator. Serious Eats suggests this is one of the best methods for storing parsley, recommending the use of a quart container with the lid to seal parsley in place and store it for weeks in the fridge.

For the second storage method, Hutcherson recommends spreading parsley across a barely damp towel. Then, roll the parsley into a bundle and place the bundle in a bag for storage in the refrigerator. According to Epicurious, this method, which allows the herbs to retain plenty of moisture, will keep parsley fresh and wilt-free for 3–5 days.