Keep it Fresh & Flavorful

A Few Fresh Leaves Make a World of Difference

Imagine bruschetta without basil or salsa without cilantro. These fresh herbs add prominent flavors to these foods, and they just wouldn’t be the same without them.

We invite you to explore the fascinating world of herbs and experiment with adding them to different dishes to learn more about their flavors, textures, and aromas. We’ve compiled all our finding together in this guide that tells you the flavors of each herb, as well as what foods they go best with.

3 Tips for Cooking with Herbs

When cooking with herbs, keep these 3 tips on hand to get the most and best flavor out of herbs.

1. GROW YOUR OWN HERBS

Gardening might not be for everyone, but growing your own herbs and can help keep the cost down.

2. USE A SHARP KNIFE OR HERB SCISSORS

Using a sharp knife or herb scissors to chop fresh herbs will help cut rather than crush the delicate herb leaves. Crushing leads to bruised, blackened herbs, and no one wants that! Watch our video below to see how we chop fresh herbs.

3. SUBSTITUTING DRIED & FRESH HERBS

If you’d like to use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs in a recipe, add 3 to 4 times more fresh herbs than the recipe call for and add it in at the end. Similarly, in reverse, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, substitute for 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, since 3 teaspoons equals 1 tablespoon. And remember, since dried herbs release their flavors throughout the cooking process, add it in the beginning of cooking.

How to Store Herbs

When stored properly, fresh herbs can actually last up to several weeks.

There are 2 methods depending on the herb:

1. PLANTING METHOD

• Trim the base of the stems with scissors or a knife
• Fill a jar (an old condiment jar works great) about a third to halfway with cold water
• Place the cut stems into the water
• Cover the jar with a plastic bag
• Secure with a rubber band at the base of jar to enclose the bag around the jar
• Place the “planted” herb in the fridge or leave it out on the countertop, depending on the herb

2. TOWEL METHOD

• Wrap the herbs in a damp paper towel
• Put the wrapped herbs in a Ziploc bag
• Place the herbs in the fridge

Enjoy fresh herbs in many different recipes!

To always have these fresh herbaceous ideas for whenever you cook, make sure to download our free infographic guide below. It includes all the helpful information above, so that you can add freshness and flavor to your meals every step of the way.