Does your coriander plant produce a surplus of fresh leaves? Then you have the choice of keeping it fresh for 2 weeks or preserving it for many months. We'll explain how it works in detail here.
How can I preserve coriander?
To preserve coriander, it can be kept fresh in the refrigerator (7-14 days), air dried (6 month shelf life), or frozen (12 month shelf life). The shoots should be washed and dried before they are preserved accordingly.
Keep coriander fresh in the fridge
Sometimes the leaves and shoots can be harvested even though there is no current need for them in the kitchen. This is the case when flowering needs to be prevented. You can easily keep the fresh harvest fresh in the refrigerator for 7 to 14 days. How to do it right:
- shorten the shoots in the lower area by 2 to 2.5 cm with a knife
- Place bunches in a glass with water
- Put a plastic bag over it to reduce evaporation
- change the water every few days
The coriander is only washed shortly before consumption. This little trick preserves the aroma a little longer.
Preserving coriander by air-drying – this is how it works
Air is the most natural way to preserve coriander. When dried, the leaves and shoots can be kept for at least 6 months. Read below how uncomplicated the method works:
- wash fresh coriander sprigs and pat dry with kitchen paper
- tie together at the stems to form a small bunch
- hang upside down in the airy attic
Within 14 days, the coriander leaves dry out so much that they rustle.
Preserve vertigo for 12 months by freezing
Freezing herbs always has the disadvantage that the leaves stick together after thawing. The following trick shows how you can remove the frozen coriander shoots from the freezer individually:
- cut the shoots close to the ground, wash and dry on kitchen paper
- spread side by side on a baking tray
- prefreeze in the quick freezer for 30 minutes
Then put the hard-frozen coriander branches into a freezer container or a sturdy plastic bag. During the next 12 months, remove individual shoots as needed without them sticking together in the freezer.
Tips & Tricks
You can preserve and prepare coriander in one go. To do this, put the washed leaves into the food processor. While the herb is being chopped, drizzle in olive oil. Once the delicate paste has reached the desired consistency, pour it into small glass containers to store in the refrigerator.
