Friday's Favorite - Herb Keeper

There are three herbs that I like to use fresh and keep on hand for cooking: parsley, cilantro, and basil. Other commonly used herbs are just as good dried like oregano and thyme, but herbs like parsley lose most of their flavor when dried. Basil is best kept in a cup with water in it right on the kitchen counter, like flowers in a vase, and can last quite a while. To keep cut herbs like parsley and cilantro fresh the longest, try one of these herb keepers. It's the best thing I've found for keeping herbs fresh. The height of the container needs to be ample enough to contain the herbs, but you could make your own herb keeper out of just about any container. Place water in the bottom so that the water covers the stems. (Try not to submerge the leaves since wet leaves will turn slimy very quickly.) Change the water if it starts to look cloudy. Keep the container covered tightly in the refrigerator. These herbs will keep for more than 2 weeks in your refrigerator if they aren't too old when you buy them - a real money saver if you buy fresh herbs!