What do you do with an abundance of parsley?

Treat it like any other leafy green and use it as a salad base — or mix it in with other lettuces to add a punch of flavor. You can also blitz it into a sauce, like chimichurri or pesto, stir it into a grain or bean salad, or throw it into a frittata.

Can you freeze fresh parsley for later use?

If you need to keep your parsley longer than 3–5 days, freezing it is your best option. The herbs won't be sprightly enough to work as a garnish, but they'll definitely work when stirred into an herb sauce, a pan of scrambled eggs, or a pot of beans.

How do you preserve parsley for later use?

How do you store fresh parsley long term?

Treating the parsley much like a bunch of flowers will keep it fresh longer. Trim the stems slightly, and without washing place the bundle in a container filled with about 1 inch of water. Cover the container loosely with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator.

What do you do with end of season parsley?

Once the parsley is dry, remove the leaves from the stems. Discard the stems and store the dry parsley in an airtight container. You can freeze parsley as well. Both dried and frozen parsley should be used within the year, and the flavor will be much milder than when you use fresh parsley.

HOW TO KEEP PARSLEY FRESH

Does parsley come back every year?

Parsley is actually a biennial. This less common classification means that the plant only comes back after two gardening seasons — just enough time to produce leaves, go to seed, and develop a substantial taproot. As a biennial, the parsley plant offers delicious leaves its first year, and goes to seed its second year.

What can I do with all the parsley in my garden?

Put chopped parsley on everything: Don't chop it too finely — bigger pieces are prettier and have more flavor. Throw it with abandon on top of grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, a cold green-bean salad, stews, soups, pasta, hot or cold grain dishes like couscous or quinoa or tabbouleh or …

Can you freeze parsley and cilantro?

For long-term storage, tender herbs like mint, parsley and cilantro can be removed from their stems and frozen into ice cubes. Pack ice cube trays with chopped or whole leaf herbs, cover with water and pop into the freezer.

How do you defrost parsley?

How to Defrost Frozen Parsley? Thawing frozen parsley couldn't be easier, just transfer the product to the fridge. Leave the frozen herbs to thaw overnight for optimal flavor. Once the parsley is completely thawed, it is ready to use.

How do you air dry parsley?

Air-drying: Loosely tie parsley into small bundles using twine or rubber bands. Make sure that the parsley isn't too tightly packed, so that the leafier portions can fan out while drying. Place the bundles in brown paper bags and poke a few holes in the bags to allow air to circulate. Store in a cool, dry place.

How long does frozen parsley last?

How long does parsley last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 4 to 6 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only - parsley that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.

How do you freeze parsley in ice cube trays?

Place herbs in an ice cube tray, silicone ones work best. Fill each well with water, just enough to completely cover the herbs. Press the herbs into the water so they are fully submerged. Place the ice cube tray in the freezer and freeze for 3-4 hours.

Can you flash freeze parsley?

Freezing parsley is a great way to preserve the often abundant harvest one can get from this biennial herb. Luckily, it's also very easy to freeze parsley and harness its wonderfully herbal-yet-earthy flavor to use once the harvest is complete.

Do you wash parsley before freezing?

Before you freeze parsley, rinse it in cold water, pat it dry with a paper towel, and take the leaves off the stems. Then, roll the leaves into a ball in your hand and pack them tightly in a plastic freezer bag before you throw the bag in the freezer.

How do you preserve garden parsley?

How long does fresh parsley last?

Parsley lasts for 7-10 days in the fridge. It can last longer if you place it into a vase of water before storing it in the refrigerator or on the counter.

Can you vacuum seal fresh parsley?

Vacuum sealing is one of the best ways to store tender leafy herbs. Blanched herbs should be frozen to stay fresh for even longer. Some frozen herbs - like coriander and parsley - become limp upon thawing.

Is it better to freeze or dry cilantro?

Freezing cilantro is a great way to preserve the often abundant harvest one can get from this biennial herb. Its unique flavor survives some time in the cold quite nicely, as opposed to drying which robs the herb of its signature flavor.

Is it better to freeze herbs in water or oil?

Finely Chop Your Herbs

If using the food processor, add 2 tablespoons of a neutral-tasting vegetable oil or olive oil—the oil will help preserve the flavor of the herbs as they freeze, and frozen oil melts faster than plain water, too.

Can you keep parsley over winter?

You can overwinter spring sown Parsley that you've been picking from all summer long. These plants will have developed tap roots and should be hardy even with some frost and snow. A more reliable method for lots of fresh tasty leaves overwinter is to sow Parsley in August.

Should you let parsley flower?

More Uses for Parsley Flower

The entire parsley plant, thick stalks included, is edible. When the plant flowers, you can use the flowers in the same way as the leaves. Use the flowers as a garnish or mix them into your pesto, tabbouleh, tzatziki, salsa verde or chimichurri recipe just as you would the leaves.

What do you do with parsley in the winter?

So how do you care for parsley in the winter? Cut the plants back in the early fall and apply about 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) of mulch around them. The mulch keeps the ground from freezing and thawing in the winter.

Does potted parsley grow back?

Parsley is best picked as needed, cutting the stems at the base, so that new leaves grow back quickly.

How do you harvest and store parsley?

Cut the parsley at the base and hang it in a well-ventilated, shady, and warm place. Once it's completely dry, crumble it up and store it in an airtight container.