Home & Garden Home How to Store Parsley: 3 Simple Methods for Maximum Freshness By Emma Stenhouse Emma Stenhouse Writer University of Exeter University of Plymouth University of the West of England (Hartpury College) Emma Stenhouse is a marine scientist, educator, and writer with more than 16 years of experience. She holds an M.S. in Marine Science from the University of Plymouth. Learn about our editorial process Updated October 18, 2021 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Home Sustainable Eating Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Overview Total Time: 5 - 15 minutes Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $0 - $5 We've rounded up easy-to-follow instructions for three of the simplest and most effective methods of preserving fresh parsley: on the countertop, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer. The method you choose will depend on how long you want your stored parsley to last, how much time you have for preparations, and what equipment you have on hand. What You'll Need Tools (vary by method) Glass jar Container or zip-close bag Tea towel or paper towels Ice cube trays Knife Saucepan Ingredients Fresh parsley (however much you have on hand) Butter or oil Instructions How to Store Parsley on the Countertop This is the quickest and easiest way to store fresh parsley, and you don't need any special equipment apart from an old glass jar. Wash and Prepare Your Parsley Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Rinse your parsley and then trim 1/2 an inch off the bottom of the stalks. Make sure there are no leaves on the bottom 5 inches or so of the stalks. Place Parsley in a Glass Jar Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Fill an old jar or glass with around 4 inches of water and place the bunch of parsley inside. Leave on your countertop. Change the Water Regularly Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Every three days or so, pour out the old water in the jar and replace it with fresh water. You may also want to trim the very bottom of the stems. Parsley stored in this way should remain fresh for around two weeks. How to Store Fresh Parsley in the Refrigerator Keeping fresh parsley in the refrigerator will help it last longer, but it needs to be prepared properly first. Prepare Your Parsley Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Wash and dry your parsley. For this method, it's important that the leaves are completely dry before you store the herb, otherwise they may start to spoil. Wrap the Stalks in a Damp Paper Towel or Tea Towel Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Dampen a few paper towels and wrap them around the stalks of the parsley. If you're working towards a zero-waste kitchen, then using a tea towel is a good option here. Place the Parsley in an Airtight Bag or Container Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Put your parsley in an airtight container. You could use a zip-close bag, but more eco-friendly options include reusable glass containers or a silicon sandwich bag. If you notice the paper towels becoming dry, sprinkle them with a little water. This method will keep your parsley fresh for 7-10 days. How to Preserve Parsley in the Freezer If you want to store your fresh parsley for months at a time, then keeping it in the freezer is your best bet. This method means you can have year-round access to that fresh spring flavor. Prepare Your Parsley Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Rinse and dry your parsley. Depending on how you plan to use your parsley in the future, you can chop the leaves into smaller pieces, or leave them whole. Place in Ice Cube Tray Compartments Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Fill each compartment of an ice cube tray around 3/4 full of parsley. Add Oil or Butter Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura You can choose to freeze your parsley with either olive oil or butter, depending on your preference and intended use. If using oil, pour this directly into each compartment until it's nearly full. Place in the freezer. If using butter, place half a cup of your chosen butter into a saucepan and warm over low heat until it's completely melted. Pour the melted butter into each compartment of the ice cube tray. Allow the butter to cool before placing it in the freezer. Treehugger / Alexandra Cristina Nakamura Once frozen, you can remove the cubes from the trays and store them in a container in the freezer. Alternatively, you can leave them in the trays and pop them out when needed. Both these cubes can be added to sauces for flavor, or the butter and parsley cubes can be defrosted and used as herb butter. You may choose to add garlic or a combination of other herbs. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best way to preserve fresh parsley? The best way to preserve fresh parsley is on the counter, in a jar of water, if you want it to last the longest and taste the best. Storing herbs in the fridge or freezer can compromise their flavor. How long does fresh parsley last using each method? Parsley kept on the countertop should last about two weeks. Parsley kept in the fridge should last seven to 10 days. And parsley stored in the freezer will last a year or more. What should you do with herbs when they start to turn? Before your fresh herbs spoil, you should dry them to avoid waste. You can dry herbs three ways: in a dehydrator, in an oven, or by air.