Cooking with Herbs
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Cooking with Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs add a wonderful FRESHER flavor to your meals along with an extra helping of healthy vitamins and fiber.
I grow my own but even if you don't keep a garden, you can find most fresh herbs for sale at the supermarket virtually year-round.
Fresh herbs are as easy to use as dried herbs... if you know how.
I personally prefer their "fresher" more green taste.
Read on to learn how to use, prepare and store fresh herbs so you'll always have some on hand for cooking.
Do you cook with fresh herbs?
Or do you think they aren't worth all the fuss?
Fresh herbs might seem like more work until you know how to prepare and store them.
Dried herbs are fine, and I do use them at times, but for my family I prefer to use fresh whenever possible.
Which do you prefer? and Why?
Do you prefer to use fresh herbs or dried herbs? Why?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byFresh
wildlens says:
Definitely fresh herbs. I use dried herbs only in case of culinary emergency. Fresh herbs have much more flavour, colour and nutrition value. Many of them are also easy to grow.
Posted March 30, 2011
Artisanet says:
Fresh is usually better specially for cooking. There are others that need to be dried and kept fresh in a cool dry environment for herbal medicinal use.
Posted November 21, 2010
CherylK says:
I much prefer fresh herbs. I also grow my own. My favorites are basil, rosemary (a perennial), thyme, sage, cilantro, and parsley. Plus I have chives and garlic chives which aren't herbs but they're perennial and I use them a lot. Also have mint which I don't use often but it smells so good!
Posted July 22, 2009
KarateKatGraphics says:
Love the flavor of fresh herbs, and some have been very easy to grow. I do have a Jamaican chicken recipe, though (just made it 3 days ago), that speficially calls for lots of dried herbs. And it's delicious! Go figure.
Posted July 15, 2009
says:
I like them for cooking!
Posted July 14, 2009
chefkeem says:
I love fresh herbs - mixed into the dish at the very last 20 seconds, or so. Too much cooking will destroy some of the nutrients.
Posted July 13, 2009
WhiteOak50 says:
I am without a doubt a both kinda of person. I grow my own herbs yearly because I love fresh mint and basil. I always end up drying some of the fresh herbs as well. But since I use so many different kinds of herbs, I also use dried herbs.
Posted July 12, 2009
Susan52 says:
I'd prefer fresh, but I settle for dry. Your pictures are convincing me I need to find some plants, though.
Posted July 11, 2009
Treasures-By-Brenda says:
I prefer fresh herbs although I have to admit that I do not spend much time with them right now. I used to have a lovely herb garden but simply do not make the time for growing herbs right now. Hopefully, some day I will get back to growing my own.
Posted July 11, 2009
Dried
BigGirlBlue says:
I use dried herbs. They don't require cleaning, I don't have to watch for pests, and they are convenient.
Posted July 17, 2009
spirituality says:
I'll be honest here - I use dried herbs for the simple reason that they're easier to store. I agree though that fresh herbs taste WAY better.
Posted July 12, 2009
How to prepare soft stem fresh herbs
Cooking with Fresh Herbs - Parsley and Cilantro
Preparing soft stem herbs such as parsley or cilantro.
Soft stem herbs can be chopped and used with their stems intact.
Simply wash and chop with a sharp knife.
How to Chop Large Leaf Fresh Herbs
Cooking with Herbs - Basil or Mint
How to Chop Large Leaf Fresh Herbs
Chopping large leafed fresh herbs is simple and quick when you use this little trick.
Stack several leaves on a cutting board.
Roll the leaves lengthwise.
Cut through the rolled leaves, crosswise.
How much should I use?
When substituting fresh herbs for dried herbs in a recipe, use a three to one ratio.
Use 3 times as much fresh per 1 part dried.
How to prepare fresh herbs with inedible stems
Cooking with Herbs - Rosemary, Thyme or Oregano
Preparing fresh herbs with hard, inedible stems.
Hard stemmed fresh herbs such as Rosemary, thyme or oregano are prepared by washing and then removing the leaves from their stems.
A simple way to accomplish this is to press your fingers together over the stem and then slide your fingers down the stem.
Do this over a bowl to be sure to catch all the flavorful leaves.
More flavorful herbs
For the best herbal flavor in your recipes, add fresh herbs towards the end of the cooking time to prevent overcooking and loss of flavor.
Dried herbs should be added at the beginning of the cook time.
Grow fresh herbs year-round
The BEST way to keep your culinary herbs fresh is the Aerogarden
AeroGarden 2500-01S Pro 100 with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit
Amazon Price: (as of 02/17/2012)
* Revolutionary kitchen appliance lets you grow your own food indoors all year round right in your own kitchen
* Adaptive Growth Intelligence delivers the perfect amount of light and nutrients from germination to maturity for fast, full growth
* Includes Gourmet Herb Seed Kit and grow bulbs
* Organically based and 100% natural
* Measures 15.5 x 18 x 10.5 inches; 1-year limited warranty
How to keep fresh herbs FRESH
If you don't grow your own!
How to keep fresh herbs really fresh.
Store your fresh herbs in a container of clean fresh water with only their stems submerged and a plastic bag draped over the top.
Store in your refrigerator.
Be sure to change the water daily!
A better alternative to the cup and bag method of storing fresh herbs is to use a fresh herb keeper
Fresh Herb Keeper
* Provides good air circulation and keeps the delicate leaves out of water
* Stores up to three bunches of fresh herbs at a time
* Perfect for fresh parsley, cilantro, oregano, and more; also great for keeping asparagus hydrated
* Dishwasher safe; measures 8 inches tall
Progressive International Herb Keeper
Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 02/17/2012)
Available from Amazon.com. Click the product link to be taken directly to Amazon.com where you can learn more or purchase this great fresh herb keeper.
More Help for Cooking with Fresh Herbs
How to Use Fresh Herbs
- Cooking Tips: How to Use Fresh Herbs
- Diabetic-Lifestyle Cooking Tips features useful ways to cook with more flavor, using less fat, salt, and sugar. Diabetic-Lifestyle offers recipes, menus, medical updates, entertaining - practical information enhances life w
- Herb Gardening - How to Dry and Store Your Fresh Garden Herbs
- Fresh garden herbs can easily be air dried, to preserve their flavor and quality. Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs, but this slow drying process also doesn't deplete the herbs of their oils. Here are some simple steps for air drying herbs.
- How To Grow And Handle Fresh Herbs From Your Garden Beds Or Your Container Garden
- Fresh herbs are now more available than ever. The best way to get fresh herbs is to grow your own in either a garden bed or as a container garden. Here are ways to plant, handle and use fresh herbs from your herb gardens. How To Grow And Handle Fresh Herbs From Your Garden Beds Or Your Container Gar
- Healthy Cooking with Fresh Herbs
- Adding fresh herbs is a quick way to transform ordinary meals into extraordinary meals
- How to Use Fresh Herbs : Recipes and Cooking : Food Network
- How to use fresh herbs
- How to Use Fresh Herbs
- Hundreds of vegetarian and vegan recipes to search within or browse. Spotlighted vegetarian and vegan foods, products, menus, and restaurants.
- Cooking With Fresh Herbs -
- Cooking With Fresh Herbs -
Great books about fresh herbs
Fresh herbs books and cookbooks
In Honor of Make a Difference Day
This Page Donates to the Acumen Fund.
Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty.
Recommended reading for fresh herb enthusiasts
A mezzaluna makes quick work of preparing fresh herbs
What are your favorite fresh herbs to cook with?
Share your thoughts about cooking with herbs!
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naturegirl7
Aug 8, 2010 @ 9:06 am | delete
- I like an Italian herb blend. Fine herb lens, here. It has been featured on our Cooking with Herbs lens.
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CherylK
Jul 22, 2009 @ 8:17 am | delete
- Just scrolled down to the picture of Timmie - what a sweetie. He looks just like my daughter Jennie's cat, Eva. Hmmmm, Timmie & Eva...sounds like a nice couple to me *wink*.
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CherylK
Jul 22, 2009 @ 8:13 am | delete
- This is really good information. I use fresh herbs a lot but believe it or not, I've never rolled the leaves before chopping. What a great tip.
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monarch13
Jul 21, 2009 @ 9:32 pm | delete
- Great info! Added to "Top 10 Herbal Teas for Medicinal Use".
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KarateKatGraphics
Jul 15, 2009 @ 2:04 pm | delete
- If I were an angel, I would bless you just for greenlighting me here to chop the cilantro stems and all. All this time I thought you could only use the leaves, and what a pain that is!! (I use a ton of that stuff in summer, especially.) 5* lens and a fave!
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Jul 14, 2009 @ 3:04 pm | delete
- Great job!
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chefkeem
Jul 13, 2009 @ 10:37 am | delete
- My buddy Herb sent me here to check out this lens about him. Boy was he wrong! :-)
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bdkz
Jul 12, 2009 @ 6:33 pm | delete
- Love this!
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spirituality
Jul 12, 2009 @ 7:53 am | delete
- Great lens. Blessed and featured on my Summerschool lensography. http://www.squidoo.com/summerschool
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WhiteOak50
Jul 12, 2009 @ 7:41 am | delete
- Very good information! Lensrolling it over to my herbal lenses.
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Romaxx
Jul 11, 2009 @ 10:49 pm | delete
- Terrific Lens, love fresh herbs!
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Ramkitten
Jul 11, 2009 @ 7:50 pm | delete
- We used to use fresh herbs all the time when we grew them. These days, it's pretty much all dried and we don't use them often, actually. I did a lot more creative cooking when we had a big garden. But I love this lens. Really well done. Makes me miss the homemade pesto we used to make with fresh basil and garlic from the garden.
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seashell2
Jul 11, 2009 @ 3:34 pm | delete
- Fabulous lens! I love to use fresh cilantro!
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clouda9
Jul 11, 2009 @ 1:36 pm | delete
- Great tips for all us herb lovers :) Thank you.
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Susan52
Jul 11, 2009 @ 12:14 pm | delete
- Beautiful lens!
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sandyspider
Jul 11, 2009 @ 10:18 am | delete
- I have some herb plants that had died on me. I'm afraid I have a brown thumb when it comes to growing them. Very nice lens and well informative. 5*
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Janiece
Jul 11, 2009 @ 9:36 am | delete
- This is fantastic! I love it!
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24websurf
Jul 11, 2009 @ 8:46 am | delete
- This was a very informative lens for me. I love to grow gardens but never had a clue about how to really handle fresh herbs. Thank you for the great information!
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Jul 11, 2009 @ 8:44 am | delete
- Nicely done, Robin & blessed!
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mbgphoto
Jul 11, 2009 @ 8:36 am | delete
- Good information. I've been wanting to try fresh herbs but didn't really know how! Thanks for the good tips. 5*
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LakeMom
Jul 11, 2009 @ 8:22 am | delete
- Robin - nicely done! I would love to use fresh herbs, but whenever I buy them (and don't use them right away!) they go bad! You gave us some great ideas/tips! Thanks!
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BevsPaper
Jul 11, 2009 @ 6:53 am | delete
- Very nicely done!
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Photography Credits
Herbal Bouquet
All photos on this page were taken in my kitchen by my wonderful son Vincent.
Thanks Vin!
This beautiful herbal bouquet contains fresh cut, home-grown Rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, sweet basil and lavender and was arranged in a Home Decor brand globe candle holder.
P.S. I can't even tell you how good my kitchen smelled after I cut up all these different herbs today!
About the Author
by rms
Robin Svedi is a Community Organizer and the QuestMaster for Squidoo. You can keep up with her at rms on Squidoo. She's also the author of Eye Popping... more »
- 489 featured lenses
- Winner of 38 trophies!
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