I have a love-hate relationship with cilantro. I love to use it in my cooking, but I hate for it to go to waste. That’s what spurred me to find the best way to keep the cilantro garden fresh for several weeks.

The broad lower leaves of the coriander plant are known as “cilantro.” Cilantro is typically sold in bundles of fresh leaves and stems or grown in the garden. I use cilantro in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. It’s also a key ingredient in Middle Eastern and Asian cooking.

The problem I’ve always had with this slightly pungent herb is that the fresh leaves don’t stay fresh for long and can turn mushy when stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Even though cilantro is inexpensive to buy at the grocery store and easy to grow in the garden, I was tired of having to toss it on the compost pile instead of on top of a salad.

I decided to conduct a simple experiment to see if I could find the best way to keep cilantro fresh for more than a week or two. I bought one bunch of cilantro and divided it into three smaller bundles.

Three ways to store fresh cilantro

Experiment 1: I placed the first bundle of cilantro in a small jar of water and left it on the counter, similar to the way I keep sprigs of basil fresh.

Experiment 2: I placed the second bundle in a small jar of water, covered it with a plastic sandwich bag, and placed it in the refrigerator.

Experiment 3: After trimming the third bundle, I placed it in a plastic container with an airtight lid.

I waited to see which bunch of cilantro would stay the freshest for the longest amount of time. I checked on each of the containers every few days and made sure there was plenty of water in the two jars.

What I discovered

The cilantro in the jar of water on the counter (Experiment 1) was the first to go. It lasted just over seven days.

The cilantro in the plastic container (Experiment 3) lasted about 10 days longer than that in Experiment 1. The leaves didn’t get mushy, but they did start to turn an unappetizing color.

Experiment 2 was the clear winner. The cilantro stems placed in water, covered, and refrigerated remained fresh for just over four weeks.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon