How to Keep Cilantro Fresh

What is Cilantro?

Cilantro, or Coriandrum Sativum, is a leafy green herb that is a member of the parsley family. This versatile herb is also known as Chinese Parsley, Mexican Parsley, and even Coriander. Cilantro is the name for the stems and leaves of the coriander plant. When cilantro leaves flower, they produce a seed, which are the coriander seeds you are familiar with using in recipes.

You can eat cilantro raw or cooked and you can eat both, cilantro stems and cilantro leaves. It is a very popular herb, used as a key ingredient in Indian, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Mexican cuisine.

Fresh cilantro has a citrusy taste, especially when compared to other fresh herbs, but some people report it tastes like soap. However, this isn’t due to the cilantro actually tasting like soap – it’s a genetic trait! Yep, that’s right: people who say cilantro taste like soap possess a gene cluster that picks up the scent of aldehyde chemicals. Cilantro leaves contain natural aldehyde chemicals, and those chemicals are used during soapmaking.

Shopping for Cilantro

Here are some simple tips on what to look for when buying fresh cilantro at your grocery store.

1. Fresh green cilantro leaves. Like other fresh herbs, your fresh cilantro should have a bright color. Fresh cilantro that is a bright green color gives the best unique flavor that cilantro is known for. You do not want fresh cilantro that has any discoloration, including any brown, yellow, or turning yellow leaves.
2. Healthy cilantro stems. Check the cilantro stems, including the ends! If the ends of the cilantro stems are a bit dry-looking, that’s okay, but you do not want stems that are too brown or shriveled. Your cilantro stems should be plump!
3. Avoid wilted cilantro leaves. If the fresh bunch of cilantro that you are considering contains wilted cilantro leaves, it may spoil quickly. While you can sometimes revive wilted cilantro leaves with some ice-cold water, this isn’t a guarantee. Wilted cilantro leaves are an indication that they haven’t been stored well in your grocery store so it’s best to avoid these bunches altogether.

Tips for Cutting Your Cilantro Bunch

If you need to know how to cut cilantro before you worry about keeping it fresh, here are a few simple tips to better understand the process!

• You can chop the entire plant! Unlike some other fresh herbs, both cilantro leaves and cilantro stems can be chopped.
• Always use a sharp knife! this not only makes it easier to cut your cilantro leaves and cilantro stems but it also ensures that you cut all the way through both.
• Chop on a cutting board. Use a sturdy cutting board to prevent your sharp knife from slipping.

Method 1: Glass of Water

What you need: Mason Jar (any glass jar is fine), Rubber Band, Plastic Storage Bag (can be reusable bag, a freezer bag or like a Ziploc bag)

1. Fill the mason jar with roughly 1-2 inches of water (about 1/4 way full).
2. Remove any wilted or bad cilantro stems from the bunch. Place your unwashed fresh cilantro stems down in the glass of water (just like a bouquet of flowers) so that the base of the cilantro stems are in the water.
3. Place the plastic storage bag over top of the cilantro leaves.
4. Secure the bag at the mouth of the mason jar with the rubber band and store in the refrigerator.

Shelf life: 2-3 weeks

Pro Tip: Change the water as needed. Clean water will help keep the cilantro bunch fresher for longer.

Method 2: Plastic Storage Bag & Paper Towel

What you need: Paper towel, Plastic Storage Bag (can be reusable bag, a freezer bag or like a Ziploc bag)

1. Place 1-2 layers of paper towel on your kitchen counter.
2. Remove bad or rotten stems from the bunch. Add unwashed cilantro in a single layer over top of the paper towel.
3. Gently roll up the cilantro inside the paper towel.
4. Place the rolled up fresh cilantro into your plastic storage bag and store in the refrigerator.

Shelf life: 2 weeks

Pro Tip: Change the paper towel if it becomes too wet. The goal of the paper towel is to absorb moisture. A damp paper towel with excess water won’t keep your cilantro fresh.

Method 3: Airtight container

What you need: Airtight container, Paper Towel

1. Place 1-2 layers of paper towel on your kitchen counter.
2. Remove rotten or spoiled cilantro stems. Add unwashed cilantro in a single layer over top of the paper towel.
3. Gently roll up the cilantro inside the paper towel.
4. Place the rolled up fresh cilantro into your airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Shelf life: 2 weeks

Note: Change the paper towel if it becomes too wet. 

Looking to Freeze Cilantro?

If you are looking to freeze your fresh cilantro, there are two different ways we recommend. You can place cilantro in freezer bags and store lay them flat in the fridge for up to 6 months.

The other method is to use an ice cube tray. Chop cilantro or place it in a food processor. Add some olive oiol and water to make a paste and divide pour it into ice cube trays to freeze. 

Expert Tip: Fresh cilantro will be limp after freezing, so it’s best to use the frozen herb for cooking; not garnishing dishes or making slaws or salads. Fresh cilantro is always best, in my opinion, but if you need to freeze cilantro, it is possible.

Both of these methods are great to use it in soups, like our Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup, Thai Curry Pho, or Lemon Lentil Soup. 

We also like to use it in curries like Coconut Curry Chicken or this Sweet Potato Curry.

Ways to Use Cilantro

You can use cilantro as a garnish to finish off your meals with fresh herbs, use it in a marinade, or even as a base to build on flavor in soups. Here are some of our favorite recipes with cilantro!

Soups: stir it into some of our favorite soups like this, creamy chicken tortilla soup, Instant Pot taco soup, or healthy white chicken chili.

Dressings and Marinades: learn how to marinate chicken then try our go-to cilantro lime chicken marinade.

Salads: Stir cilantro into this cucumber tomato avocado salad or Mexican street corn pasta salad. We also love it in the dressing for this sweet potato kale salad.

Garnish: We love it on our favorite Mexican staples like classic carne asada tacos, breakfast nachos, or pork tenderloin tacos.

Craving Asian-flare? Top ground turkey teriyaki rice bowls, salmon rice bowls, or pork lettuce wraps with cilantro.

Then try it on top of beef satay or healthy pad thai. Don’t forget one of our favorite healthy dinners: One Pot Hawaiian chicken.