Parsley is one of the most used herbs in gastronomy worldwide, leading me to create this superb guide where you will finally learn how to store parsley in 5 different ways.
You can store fresh parsley in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. If you freeze it, it can last 1 or 2 months, and to keep it for longer, you can dehydrate it and keep it for a year at room temperature.
To know in detail how to save parsley, keep reading.
How to select the best parsley
Choosing parsley in the freshest state will help you keep it longer. Therefore, select the bouquets with the greenest and most vibrant leaves; those with yellow or very opaque leaves will not suit you.
Also, select the parsley with somewhat firm leaves that are not decayed, nor should you buy those with rotten leaves or mold.
How to keep parsley in the fridge fresh
In case you were wondering how to keep parsley fresh, you can do it in two ways:
How to keep wrapped parsley in the fridge
- Step 1: Wash the parsley.
Get rid of the parsley root (if you still have it), then wash it with plenty of water. If you have a salad spinner, use it to dry the parsley.
If you don’t have that kind of bowl, shake the parsley and dry it with paper towels. Then leave it for about 10 minutes on a rack or more paper towels to finish drying.
- Step 2: Wrap the parsley.
Once the parsley is dry, separate it into several bunches and wrap them with paper towels that are slightly moistened. Then place another layer, but dry.
- Step 3: Put the parsley wrapped in a bag.
Place the bunches of parsley wrapped in a plastic bag, then squeeze it well. You can also use a plastic container with a lid.
- Step 4: Label the bag.
Write down the storage date of the parsley or stick a label with that information on the bag or container.
- Step 5: Store the fresh parsley in the fridge.
Put the bag at the bottom of the fridge, and you will keep fresh parsley for a week. [1]
How to preserve parsley in water
With this method, the idea is to treat parsley as if it were a bouquet, as follows:
- Step 1: Use a container to make a vase.
You need a glass or container that serves as a vase to place the bunch of parsley; if it is glass, it is much better.
- Step 2: Cut the root of the parsley.
If parsley still holds its root, cut it off, but do not remove much of the stem, as the idea is to immerse the stem in water and not the leaves (which should be kept as dry as possible).
- Step 3: Prepare the container.
Place the bunch or bouquet of parsley in the container and add water to cover three-quarters of the stem. Then cover the parsley leaves with a plastic bag.
- Step 4: Label the container.
Place a label with the date of storage of the parsley on the container or bag.
- Step 5: Store the fresh parsley in the refrigerator.
Place the vase in one of the coldest areas of your refrigerator, so the parsley in the water will stay fresh for 1 to 2 weeks.
Change the water every three days to keep the parsley in optimal condition.
How to freeze parsley
Can parsley be frozen? Yes, you can freeze parsley. Although unfortunately, it will lose its freshness but preserve its flavor.
- Step 1: Wash the parsley.
Please get rid of the parsley root, then wash it with plenty of water.
- Step 2: Blanch the parsley.
Bring a pot with water to the stove and when it starts to boil, add the parsley and let it cook for 1 minute. After that, you take it out and put it in a bag with cold water and ice to cut the cooking.
- Step 3: Dry the parsley.
Drain the parsley and dry it with paper towels.
- Step 4: Perform the first freeze.
On a tray with waxed or parchment paper, or a nonstick sheet, spread all the parsley so that you put it in the freezer for a few hours until it freezes.
- Step 5: Bag the parsley.
Transfer the frozen parsley into an airtight bag suitable for being in the freezer.
- Step 6: Label the container.
Write on the bag the date of freezing of parsley.
- Step 7: Save the parsley in the freezer.
You can freeze parsley for 3 to 4 months. [2]
How to preserve chopped parsley
If you have chopped a lot of parsley, you can save it in several ways so as not to waste them. The first is to store it in the fridge, wrapped in paper towels, and put in an airtight container or bag.
Chopped parsley may be in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. The other methods used to preserve chopped parsley involve freezing it as follows:
- Step 1: Wash the parsley.
Wash it with plenty of water, and dry it using a salad spinner or paper towel.
- Step 2: Chop the parsley.
Chop parsley the way you chop it regularly.
- Step 3: Use bags or molds to make ice cubes.
You can place the chopped parsley in a freezer bag or an airtight container that is resistant to cold, but it is convenient to divide it into portions since the parsley can not be refrozen.
Therefore, ice cube molds represent a perfect option. Add a tablespoon of chopped parsley to each compartment, and then fill with water or olive oil.
Put the mold in the freezer for two hours or until they freeze completely, then unmold and place the parsley cubes in an airtight freezer bag.
- Step 5: Write the storage date.
Write the date of storage of the chopped parsley on the bag.
- Step 6: Store the chopped parsley in the freezer.
Thus, the chopped parsley can last 1 to 2 months in the freezer, and the cubes of parsley and oil can last for about six months.
How to dehydrate parsley
Dehydrating parsley offers the possibility of preserving it for a long season and storing it at room temperature; however, it will slightly reduce its flavor.
You can dehydrate parsley in several ways:
Dehydrate parsley outdoors.
This is the method that takes the longest. First, you must cut the root, wash the parsley with water, drain it well, and separate it into several bunches.
You must tie these bunches by the stems and hang them in a dark, ventilated place with the leaves down. In that place should not accumulate much dust.
Parsley should be dried in a week or two. You will know it is ready when squeezing a leaf and it melts on your fingers.
Dehydrate the parsley with a microwave.
Wash the parsley first and remove the root if it has it. Then put paper towels on a plate, add the parsley, and cover with another paper towel.
Microwave it in 30-second batches until completely dry.
Dehydrate parsley with a food dehydrator.
After washing and drying the parsley, place it inside the equipment trays, letting space between the parsley so the air circulates better.
Set the temperature of your food dehydrator to about 40°C or 50°C (105°F – 120°F) and dehydrate for 2 to 4 hours.
Dehydrate the parsley with an oven.
Prepare a tray with a nonstick sheet or waxed paper and put the parsley that has already been previously washed and dried. Set the oven to the lowest temperature it supports and dehydrate for 1 to 2 hours. When the leaves fall apart when touched, they are ready.
To store the dried parsley, you can crush it and put it inside a container (preferably glass) with an airtight lid. Then, you can place the jar with dehydrated parsley in the pantry, a dark, dry and cool place for a year.
You can also store the dehydrated parsley in the freezer, in a bag suitable for freezing, for 18 to 24 months.
Again, remember to write down the storage date of the dried parsley.
How to preserve parsley in oil
You can prepare parsley, garlic, and oil sauce to help you take advantage of parsley.
- Step 1: Wash the parsley and chop it.
Cut the root and remove the leaves withered, then wash the parsley with plenty of water and dry it with paper towels.
Then chop the parsley and do the same with three garlic cloves.
- Step 2: Fill the jar.
You will need a glass jar with a screw or airtight lid, which should be clean and very dry. There, pour the parsley and chopped garlic, and then add the oil (preferably olive) until everything is immersed in the oil.
- Step 3: Label the jar.
After covering the jar well, stick a label with the date of storage of the parsley.
- Step 4: Store the parsley in oil.
Place the jar in the coldest part of your refrigerator. That way, the parsley in oil will remain in good condition for 3 to 4 weeks.
To freeze it, you can fill some ice cube molds with this mixture, freeze it for a few hours, then unmold and pass the cubes with parsley and garlic in oil to a bag to freeze for six months.
How do you know if parsley got bad?
The parsley will have spoiled when it is wholly withered or when its leaves are dense and have an extremely dark green, so you will have to throw them away.
Another way that tells you that parsley is bad is its smell, if it smells bad or loses all its smell, its shelf life is over, and the best thing you can do is throw it away.
If mold is present, that is, it has black or white spots or lint on its leaves or stem, it is no longer safe to eat, and you will have to discard it.
Why does parsley spoil?
Parsley is an herb, and because of it is somewhat delicate. Moreover, once harvested, it begins its natural decomposition process, and leaves will start to soften and wither.
No longer in contact with the soil, parsley cannot be nourished, so its leaves will lose their color and freshness.
Heat and humidity promote the development of all kinds of microorganisms. So if they are not stored correctly, they will end up contaminated.
How long does parsley last?
| Product | Duration |
| Fresh parsley wrapped in paper and refrigerated | 1 week |
| Fresh parsley in water and refrigerated | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Frozen parsley | 3 – 4 months |
| Frozen parsley in oil | 6 months |
| Chilled chopped parsley | 3 – 4 days |
| Frozen chopped parsley | 1 – 2 months |
| Dehydrated parsley at room temperature | 1 year |
| Dehydrated parsley in the freezer | 18 – 24 months |
| Parsley in oil refrigerated | 3 – 4 weeks |
What is the best way to preserve parsley?
You can only keep fresh parsley in the fridge, and the best way is to store it in a bowl of water, although it also works by wrapping it with moistened paper towels.
In addition, you can freeze parsley in several ways, but if you freeze it in oil, it will stay for a little longer. The same happens if you keep parsley with oil and garlic in the fridge, it lasts a little longer than when it is fresh.
To preserve parsley for much longer, you can dehydrate and keep it for a long time, although it will slightly reduce its flavor.
If you want to learn how to store some other vegetables, you will most likely find it on this website since I have a complete list on food preservation, which is constantly updated.
[1] https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/TheFoodKeeper.pdf?fwd=no