How to Clean and Store Herbs for Safe Consumption: Tips and Easy Steps - NDTV Food

Garnishing with fresh herbs immediately upgrades all of our dishes. Coriander, basil, parsley, coriander, mint - there is a wide variety of bright green herbs that can spice up our dishes. We all love to throw these little green leaves in our salad, pasta, sabzi and even our drinks. The fact that they are used raw gives our food its fresh taste and color. But not cooking them also eliminates the "death step" that kills the bacteria they contain. Have you ever worried about consuming bacteria with these refreshing herbs? Otherwise read this -

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted investigations and reported nine outbreaks involving basil, parsley, and cilantro from 1995 to 2015, resulting in 2,699 illnesses and 84 hospitalizations. Four of the sprouts were related to basil, three to coriander, and two to parsley. Dirty grass puts you at risk of contamination with harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.

How can you protect yourself from these bacteria and consume your favorite herbs safely? Follow these steps to ensure your herbs are clean and safe to add to your food.

(Also read: Fresh Herbs or Dried Herbs: Which Would You Choose?

Herbs are a great addition to almost any meal.

Step-by-step method for cleaning and storing your herbs:

Step 1: First, scan the entire herb bunch: spread it out on a flat surface and remove the withered yellow leaves. Take them out with their stem.

Step 2 - Hold the herb bundle under cold water.

Step 3- Next, slightly separate the stems and dip them in a bowl filled with cold water. Leave for 15-20 minutes. The dirt should settle to the bottom of the container.

Step 4 - Gather the herbs and discard the water. Fill the container back up with water, add a few drops of vinegar and dip the herbs in. After a few minutes, rinse the herbs again. If necessary, rinse again. You can even use a salad spinner and add a chemical-free fruit and vegetable detergent to give them a deep clean.

Step 5 – Now spread the herbs out on a thick paper towel or absorbent cloth and let them dry.

Step 6 - Cut off the stems of the herbs and place the leaves on a dry paper towel. Roll up the towel and place in a ziplock bag. This is a great way to store herbs . The leaves stay fresh for almost a week.

Follow these steps whenever you have those fresh mint leaves at home and eat them raw without worrying about getting sick.

About Neha Grover A love of reading sparked her writing instincts. Neha is guilty of having a deep fixation on anything caffeinated. When she's not pouring her nest of thoughts onto the screen, you can watch her read over coffee.

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