Cilantro has high water content and if not stored properly can quickly go bad. If you do not have time, here is the quickest method that will keep your cilantro fresh for at least a week. Pick out any browned, yellow leaves from the bunch and discard. Wrap the herb in paper towel, put it in a produce bag, and store it upright in the door compartment of the fridge
If you can spend a little more time prepping the cilantro it is easy to have freshest cilantro by extending its shelf life for up to 3 weeks. There are a couple of methods I have tried and tested for prepping and storing cilantro. First, if your cilantro bunch has roots, chop them off and discard. Pick out any browned or wilted cilantro and discard Then rinse the cilantro really well under cold running water 2 to 3 times or until it is free of grit
Place the cilantro in a strainer and drain most of the water out. You can also gently shake off the leaves to help remove excess water
Next, picking up individual plants by their stems, spread them on kitchen towels. Take as much space as you need making sure they are not overlapping too much
During this process pick out any yellow or brown leaves and discard them
Pat dry excess moisture with paper towels. At this point you have 2 options to store the cilantro:
Option 1 is to keep refrigerated in a glass of water using following steps:
Trim the bottom stems of cilantro
Place the dry cilantro leaves upright in a cup filled with cold water
Next, cover the leaves with a clear plastic produce bag and secure with a rubber band or knot the ends of the bag togther
Keep the cup in the refrigerator door and check every 4-5 days. Change the water as needed. This method will ensure that your herb stays fresh for 2-3 weeks
Option 2 is to chop the cilantro leaves and refrigerate
This works great if you use cilantro in your every day cooking as the chopped cilantro is super convenient to use and lasts for weeks
Clean and spread the cilantro on kitchen towels. Leave out to dry for 1 - 3 hours or untill all the water has completely dried off. Cut the stems and freeze for extended shelf life or keep refrigerated in an airtight container lined with paper towels. These stems can be used to make chutneys, soups or broths
Next, coarsely chop the leaves. Note: Make sure the cilantro has no moisture and they should not stick to your hands while chopping
Loosely place the chopped leaves in a paper towel lined container. Cover with another paper towel and refrigerate