Fresh Herbs

Question: Fresh Herbs? I am going to be trying out some new recipes that call for fresh herbs but the grocery stores around my house have a terrible selection. Are there any kind of specialty stores that have a nice selection of fresh herbs that you know about? I live in MD

Answer: I live in Maryland as well. If you are looking for common herbs, like rosemary, basil, thyme and dill, most regular grocery chains carry them (I use fresh herbs a lot). You can also try local health food stores and places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Although I'm not growing any now, I often grow my own herbs in a pot in the window sill. You can get the seeds at any garden store. You just pick off what you need, and it's always fresh.

Question: How can I keep my fresh herbs from wilting in a day or two after purchasing them? I use cilantro, parsley, corriander and several other herbs that I like using fresh. Also how can I dry my own herbs?

Answer: I keep my in the refrigerator, that seems to keep them indefinitely. As for drying,check out the advice I found, this site will most likely be very helpful to you. "Drying is the easiest method of preserving herbs. Simply expose the leaves, flowers or seeds to warm, dry air. Leave the herbs in a well-ventilated area until the moisture evaporates. Sun, oven and dehydrator drying are not recommended because the herbs can lose flavor and color. "

Question: How do you keep fresh herbs alive over the winter? Every year we plant fresh herbs(rosemary, thyme, basil, etc.), but come winter time, they allways die, bummer huh. Even if I keep them in pots. I just don`t do well with them inside.

Answer: you can bring them indoors, but they will probably get leggy. The bbest bet is to take a "Start" from each plant you want to save and start new small plants,

Question: I can see buying fresh herbs when I can pruchased the dried herbs. Is there that big of a difference? I'm a college student and I like trying new recipes from time to time. I don't see the point in wasting money on fresh herbs that I'm only going to use maybe twice then have a ton of waste. Dried herbs in the shakers last a lot longer. Whats the big difference between using fresh and dried herbs like parsley, thyme and rosemary?

Answer: aside from the price, there is a difference in the way some spices are used. For instance, there are some recipes where I need whole sprigs of rosemary or thyme to place on top of the food and which will be removed before serving. Dried herbs are usually more potent, meaning you would use about half or a third of dried herbs over fresh. But for taste, fresh herbs taste better than dried. Certain herbs I keep on my balcony in pots, things that I use rarely, are best, and more economical to use dried. It's a matter of money, taste and ease. Your best bet is to find stores that sell spices in bulk, as I do and keep them in clean, empty baby food jars which keep out moisture

Question: What is the best way to freeze fresh herbs and spices? I have heard before that you can freeze fresh herbs and spices. I cook for one so I don't use herbs very much, and I would like to know the best way to store them and keep from wasting. Thanks! I like the fridge response from keep it loud, but approximately how long will they stay fresh this way? Thanks!

Answer: Hi - I always feeze mine If you have a lot, don't freeze it all together, seperate it into portions and put in small food/freezer bags or plastic tubs, then you can just a take a portion out each time you need it for a recipe Hope this helps x

Question: How to preserve fresh herbs so they can be used again? Hi, like to buy fresh herbs at the supermarket, but they get bad in a week or less. How to keep them good to use again and again?

Answer: Put them in to air tight bag and freeze them my wife doe's it all the time work's great

Question: Is it okay to place fresh herbs in a container with moist tissue instead of planting them in soil? I'd like to have fresh herb sprigs at home because we don't have a backyard where i can plant herbs and the sunlight in my place is poor. So I thought, could I just put them in a small glass with moist tissue?

Answer: No. Herbs need nutrients from the soil. Occasional fertilizer helps, too. A tissue will dry out in minutes -- growing herbs need constant moisture. Planting and growing herbs indoors is actually very easy. There are lots of herb tips here: http://guide-to-houseplants.com/indoor-herb-gardens.html

Question: What is a good place to buy fresh herbs and flowers online? I'm looking for unusual fresh flowers and herbs that can be used in food products. They would need to ship quickly (to maintain freshness) within the US.

Answer: http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/AS/producttype/Plants/category/Herbs Parkseed has almost all of the herbs you need. They are all freshly packaged and have the freshest taste or your money back. I know from personal experience. They never let you down.

Question: What do I do with leftover fresh herbs? Example: recipe I'm making tonight calls for 8 leaves fresh sage. I buy a box of fresh sage at the grocery story for $1.69. It must have 100 leaves. Is there a way to store/freeze/dry the rest so that I can use it later? Other herbs of high interest: thyme, rosemary, mint Any advice would be much appreciated!

Answer: you can freeze them all just wrap them in paper towel and put in an air tight container/bag and freeze you can also dry them: http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=tvs4981&contentGroup=TV&site=living&rsc=ns2006_m1 Drying Herbs It’s great to grow your own herbs and even better when you can use them all year long in your recipes. After all, home-dried herbs are fresher and tastier than those at the market, and most herbs are ready to be harvested when the flower buds first appear, usually in summer or fall. During this time, the leaves also contain the maximum amount of volatile oils, producing the most flavor and fragrance in the finished product. When storing herbs, be sure to keep them away from heat and light, which can diminish their flavor. Properly stored, most herbs will retain their flavorful oils for about one year. Technique Drying Herbs Fresh herbs Paper towels 18-by-24-inch piece of tulle String or other material for tying ends of tulle 1. After picking fresh herbs from your garden, wash them under cold running water. Pat the herbs dry, and drain them on paper towels. 2. Arrange the herbs on a piece of tulle. Do not combine different herbs on the tulle because herb-drying times vary. Roll the tulle into a tube shape—but not tightly, as the holes in the tulle allow air to circulate, and the herbs will keep their shape. Tie the ends of the tulle with a piece of string to secure. 3. Store the tulle in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. Drying times will vary, depending on temperature and moisture. Make sure the herbs are completely dried, or they will form mold. Once the herbs have dried, remove them from the tulle. (You’ll know they are ready when the leaves feel crisp and crumble easily.) Arrange the dried herbs in an airtight glass jar, and store in a dark, dry place, such as a kitchen cabinet.

Question: What is the best Soil blend to grow Tomatoes and Fresh Herbs in? Now that I've gotten my beds all cleaned out (new homeowner, totally gutted the old landscaping) and want to use what I plant, so I'm going with Tomatoes and fresh herbs. I have a bit of clay but some pretty good soil that's been tilled but I think I'll need some Soil too, what would you suggest? Thank you very much and have a wonderful Spring evening!

Answer: Get a bag of potting soil , a bag of cow manure {home depot} and a bag of sand . Mix all together and you have the best mix for tomatoes , If you have sources to a cattle ranch then you could get it for .Water and away they go , dont add any fertilizers yet untill they are rooting. You could add vitamin b for shock . dig you bowls large for water and dont water to much or you will get all vines and no fruit, plant 5 feet apart due to tomatoes spreading. you could stake the outsides and in betweens and string the middle and top , this is how the commercial growers grow their tomatoes

Question: Can you freeze fresh herbs so they are still fresh next week? Fresh herbs taste much better than dried and I usually let what I don't use from the fresh container go to waste. Can they be frozen instead?

Answer: I basically do the same as above, but less work. I just put the herbs in an ice cube tray and add water. Later I can just drop the ice cube in my soup or dish that I'm making.

Question: Can I make scented candles with fresh herbs? I grow rosemary, lavender, and other fragrant herbs. How can I put that fragrance in a candle? If, when melting the wax before pouring the candles, I dump in a handful of fresh herbs, will they make the candle produce a strong enough fragrance after it's finished and I light it? Or do I need to do something else?

Answer: Fresh herbs would rot in the candle, and dried are a fire hazard. If you can extract the essential oils from the herbs that you grow, then you can use that. Otherwise, stick with commercial scents.

Question: How do you keep fresh herbs fresh? Every Sunday I go to the grocery store and purchase fresh herbs to cook with during the week. I put them in zip-lock bags, but they still don't stay fresh. Are there any tricks I can use to keep them fresh and green?

Answer: Hi Balner! You need to wrap them in a wet paper towel in the plastic bag. It works great. I do all my Basil, Parsley and rosemary like this and they stay fresh forever!!!

Question: Where can I get fresh herbs in Kansas City? I have been trying to find fresh herbs for some of my recipes and have discovered it's near impossible to find them. Any suggestions?

Answer: If you can't find any convenient shops that are close, maybe grow your own at home? You can probably order the seeds from somewhere over the internet.

Question: For Wiccan and Pagan people. Who online has the best fresh herbs at good prices? Merry Meet! I was hoping some folks here might have some good references for online companies that sell fresh herbs at reasonable prices. I need to stock up once again and my local store is now gone. Sign of the economic times it seems. Thanks in advance! Blessed Be!

Answer: Mountain Rose Herbs, IMHO. http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Question: Where can I get FRESH HERBS in a physical store in Atlanta? I live in South of Atlanta. I did not like what I see at Walmart, Kroger, Publix or those small Herbs stores. Is there a store that does Speciality in Fresh Herbs or a Big Store?

Answer: I don't know exactly where you are south of Atlanta. However, if you have never been to the DeKalb farmers market (on E. Ponce de Leon about 2 miles ITP), they have great fresh everything. I think the proper name is the International Farmers Market.