Breathe Together Yoga Logo

Quick Kitchen Tip: How To Preserve Herbs

These tricks will help you save money in any season.
Picture of Jenn Smith Thorp

Jenn Smith Thorp

As an Amazon Associate, Breathe Together Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.

Herbs prepared to be chopped

Misadventures in Recipeland

It’s happened to all of us.

Picture this: you’ve come across the most bomb-diggity recipe to make for you and your peeps. It requires a fair number of ingredients, but nothing you can’t handle. In fact, you’ve used all the same ingredients before.

This particular recipe calls for basil, but, wait for it…it’s the middle of November. A little baby container at the grocery store costs way too much to justify using it and no vendor at the farmers’ market has it.

Enter: Lessons in Supply and Demand

What we often forget is that the produce market (much like anything else in a capitalist, economic system) is based on supply and demand. Where produce differs from many other markets is that on top of supply and demand, it is limited by the growing season, which, ironically, sways the supply and demand of the product.

It’s true, we live in a world where many things can be grown or are offered year-round – especially when they’re grown in warmer/cooler climates other than our own and shipped to us. In turn, we’ve become spoiled by the notion that any vegetable, fruit, or herb is available at a reasonable price whenever we want it. This is not entirely true. Basil grows better in warmer weather. So, that summer Caprese salad, or classic Italian pesto with fresh basil isn’t going to be easy to find when you need it for your Thanksgiving meal. If anything, these are more involved lessons in learning more about how and what to eat seasonally – so, it works for your meal planning and your budget!

Herb Hack

Back to our basil-laden, summer salad. Say we want basil, even in the fall, and we’re definitely not into spending $5 for a few sprigs.

Behold – the ice cube tray! Your best friend, regardless of the season, and a surefire way to cheat the seasonal herb system.

It requires a little more forethought, but whenever basil is permeating the farmers market stalls, or when sage is in the forefront of grocery store displays, these are moments of opportunity to stock up!

Step 1: Chop them up. 

Step 2: Fill each cell with herbs.

Step 3: Top with a favorite oil. 

Step 4: Pop out of the freezer whenever a recipe calls for the herb you’ve got.  

Stretching the season

Not so into the ice cube tray idea? There are ways to stretch the season a little bit (without all the prep)! Sometimes herbs come with the root system still attached. Basil happens to be a common one. 

Lightly cover with a plastic produce bag with a few holes poked in it and keep outside the fridge (basil loves the heat!). This acts as a little greenhouse system, keeping things aerated with a sufficient amount of CO2 to help keep it alive.

If you’re looking to create new growth from woody herb trimmings, like thyme or sage, consider cutting at the node on the stem, removing all leaves below that point, and sticking in water to wait for growth.

Picture of Jenn Smith Thorp

Jenn Smith Thorp

Jenn Smith Thorp is a Texan living in Silicon Valley as a yoga teacher and farmer. You read that right. The irony is real. Jenn is of the belief that the way we move our bodies doesn't have to be extra fancy or extra bendy to be effective, and that finding solutions to make yoga and movement practices accessible to all bodies and abilities is important. Doc, the farm dog, is her most beloved pal, her favorite smell is that of a tomato bed at dusk*, and if not in the kitchen, you'll find her near a tent donning a headlamp and a s'more. *Ok, campfire smell comes in at a close 2nd. For more of Jenn's yoga offerings and iterations of the word "y'all," visit her website at www.yoga-yall.com.

One reply on “Quick Kitchen Tip: How To Preserve Herbs”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shine Your Way to Firefly | Izumi Sato

We aim to improve the flexibility of hamstrings and shoulders, as well as the strength in the arms, thigh adductors, and the core. Variations are offered to develop the sense of balance on the arms. It is an exploration of your own expression in Firefly, whatever stage of life you’re in.

Introduction to the Buddhist Mudras | Izumi Sato

Mudras are highly stylized and symbolized as non-verbal communication. In this introduction to the Buddhist mudras, we will learn five Buddhist mudras and the mudras of the five wisdoms, or five Buddhas. After learning the forms and meanings of the mudras, it’s fun to observe the arts such as Buddha sculptures and paintings.

Chanting Gayatri Mantra With Mudras | Izumi Sato

In this mantra, the 24 Mudras are practiced while chanting the Gayatri Mantra which has 24 syllables. Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitri, a Vedic sun deity. Among various translations of the mantra, I introduce the first line by Tias Little and the rest of the lines by Swami Vivekananda.

How Mindfulness Can Help You Navigate Social Media

Now that social media has become an extension of our own communities, a lot of negative perspectives and habits have made their way from the digital world to our real one. By becoming aware of your emotions and actions, you can get past the bad side of social media and enjoy the company of your social circle.

Listening Inward Vinyasa | Izumi Sato

In this Vinyasa flow, we incorporate Shanka Mudra to cultivate peace and bring the keen sense of listening within. Shanka is the conch shell, one of the oldest musical instruments in many parts of the world. Our inner ear is coiling and spiraling like a conch shell. It governs the sense of balance and the awareness of space and time. What will happen when you relax your inner ear? Bring awareness to this subtle change. Invite your senses inward as we practice pratyahara, internalizing your senses.