Parsley is an incredibly versatile herb, so you can do a lot of things with it! It’s common in Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, so it’s perfect for adding flavor to dishes from a range of different cultures.
You can use it both fresh and dried in cooking. Here are a few examples of how to use fresh parsley:
*Make a classic Italian Parsley Pesto: Blend together fresh parsley, olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts for a delicious pasta sauce.
*Chop it coarsely and sprinkle it as a garnish on fish or chicken dishes.
*Make a Middle Eastern Relish: Blend together fresh parsley, mint, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, and olive oil. Serve it over fish, chicken, or beef.
*Make a Classic Gremolata: A classic Italian herb blend made with parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. Sprinkle over roasted meats or vegetables.
*Add it to salads and soups: finely chop parsley and add it in as a finishing touch to salads or soups.
*Make a Parsley Mojo: Make a flavorful Cuban sauce with chopped parsley, garlic, olive oil, white wine vinegar, cumin, and oregano. Serve over fish or grilled meats.
Parsley is also great when dried. Use the dried herb to make a flavorful seasoning blend for meats and vegetables, sprinkle on top of soups or casseroles, add it to a savory herb mix for breads or biscuits, or mix it with salt to make a tasty and fragrant finishing salt.
Can fresh parsley be frozen for later use?
Yes, fresh parsley can be frozen for later use. Start by washing the parsley leaves and allowing them to dry thoroughly. Once dry, you can either freeze them whole, or chop them before freezing. If freezing them whole, try to spread the leaves out on a baking sheet so they are not overlapping each other.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer and let the parsley freeze solid, which should take about an hour or two. Once completely frozen, transfer the leaves to a freezer bag or air-tight container. If chopping the parsley, chop it into small pieces before measuring them out into small portions and placing them in air-tight containers or freezer bags.
When you are ready to use the frozen parsley, take out what you need and thaw it at room temperature. The thawed parsley can be used in cooked dishes, but it will not have a fresh flavor, so it is best used in cooked dishes.
Is it better to freeze parsley or dry it?
When given the choice between freezing parsley or drying it, it really depends on what you intend to do with it. For some applications, one method may be better than the other.
If you plan on using the parsley in cooked dishes, then freezing it is likely the better option. Freezing preserves the color, texture, and flavor better than air-drying. To freeze, wash and dry the parsley, chop it into small pieces, spread it out in one layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze it until solid.
Once frozen, you can transfer it to an airtight container or resealable bag. When ready to use, you can take out the desired amount, quickly thaw it, and use it just as you would with fresh parsley.
If you plan on using the parsley in uncooked dishes, such as as a garnish or in salads, then air-drying is likely your best bet. To air-dry, start by washing the parsley and patting it down with a cloth until completely dry.
Then, chop the parsley and place it in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Make sure that the pieces of parsley aren’t touching. Place the baking sheet in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from direct heat or light and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.
After a few days, when the parsley is completely dry and crumbly, store it in an airtight container until ready to use. You can also crumble the dried parsley into a powder and store it.
When it comes to freezing parsley or drying it, each method has its own benefits. It all comes down to what you plan to do with the parsley and which method will yield the best results.
How do you store fresh parsley long term?
Fresh parsley can be stored long term with careful attention. To maximize the shelf-life of parsley, wrap it in a damp paper towel and store it in a sealed bag or container in the warmest part of the refrigerator.
Before storing, remove as much of the stems from the leaves as possible. This will help prevent extra moisture from building up. To extend the shelf-life even further, you can also freeze the parsley.
First, rinse the parsley and then remove excess moisture by patting it dry. Roughly chop it up and spread it out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze the parsley for about an hour and then transfer it to an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
The parsley should keep in the freezer for up to a year.
What do you do with parsley at the end of the season?
At the end of the parsley season, you can either harvest and save the parsley for later, or choose to discard the plant. To harvest, you can choose to simply cut off whatever is above the soil and keep it either dry or fresh.
Many gardeners tend to dry and store the parsley in a cool, dry place for later use in recipes and other cooking applications. You can also hang small bunches of the parsley stalks upside down and allow to them to dry thoroughly, then store them in an airtight container for use later.
Additionally, you can also use the parsley for propagation by saving seeds for the next season or root division of the original plant. Lastly, you can also compost the leaves and other parts of the plant for natural fertilizer for other plants or garden beds.
Can you winterize parsley?
Yes, you can winterize parsley. Here is a step-by-step guide to winterizing parsley:
1. Begin by cutting your parsley plants back to two to three inches. This will help the plant store up energy for the winter.
2. Move the parsley indoors to an area with good light, like a windowsill.
3. For the soil, select a well-draining potting mix and fill approximately halfway with soil. Place the parsley roots and stems in the soil, and fill the rest of the pot with the potting mix.
4. Water the parsley once a week; the soil should remain moist, but not soggy. Parsley should begin to flourish again in the new environment, so keep an eye out for any new growth.
5. Make sure to keep the pot in a sunny area with temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Consider using a wattage-regulator light during the winter months. The light will help provide sunshine on darker days, which is crucial for the parsley plant to reach its full winterizing potential.
7. Compost or discard the parsley plants at the end of the winter season.
How long does parsley last in a jar?
Parsley will generally last for about one to two years in an unopened jar if stored in a cool, dark place. Once the jar is opened, the parsley should still last for about 8 to 12 months, depending on the brand and the quality of ingredients used.
To make the parsley last longer, store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. It may also help to grind the leaves into a powder and put them in a jar with an oxygen absorber to help keep them fresh.
Also, make sure to use clean utensils when taking parsley out of the jar, to avoid contamination and potential spoilage.
Does parsley need to be hardened off?
Yes, parsley needs to be hardened off before planting it outdoors. Hardening off is the process of gradually giving a newly-germinated seedling more exposure to the outside environment and temperature.
Doing this helps them adapt to the changes and reduces the risk of stunting the young plants. To harden off parsley, begin by placing it in a sheltered spot outdoors for a few hours at a time before bringing it back inside.
As the plants become stronger and more accustomed to the outdoors, progressively increase the time it spends outside. Try to avoid direct sunlight and strong winds during this process. Once the parsley is able to stay outside all day long, it is ready to be planted in the garden.
Should I cut back parsley for winter?
Generally, yes, you should cut back parsley for winter. Parsley is a biennial plant, meaning it has a two-year life cycle. At the end of its first year, the plant will begin to die back naturally. A hard freeze during this time can sometimes kill the plant.
To ensure the plant’s health, it is best to cut back the parsley at the end of the season before the cold winter temperatures settle in. Removing the stems and leaves will reduce the risk of damage or death from frost or cold weather.
You may also want to consider mulching to help protect the parsley roots for the winter season. Once spring arrives and the danger of frost is gone, you can replant any sections of the parsley that survived in a new location with appropriate drainage and water needs fulfilled.
Do you cut back parsley in the fall?
Yes, it is recommended to cut back parsley in the fall in order to ensure that the best flavor and flavor profile can be achieved. Parsley is an annual herb, meaning that it will start to die off and become less flavorful as the season progresses.
Many gardeners will choose to cut back the parsley plants in the fall, taking away the stems and leaves that are near the base of the plant to give way to new growth in the spring. This helps maintain the quality of the parsley and provide fresh growth in the coming season.
Additionally, cutting back in the fall helps to prevent damage to the potential new buds and helps maintain a healthy, thriving plant.
Do you chop parsley stems or just leaves?
Most of the time, when parsley is used in recipes, you should use the leaves of the parsley plant, not the stems. Parsley stems are too tough and stringy for most recipes and can be a bit too bitter for some dishes.
The leaves are the more desirable part of this herb for a variety of culinary uses. The leaves are more tender, mild in flavor and softer. Parsley stems can still be used for certain recipes or dishes.
Pan sauces, for instance, can benefit from the subtle flavor of very finely chopped parsley stems. To harvest parsley, you should use a pair of kitchen shears to snip fresh sprigs from the plant and discard the woody stems.
The thin leaves should be kept and chopped.
Do you pull out parsley when it goes to seed?
Yes, it is important to pull out parsley when it begins to go to seed. If left in the soil, it can produce many more plants. This can lead to overcrowding and lack of nutrients, making it difficult for the parsley and other plants to grow.
Furthermore, harvesting parsley before it goes to seed ensures that the flavor of your parsley stays fresh and pungent. When parsley it is harvested at the right time, it can also be used for many recipes and dishes.
Therefore, it is recommended to pull out parsley when it starts to go to seed.