How To Keep Asparagus, Carrots, & Cilantro Fresh Longer [Easy Hack]

This one easy hack will keep your asparagus, cilantro, and carrots fresh for weeks. And save you from the days of grabbing produce from your fridge only to find limp, discolored asparagus or carrots or wilted herbs like cilantro.  

Regardless of whether you store your produce in the crisper, eventually, it goes bad. Sometimes sooner than you’d like.

Asparagus and carrots, for instance, become flimsy and discolored losing their nice snap. 

Herbs in particular like cilantro and parsley lose their freshness quickly when stored directly in the crisper in the fridge.

According to the FDA, in the United States, about 30-40% of food is wasted. This amounts to up to 20 pounds of food per person per month. ​

Has this ever happened to you? You go to grab some cilantro to put on the guacamole you made only to find wilted discolored leaves. 

I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to face this disappointment ever again.

HOW TO KEEP ASPARAGUS, CILANTRO AND CARROTS FRESH LONGER

To keep produce fresher longer, all you need are a few jars or large glass containers and some filtered water. This substantially mitigates spoilage.

ASPARAGUS

Asparagus can shrivel up and become bad relatively quickly. Causing frustration when you go to make asparagus soup. 

When purchasing asparagus you want to look for greenish-purple-colored tops that are still nice and tight with firm stems. Asparagus is in season from February to June with April being the peak season. 

To store, simply cut or snap off the bottom woody part (about 1 inch). Fill a glass jar or container with about an inch of filtered water. Place the cut ends down in the container. Use either a plastic bag or give this handy reusable produce bag a try and loosely place it over the top. 

Store in your refrigerator for up to 10 days, changing the water every 2-3 days or when it becomes cloudy. You’ll be amazed at how fresh and crisp your asparagus stays.   

CILANTRO

This delicious and fragrant herb is one worth keeping around a while. Nothing like opening the fridge to find wilted cilantro that you purchased only a few days ago.

When purchasing cilantro, look for bright green-colored and fragrant leaves. Cilantro is known as a spring and fall herb as it grows best in cooler weather. However, you can find cilantro year-round.

To store, snip off the bottoms (about 1 inch). Fill a jar or glass container with about 1 inch of filtered water (or enough for the stems to reach). Put the cilantro stem side down into the jar. Place either a plastic bag or reusable produce bag loosely over the top. 

Store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. Change out the water every 2-3 days or when it becomes cloudy. You’ll be glad to have fresh cilantro on hand for more than just a few days.

CARROTS

This versatile root vegetable is used in many of the recipes we make at home. My kids also love snacking on carrots. This simple storage hack works for both whole or baby carrots and keeps them fresher for much longer.

Carrots are fresh when they have a nice color (different varieties- orange, yellow, white, purple), and are plump and firm with no visible cracks or soft spots. Carrots can be found year-round but they’re commonly grown in late spring and early fall. 

To store, first cut off the green tops of whole carrots (these will suck out moisture). Also, you don’t have to peel the carrot. Simply place them in a big enough container to completely submerge them in filtered water. You can store them upright in a glass jar or glass food storage container. 

Carrots will last much longer in a jar or container with a lid. This isn’t absolutely necessary but does help. Carrots will keep for about two weeks. Be sure to change the water every 3-4 days or when it becomes cloudy.

WHY FILTERED WATER?

Filtered water is simply tap water that has been further cleaned and purified sometimes using a carbon filter. Something as simple as a Brita pitcher works well. Or more complex would be a filtration system connected to your water line. The idea is the cleaner the water the fewer chemicals going into the produce and essentially you.

Is filtered water absolutely necessary?

Short answer no. The produce will still stay fresh with regular tap water. However, anytime you can filter your water you ensure excess unnecessary chemicals and metals are removed. 

WASH WHEN READY TO USE

Once you’re ready to use your nicely stored produce, simply pull out what you need and wash it. Then enjoy! 

REDUCE FOOD WASTE NOW AND FOREVER

This simple but effective hack is one way you can minimize food waste. Not only is it useful but creates a beautiful display in your fridge. Plus, visibility of anything good makes it easy to know what you have in stock. Happy food saving!

Let me know in the comments below if you’re going to give this a try or if you’ve done this before. I’d love to hear from you.