DecodedGuides

How to store parsley

Best place: the fridge. USDA gives parsley a fridge time (2 to 3 days, from purchase) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home. The freezer gives 3 to 4 months.

Pantry

No guideline

Fridge

2 to 3 days

from purchase

Freezer

3 to 4 months

best quality within

How to tell parsley has gone bad

General signs for produce: fresh vegetables, the group USDA lists parsley under.

  • Slimy, wet leaves on greens that were crisp before
  • Soft or mushy spots on vegetables that were firm
  • Sprouting or wrinkled skin on potatoes and onions
  • Mould, often white or fuzzy, near the stem or cut end
  • Sour or off smell replacing a vegetable's usual earthy scent

More on produce: fresh vegetables. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Store leafy greens loosely wrapped in the crisper drawer, ideally with a paper towel to absorb extra moisture. Keep potatoes, onions and garlic in a cool, dark, dry place outside the fridge, and store potatoes away from onions since they spoil each other faster. Trim and wash vegetables just before cooking.

How to store other produce: fresh vegetables

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.