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Home » Recipes » All Recipes

Fresh Herbs: Why They’re Cheaper Than You Think

Published: Jun 23, 2017 · Modified: Oct 29, 2020 by Myra · This post may contain affiliate links

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If you wish you could use more fresh herbs but feel like you can’t afford large quantities of them, read on.  With just a couple of quick tips, fresh herbs can be cheaper than you think!

Pots and bags of fresh herbs growing

This post contains affiliate links.

Once in a while people ask me how I can afford to use such large quantities of fresh herbs in my cooking. 

I understand where they’re coming from – a very small package of herbs can cost $3.50 where I live, and there’s no guarantee that all the herbs in that little plastic container will be usable.

Still, I love to cook with fresh herbs.  I love the fresh, zesty smell that wafts up them when you wash them and when you chop them.  I love the brightness they bring to the food I’m cooking and the vibrant color they provide as garnish.  And, of course, I love the vivid pop of flavor they bring to food.

Yes, they are more expensive than dried herbs.  But they can still be affordable.  Here’s how:

  1.  Find a better deal

    Fresh Parsley and Cilantro at Grocery Store.

    As I’ve mentioned before, I live about a half hour drive from a large chain grocery store.  While I  value our local coop tremendously and try to buy local a lot of the time, there are some things that I do buy outside my local area.  Often fresh herbs are one of these things.

    Instead of a small plastic package of herbs for upwards of $3, at the two large grocery store chains in my province (Superstore and Sobeys), you can score big, bouquet-like bunches of herbs for a few bucks.

    Parsley (usually both flat and curly), cilantro, and sometimes dill are available like this, and if you have any amount of cooking to use them for, the value is excellent.

    I’ve tried all kinds of ways of keeping my herbs fresh.  I own one of these herb savers, which really does work quite well for smallish amounts.  I’ve tried wrapping them in damp paper towel, I’ve tried standing them in cups of water.

    The method I use now is actually the easiest.  I start with the best looking bunch of herbs at the store.  I take them home, take any bad or slimy parts off them, put them back in the produce bag from the grocery store, blow a little air into the bag and tie it with a twist tie.  Then I store it in my crisper drawer.

    Works like a charm.

    (I’ve recently discovered an even better option and I’ll share it on the blog soon!)

     

    If I have parsley or dill (but not cilantro, sadly) that I won’t use up before it goes bad, I freeze it.  The texture suffers but the taste doesn’t, and you can still use it in dips, sauces, salad dressings, and more!

  2. Grow your own

    Basil Plant in Green Pot.

     

    As is the case with so many things in life, if you can do it yourself, it will be cheaper.

    You don’t need a big garden or plot of land to grow a few herbs.  I was in my early twenties when I bought my first basil plant at a farmer’s market.  I took it home and it lived happily on my window sill for most of a year, while I enjoyed many of its tender leaves in sandwiches, scrambled eggs and pasta.

    Since then I’ve been lucky enough to have a garden, (and a father who loves to work in it) and have often had big patches of fresh basil, dill, parsley, cilantro, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, mint and lemongrass (and probably others I’m forgetting) to munch on throughout the summer months and try to preserve in the fall. 

    If you have the space and a tiny bit of time, this is the way to go.  A small amount of work will yield a ton of fresh herbs for you to enjoy.

    If you have no yard or no time, why not pick up a little herb plant or two for your windowsill? 

    I bought this one last week from our lovely local garden center (shoutout to Samson & Landry’s Gardening) for a little over $4.  It will yield many, many leaves of pungent basil to countless meals in our house over the next little while. 

    You can’t even buy two little plastic packages of basil for that price!  As long as you have a sunny windowsill and can give it a little water every few days, why not give it a try?

    It might prove to be a delicious experiment!  🙂

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole says

    June 24, 2017 at 5:54 pm

    I love this post! I believe if you can grow any food it’s cheaper and better. I have a small herb garden myself! This post is right on!

    Reply
    • Myra says

      June 26, 2017 at 8:50 am

      Thanks Nicole! So glad you agree! I think a lot of people overlook how simple it can be 🙂

      Reply
  2. Allison Sidhu | Foodal says

    June 23, 2017 at 10:48 pm

    Great tips! The thyme and rosemary that I bought to make dinner last Thanksgiving are still going strong in my backyard this summer. And I love freezing herbs in ice cube trays with some olive oil to make a quick pasta sauce. 🙂

    Reply
    • Myra says

      June 24, 2017 at 9:58 am

      Yes, the freezing tip is great! Thanks!

      Reply

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A photo of a man and a woman in front of a building.

HI, WE'RE MYRA AND LAURIER!

We want to help YOU eat delicious food, AND save money on groceries!

With years of experience, we bring you EASY and CHEAP recipes and tips.

Take back control of your grocery budget, AND eat amazing food.

More about us →

FAST & EASY

  • Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie (NO protein powder!)
  • Grilled Cheese With Tomato and Onion
  • Quick & Healthy Mediterranean Dip (with hummus)
  • Homemade Bistro Box aka Adult Lunchables

EASY ENTERTAINING

  • Herb and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Bites – An Easy Party Appetizer!
  • Cheesy Bacon Garlic Pull Apart Bread
  • Pepperoni Pizza Dip (with cream cheese)
  • Whipped Artichoke and Feta Dip

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Creative Cooking Solutions is a participant in the Amazon.com.ca, Inc. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.ca. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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