How To Preserve Curry Leaves For A Long Time? What To Do With Color Changes Curry Leaves?

gknew · Apr 15, 2020

Hi all,
I got 2 pack of curry leaves 3 weeks back. I washed them, dried and place it in an air tight container.
I have placed 2 packs differently. I use one pack till yesterday. It was so fresh for 3 weeks.. When I open the next container, the curry leaves looks bad and changed to black color. I am not sure if we can still use this curry leaves. What to do with this? Any recipes recommendations? What can I do with this curry leaves?
Thank you.

Thoughtful · Apr 16, 2020

I don't think you can use this. Most likely the curry leaves had moisture left when you washed it and put it in air tight container.

After you wash it, separate them and let it dry outside for a day and then wipe it with paper towel if there are any droplets on it and then refrigerate. It should be good for at least a month.

If you want to keep it for longer, air dry it a bit more ( 2 to 3 days ) and then you can store it outside. The air-dried is still a good substitute but I like the refrigerated once better.

Gauri03 · Apr 16, 2020

Aside from the few brown ones the rest look usable to me. Pick out the brown and extra spoiled ones, then wash and dry the rest. Fry them in ghee until they are crispy. That way you can use them for tempering for an additional week. Else just make a curry leaf-coconut chutney: curry leaves chutney recipe | karuveppilai chutney | kadi patta chutney

gknew · Apr 16, 2020

Gauri03 said: ↑

Aside from the few brown ones the rest look usable to me. Pick out the brown and extra spoiled ones, then wash and dry the rest. Fry them in ghee until they are crispy. That way you can use them for tempering for an additional week. Else just make a curry leaf-coconut chutney: curry leaves chutney recipe | karuveppilai chutney | kadi patta chutney
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Thank you.
I just washed it and prepared chutney/thokku.Turns out good.

gknew · Apr 16, 2020

Thoughtful said: ↑

I don't think you can use this. Most likely the curry leaves had moisture left when you washed it and put it in air tight container.

After you wash it, separate them and let it dry outside for a day and then wipe it with paper towel if there are any droplets on it and then refrigerate. It should be good for at least a month.

If you want to keep it for longer, air dry it a bit more ( 2 to 3 days ) and then you can store it outside. The air-dried is still a good substitute but I like the refrigerated once better.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the inputs. I will try it next time.

MalStrom · Apr 16, 2020

I don’t wash the curry leaves immediately after buying. I store them in a ziplock with a paper towel. The paper towel gets changed every few days. The leaves get washed just before use. This keeps them fresh for quite a while.
I finally bought a curry leaf plant last year. It is growing slowly but steadily so I hope I can fully rely on it by next year.

gknew · Apr 16, 2020

MalStrom said: ↑

I don’t wash the curry leaves immediately after buying. I store them in a ziplock with a paper towel. The paper towel gets changed every few days. The leaves get washed just before use. This keeps them fresh for quite a while.
I finally bought a curry leaf plant last year. It is growing slowly but steadily so I hope I can fully rely on it by next year.
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That's awesome. Where did you get the plant? How do you maintain that during winter? I thought most of the herb plants will be spoilt during winter.

MalStrom · Apr 16, 2020

gknew said: ↑

That's awesome. Where did you get the plant? How do you maintain that during winter? I thought most of the herb plants will be spoilt during winter.
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I bought the plant from our Indian grocery store. Sometimes the temple also sells them in summer. I have it in a pot and bring inside to a sunny window during winter.

SinghManisha · Apr 17, 2020

I freeze curry leaves, they get discolored over time but totally usable.

Rihana · Apr 17, 2020

gknew said: ↑

What can I do with this curry leaves?
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I am now a big fan of bottled tadka. In the Instant Pot, it only needs 2-3 cups oil, cumin, mustard, whole red chillies and curry leaves. The ingredients are all optional and can include daals too. Keep the knob to venting position. Use Pressure or Steam mode for 20-25 minutes. Here are two recipes that do not use Instant Pot:

OPOS Tadka with Lentils Recipe | OPOS Cooking Recipes | Chef In You
OPOS Tadka with Lentils Recipe | OPOS Cooking Recipes | Chef In You

I make it about once in 2-4 weeks. Maybe in the summer, I'll have to make it every 10 days. I was skeptical about the freshness of the bottled tadka, but there is not much difference in taste though I miss the satisfaction of completing a cooking with the sizzling sound of tadka joining the dish.