4 ways to keep chives longer

Chives are a great seasoning and their use is super versatile: they add a special touch to a huge variety of meals. They can be added to omelets, soups, purees and meats, and, in addition to providing color and flavor, they make your dish even more beautiful!

If you still don’t have the habit of consuming them, know that, in addition to the taste, they also bring health benefits: they have vitamin A, which acts as an antioxidant and improves the immune system; vitamin C, which slows down aging and prevents disease; and still have beneficial nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus.

There’s only one problem: they don’t last long in the fridge. Its conservation time is short and, as it is usually used little, they soon wither and can go to the trash before you use the whole branch.

Fortunately, there are some methods that can help preserve these vegetables. Check out some simple ways to make your chives last longer below!

1. Keep growing

As soon as you buy the chives, place them in a jar and fill with water until the roots are covered. Place them near the window and add water as needed. This way, the chives will stay alive and developing for up to a few weeks! But don’t forget: they lose their flavor over time.

2. Store better

Another way to preserve chives is to store them in the fridge wrapped in a damp paper towel. That way, it will retain moisture.

3. Recovering

If your chives are already wilted, there’s a very simple way that can help you get them back! The trick is ice water. When vegetables start to get flabby, it’s because they’ve lost moisture. So, soak in an ice water bath for 15 to 30 minutes until the vegetable recovers.

4. Freeze!

Finally, the most popular way: you can freeze chives. Once washed, dried and chopped, place in an airtight plastic bag and store in the freezer. When using, you can put it directly on the food, at the end of cooking, and it will defrost in a few seconds.

other tips

Nutritionist Marina Donadi points out that the fresher the food is consumed, the better. This is because food loses its nutrients as it undergoes processes such as freezing. Therefore, always try to buy vegetables in small quantities and consume them before they wither.

Another good option is to plant your own chives in a vegetable garden at home! This is one of its advantages: it is one of the few spices that can be easily grown at home. You don’t need to have practice for planting: just put the seeds in a vase, water and wait. In a few days you will have fresh chives in your house!