When it comes to using herbs for cooking, the big debate is whether to use fresh or dried. Both have their place, and choosing the right one can make a big difference. Here are some tips to help you choose the best herb for your dish.
Herbs add so much flavor to you recipes and whenever I can, I use fresh because the flavors are usually brighter and add the most flavor in my opinion.
Fresh herbs have higher moisture content and so you will need more of them versus dried in a dish to get the same flavor. Dried herbs tend to have a stronger, more concentrated flavor and have a longer shelf life than fresh, however, they do have a shelf life. So those dried herbs in your cabinet from 10 years ago, probably aren't going to pack the same punch as fresh herbs. Fresh herbs are also going to add more of a visual element to your dish, whereas the dried herbs will tend to blend in and not be as noticeable.
It's best to use fresh herbs where the flavors are the star of the dish such as salads, sauces or garnishes. For example, using fresh basil in caprese salad or fresh cilantro in salsa or fresh dill in ranch dressing - these are non negotiable in my opinion. When using fresh herbs in soups or dishes that will be cooked for a while, it's best to add them towards the end to preserve the flavor. A toss of minced fresh parsley on top of tomato soup before it's served is perfection.
Dried herbs are best for longer cooking dishes like soups or stews. Letting the dried herbs cook with the meat is helps to deepen the flavors of the dish. There's nothing like a stew that cooks long and slow with dried bay leaf and thyme. r
When it comes time to cook with herbs, you may need to cook with what you have on hand, even if it's a combination of fresh and dried. If your recipe calls for one or the other, you will need to convert to make sure your flavors are still in balance. The general rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs is equal to a 1 teaspoon of dried. So if your recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley you can use 1 tsp of dried instead.
Be sure you are storing dried herbs in airtight containers and out of the sunlight. Keep an eye on them for expiration dates. One quick way to check on your dried herbs is if you take a little bit and rub it between your fingers and the aroma is not strong, it might be time for a new container. You can store fresh herbs in damp paper towels in the fridge to lengthen their life.
Try my ranch dressing recipe with fresh herbs and then with dried and leave me a comment on which you prefer! Click here for the ranch dressing recipe
Happy cooking!
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