If you’ve ever cooked with fresh herbs, you know how difficult it can be to store the leftovers that you don’t use in your meal. Herbs are delicate, but following a few smart tips can help you to make the most of that excess cilantro. Follow these four tips to extend the life of your fresh herbs.

1. Treat them like a flower bouquet. Just like freshly cut flowers, freshly cut herbs need water to survive. Try trimming the stems of your herbs and placing them in a cup of fresh water to keep them looking perky. If you notice that the water becomes dull or discolored, change it to a fresh cup.
2. Know the right temperatures. Just like other plants, different herbs prefer different temperatures. Herbs like basil or mint thrive in room temperature environments, and oftentimes they even prefer a sunny windowsill. Herbs like cilantro and parsley do better in colder places, such as the refrigerator.
3. Wrap them up. If you prefer to use a less messy option, wrapping your herbs can eliminate the risk of knocking over a cup of water. Just wrap the stems in a wet paper towel, then slip the whole thing into a resealable bag.
4. Dry them. If you simply have too many herbs than you know what to do with, drying may be your best bet. To do this, place the leaves on a plate and store it in a cool, dry environment for a few days. Afterward, store the dried herbs in a sealed container.

How to Store Parsley, Cilantro and Other Fresh Herbs [Simply Recipes]
How to Keep Your Herbs Fresh [HuffPost Taste]
The Best Ways to Store Fresh Herbs [Food52]
The Best Way to Store Herbs [Real Simple]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Rebecca Siegel