What is the average shelf life of chives? How long do chives last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer? What is the best way to store chives to increase their shelf life? Find out the answers to these questions and more below:
Shelf Life of Chives
| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh | 24 Hours | Up to 6 Days | 2-3 Years | |
| Dried | 1 Year | - | - |
Chives are delicate species that belongs to the onion garlic and shallots family. The shelf life of the chives is only 3 to 4 days, beyond that time they will get dry and lose their taste. In hot and wet weather, they can only survive for a day. However, specific steps can be taken to increase their shelf life. Always keep them on the top shelf of your fridge, do not expose them to water. It’s preferable not to buy chives in bulk, though you may preserve them for commercial purposes by opting to different mechanisms to increase its life up to 4 months.
Purchasing Chives:
Chives are more greenish and tender in the spring season; this is the best season to buy them. After this spring period, chives are hard to survive, and if you get any, try to sniff it first. Do not buy chives that smell bad or has turned in to brown; they can harm you instead of being of benefit to you in any way. Chives are herbs that you can find at every grocery store, and some people even grow chives in their home to have it at its purest form. Moreover, it is excellent to repel the insects from your garden as well.
Storing Chives:
Its always best to eat fresh chives, but if you have an abundance of it, you will have the option of freezing it so as to make it last longer. You can chop the chives properly and make their layers after freezing them in such a way that there is no possibility of air to cross, try to keep them in an airtight container. Your chives will freeze like in a big lump; you can use a spoon or a scoop to take off your chives whenever it is needed.
How to Handle Chives:
There are many ways to handle the chives, but it is advisable to either freeze it in an airtight container, or even you can dry them in an oven. To dry them in 63 to 90 degrees temperature, do not exceed the heat as it will result in the tasteless herbs, repeat the process for two times, after drying store them in an airtight container or bottle. The other method is herbal vinegar, to go for this method, you may require a jar and cut the chives in varying length in upside down fashion, and in sterilized bottle you can pour the vinegar and seal it completely. By doing this, you can save it for months.
Cooking Food Chives:
Chives can be used in the preparation of numerous dishes. Chives are mostly used in making food instead of using it for garnishing purposes. Chines chives are known to be more famous for the Asian food; they can be cooked with baked potatoes, fish, eggs, pasta, salads. Some dishes are nominated explicitly with chives and liked and eaten worldwide like green goodie chive dressing, achieve rolls, chive sauces, chive bisque, chive class role, chive stuffed chops, chive stuffed chicken, chive crisps. Moreover, you can use it for making several other sauces and creams.