Infinity Jars™ keep herbs fresh and flavorful.
Now is a great time to plan this year’s herb garden. Herbs are ideal for small spaces and for gardeners who prefer low-maintenance plants. Most herbs grow quickly, can be used fresh in salads and meals, and can be dried or frozen for use throughout the year.
Grow Your Own Herbs
Growing herbs at home saves a lot of money—those small grocery-store jars add up quickly—and lets you grow a wider variety than you usually find in stores. Every year I plant at least one basil variety, lemon balm, borage, and mint. Last year I tried lemongrass; this year I’m adding lovage and chervil, two herbs I enjoy but rarely find locally. Planning a themed herb garden helps focus your choices and makes planting easier.
Herbs often produce more than you can use fresh, so drying is an efficient way to preserve the harvest. Use a food dehydrator for speed or hang bundles in a dark, airy place until they’re dry. In dry climates, spreading herbs in a shallow basket on a shaded deck can work well—by the time the sun reaches that side of the house, the herbs are usually dried.
Dried herbs are convenient, but they can lose potency if stored improperly. Light accelerates the breakdown of aroma and nutrients, so storing dried herbs in a cupboard or closet is better than leaving them on an exposed shelf. Using colored glass improves protection, and using ultra-violet–filtering glass is even better. That’s why I store herbs in Infinity Jars™ Apothecary Jars—the UV-filtering glass helps retain aroma and potency.
What Are Infinity Jars™?
Infinity Jars™ are premium glass containers designed to protect contents from light while remaining airtight and attractive. The glass has a deep purple hue that filters UV light, helping to preserve delicate products. The jars come in many styles and sizes, and are suitable for storing dried herbs, oils, ointments, and a wide range of other items.
Why Use Infinity Jars?
Light causes vitamins and aromatic compounds to break down, which reduces both the nutritional value and flavor of dried herbs. The same process can accelerate rancidity in oils and creams. This is why many foods and beverages are packaged in dark glass: to slow light-driven degradation.
Infinity Jars™ block UV light, helping stored items retain their qualities far longer than clear glass, and longer than standard colored glass or plastic containers. If you invest time and care into growing or preparing nutritious food, it makes sense to store it in containers that help preserve its freshness.
Full disclosure: The Infinity Jars™ company provided the apothecary jar featured here at no charge.