Prepara Herb Savor Pod Review: I Tried the Viral Herb Saver

Megan Wood/Taste of Home

I had an annoying and expensive cooking problem. I kept buying yummy fresh herbs, using a partial amount and then throwing away rotted bunches of basil, mint, dill and parsley a few days later. Ugh! I was wasting food and money. There had to be a solution to this common problem of fresh herbs rotting quickly in the refrigerator.

I turned to Taste of Home and found this handy article on tools to help fresh herbs last longer. The suggested Prepara Herb Savor Pod immediately caught my eye. I liked the size for taller herb stalks and how the shape is designed to conveniently store in the refrigerator door.

I added a set of three herb savers to my cart and waited for fresh herb season to hit. Here’s how it went.

What Is an Herb Saver?

I’ve tried multiple methods for keeping herbs fresh in the past: wrapping stems in moist paper towels, placing them in cups of water in the fridge and even growing my own herbs (AeroGarden, anyone?) so I could harvest just what I needed. But the paper towel method usually led to fast rot, while the cups of thyme and oregano took up a lot of space in the fridge (if you struggle with a crammed fridge, this fridge drawer organizer is just what you need). I also noticed the exposed herbs absorbed fridge odors—yuck. I still like having potted fresh herbs in the house, but it’s unrealistic to grow every herb I need for cooking.

The Prepara Herb Savor Pods are a genius food storage container. The 11-inch tall white pods have a clear window and hard shell that allow herb, scallion and asparagus bunches to be stored upright in a small pool of clean water. The shell keeps delicate leaves and stems from getting crushed while the water keeps herbs hydrated and fresh. A small nozzle at the back of the pod allows for draining and adding clean water as needed. It’s one of my favorite kitchen products for reducing food waste at home, right next to lettuce produce keepers.

How We Tested It

The Prepara Herb Savor Pods arrived in a pack of three. I hand washed the components in soapy water, then dried them. For my first test, I bought fresh mint, basil and cilantro from the grocery store. I washed the herbs and patted them dry. Then, I prepared the pods by adding about a quarter-inch of water to the bottom of the container and placed the individual herbs inside. I put the stems in the water and leaves toward the top.

The herb saver fit perfectly in my refrigerator door. I did notice some condensation and fogging on the clear window, but I could still easily see which herbs were stored inside. Over the next few days, I pulled a few cilantro stems for taco night, tore up basil to add to Caprese salad and pulled mint leaves for iced tea. Some days I didn’t use the herbs at all. About every four days I dumped out the water and added fresh tap water to the pods—no additional cleaning.

Pros

• Stores easily in a refrigerator door
• Keeps herbs fresher for longer
• Functional design makes draining and adding water a breeze
• Reduces food waste

Cons

• Water will spill in the refrigerator door if the reservoir is too full
• Large bundles of herbs require more than one herb savor pod

FAQs

How do you use the Prepara Herb Savor?

All it takes is placing the herbs inside the pod (you may have to trim the stems) and adding clean water through the filler cap. Just remember to empty and refill the water every three to five days.

Are herb savers worth it?

After reviewing the Prepara Herb Savor I can confidently say it’s 100% worth it. I’ve saved money and reduced food waste, so it’s a win-win.

What Other Shoppers Had to Say

More than 4,300 reviewers give the Prepara Herb Savor Pods five-stars. Here’s why they’re never going back to their old herb-saving habits:

“I use fresh herbs all the time,” shares verified Amazon reviewer, Treese. “Too often they go bad before I finish them. I bought fresh basil a week and a half ago. I immediately used a bit, then put them in this handy-dandy container. I changed the water once. Last night I decided to make a little fresh pesto with the basil I had left. It was in perfect condition and the pesto was amazing! Every kitchen needs at least one or two of these in it.”

“These work miracles on your fresh herbs and green onions, I now have four and I don’t know how I lived without them!” adds verified Amazon reviewer, Sarah Gibbons. “With only two of us in the house we don’t go through our fresh produce fast enough and I was buying green onions each week because they would go bad. My green onion bunch now lasts about 2-3 weeks with the herb savor!”

Final Verdict

I had bunches of fresh basil and mint last for three weeks in the Prepara Herb Savor Pods. Hardier leaf varieties like cilantro and scallions last up to a month! I’m now using up entire bunches of fresh herbs without having to throw any away or force myself to eat it before it wilts. I can buy dill for tzatziki and two weeks later use the same flavorful bunch for grilled salmon.

A set of three herb saver pods cost me about $10 each and they’ve already saved me money on my grocery bill. Fresh herbs (especially organic) are pricey! Plus, the herb savers are a much smarter solution compared to wrapping greens in moist paper towels and throwing them into a reusable silicone bag.

I also love how the herb saver doubles as a refrigerator organizing idea. They free up space in my crisper drawer and add a little shot of greenery to the refrigerator door. Sometimes I do have to trim the stems of taller herbs, like mint and rosemary, to make them fit in the pod, but that’s not a big deal. Anything that keeps produce or ingredients fresher for longer, like the beloved guac lock storage container or Bluapple saver, are totally worth the upfront cost.

They also make excellent presents! I gifted my mom a Prepara Herb Savor for her fridge, just in time for my sister-in-law’s outdoor basil and mint bounty to come in.

Where to Buy the Prepara Herb Savor

via merchant

I bought a set of three Prepara Herb Savor Pods on Amazon for $35. They’re also available as a singular pod for $17.50 on Amazon or $33 on Walmart. Buying three herb saver pods at once is much cheaper than buying singles. You’ll be glad you have space for everything from fresh parsley, to dill and oregano.

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