Fed up with gritty herbs.

[AgentProvocateur]

I know this is a first world problem, but I'm getting really pissed off with coriander being gritty. I buy the Spanish stuff from sainsburys. I don't like to wash herbs, as it makes them go all slimy.

Has anyone got any solutions to get rid of the grit?

After washing use a salad spinner. Stops them all sticking together!

I know you don't like to wash them but just think about someone's grubby hands picking them! Well maybe they're not "grubby" but you know what I mean!

I don't have a salad spinner, and not sure I could justify the cupboard space. It's worth thinking about though. Thanks for answering my boring question!

Ah, that's a shame about the salad spinner.

No fear, when I cant be bothered to get mine out I just rinse the herbs, fold into paper towel and leave the bunch in the salad draw wrapped in dry paper towel.

Pleased sometimes to concentrate on first world problems!! Better than the other stuff going on in this world!

Surely they only go slimy if you wash and then store them. Can't you just wash them before you use them? I would definitely wash them personally.

Blimey I never wash them and have never noticed any grit. Am now concerned about grubby hands though so I might start!

I think I'm cautious as I remember a couple of years back, lots of people here (in US) got sick from eating lettuce they hadn't washed properly, from a parasite from a snail. Plus I believe hepatitis can be transmitted through unwashed fruit/veg. If you're cooking it I guess it's not such a big deal, but still...

Washing definitely ruins them. I think the grit depends on where they're grown. I try not to buy Israeli herbs, but they're generally great to use straight from the packet. The Spanish ones have grit under the leaves, as if it's come from the earth when it's been raining. It's very fine but definitely there.

I hadn't thought of dirty hands before, and I'll just pretend I never read about it.

Before the invention of salad spinners my mother would wash lettuce and place it on a clean tea towel, bring the corners together and spin it round her head!!