Fresh Herbs Made Easy: Smart Storage, Herb Keepers & Sprouting Jars for Every Kitchen

There’s something instantly uplifting about cooking with fresh herbs. A scatter of basil over pasta, a handful of coriander in tacos, or a sprinkle of microgreens over avocado toast… It’s often the smallest additions that make the biggest difference.

Fresh herbs brighten flavours, add colour to your plate and bring a sense of care to everyday meals. And the best part? You don’t need a garden (or even a balcony) to enjoy them year-round.

With a few clever growing solutions and thoughtful storage tools, you can grow, store and prepare herbs effortlessly, even in the smallest kitchens. 

Here’s how to make it happen:

Sometimes, all it takes is a sunny windowsill.

A countertop planter like the Typhoon Living Herb Planter (available in Cream, Grey, Green, or Navy) is an easy, stylish way to keep herbs within reach. Its clean, classic design works beautifully across both modern and traditional kitchens, while giving basil, parsley, or mint a dedicated home on the bench.

For those who prefer a little extra support with watering, the Silit Collexio Indoor Herb Garden (3-Piece Set) makes growing even simpler. Designed with a clever self-watering system, it quietly nourishes plants for days at a time; ideal for busy households that still love cooking with fresh ingredients. With room for three plants and a sleek stainless steel finish, it blends practicality with understated style.

If you’re ready to expand beyond a few pots, a compact raised garden such as the Vegepod Kitchen Garden in Black or White offers a more complete growing solution. Perfect for patios or larger outdoor spaces, it creates a controlled environment that helps herbs and leafy greens thrive with minimal effort.

Whether you choose a single planter on the bench or a full kitchen garden setup, visibility is key. When herbs are easy to see, they’re far more likely to be used (and enjoyed) every day.

If outdoor space is limited, sprouting jars are a brilliant alternative.

The GEFU Bivita Sprouting Jar serves as a miniature greenhouse in your kitchen. Its borosilicate glass dome creates ideal growing conditions, while the integrated sieve makes draining and rinsing simple.

The process is refreshingly straightforward:

• Soak seeds in the glass dome for a few hours.
• Drain using the built-in sieve.
• Place the dome on its stand in a light spot.
• Rinse two to three times daily.

Within about a week, you’ll have crisp, nutrient-rich sprouts ready to harvest! Perfect for salads, wraps, sandwiches and wok dishes.

To get started, the GoodLife range offers excellent sprouting seeds, including Alfalfa, Mung Beans, Broccoli, and even a gourmet Spicy Mix (all 100g). It’s an easy way to experiment with flavour and texture, right from your countertop.

GoodLife also offers its own simple sprouting solutions. The GoodLife 1L Sprouting Jar Kit and mini GoodLife 500ml Sprouting Jar Kit are practical, beginner-friendly options, with a gift-boxed 1L version available for those looking for a thoughtful present.

Already have jars at home? The GoodLife Sprouting Jar Lid fits most 86mm wide glass jars, allowing for easy draining and airflow, a simple way to turn everyday jars into efficient sprouting systems.

Whether you choose a complete kit or adapt what you already have, growing fresh sprouts at home is surprisingly easy and incredibly satisfying.

Bench space is precious, especially in smaller kitchens!

If vertical growing better suits your setup, the Umbra Large Triflora Plant Hanger in Black or White Brass allows you to grow up to five herbs at once, suspended neatly in front of a window.

It keeps greenery off your counters while still within arm’s reach. For apartment or motorhome living, it’s a clever solution that beautifully blends function and design.

Growing herbs is one part of the equation; keeping them fresh is the other.

Thoughtful storage extends the life of delicate leaves and reduces unnecessary waste. Herb keepers such as the OXO Good Grips Greensaver Small Herb Keeper or the more spacious OXO Good Grips Greensaver Produce Keeper (1.5L) are designed to maintain optimal moisture balance while protecting herbs from bruising.

Both feature removable baskets that double as colanders for rinsing and include a carbon filter to absorb excess ethylene gas, helping herbs stay fresher for longer. When it’s time to refresh, compatible Carbon Filter Refills make ongoing use simple and practical.

Pairing fresh herb storage with neatly organised dried spices creates a kitchen that feels calm and intentional. The Kilner Clip Top Square Spice Jar Set (70ml) is a standout for everyday use. Crafted from durable sodalime glass for clarity and strength, each jar seals securely and comes presented in a wooden crate with labels and a recipe booklet, making organisation both practical and inspiring.

For benchtop seasoning, the GEFU X-Plosion Spice & Herb Shaker offers precise control with its rotating top for coarse or fine dispensing, while its airtight lid helps preserve flavour.

Clear jars, uniform containers and dedicated labels not only elevate your pantry visually, but they also:

• Speed up cooking
• Prevent duplicate purchases
• Keep flavours easy to find
• Make restocking simple

It’s a small shift that makes everyday meal prep noticeably smoother.

Browse the full range of Herb & Spice Storage at Chef’s Complements. 

Once your herbs are thriving, the right preparation tools make all the difference.

For quick, efficient chopping, the Eppicotispai Small Mezzaluna Herb Rocker uses a traditional rocking motion that’s ideal for parsley, coriander, and other leafy herbs.

For those who appreciate precision and balance, the Global G-76 Herb Chopper offers premium performance with its razor-sharp stainless steel blade. And when you simply need to snip herbs straight into a bowl or pan, the WMF Herb Scissors (12.5cm) make garnishing quick and fuss-free.

If you’re working with sturdier stems, the Prepara Herbs N’ Greens Cool Tool strips herbs and leafy greens with ease using a safe built-in blade and compact design. For processing larger harvests, the Avanti Lifestyle Rotary Herb Mill makes light work of chopping herbs for soups, stews, and sauces with speed and consistency.

Each tool serves a slightly different purpose, but they all encourage you to use herbs generously, which is exactly the point.

Fresh herbs naturally bring warmth and vitality to a kitchen, but you can lean into the theme even further.

The Ulster Weavers Herbs & Spices Collection adds a charming finishing touch to your space.

Choose the Biodegradable Oil Cloth Apron for easy wipe-clean practicality, or the 100% Cotton Apron for a softer, classic feel.

Pair it with the matching Double Oven Glove and Cotton Tea Towel for a cohesive look that celebrates the joy of home cooking.

It’s a subtle way to reflect your love of fresh ingredients… and a beautifully coordinated set like this also makes a thoughtful housewarming or sentimental gift.

From a single planter on the windowsill to a vertical herb hanger or a countertop sprouting jar, fresh flavour doesn’t require a large garden or complicated setup.

With thoughtful tools and clever storage, you can:

• Grow herbs year-round
• Harvest microgreens in days
• Keep ingredients fresher for longer
• Stay organised and clutter-free

When herbs are visible, accessible and easy to prepare, they become part of your everyday rhythm in the kitchen. Cooking feels lighter. Flavours feel brighter. Meals feel more intentional.

Fresh on the bench. Ready to use and enjoy!

For more inspiration, explore our Grow, Store & Season Pinterest board.

Shop all Herb & Spice products at Chef’s Complements.