Drying Herbs

Fresh herbs have many great qualities, and when they are dried correctly many of the properties are preserved.

Harvesting, drying, and storing herbs should be done correctly in order to get the most out of the herbs you want to preserve.

It's always handy to have dried herbs on hand, especially when fresh ones may be out of season.

Although different types of plants require their own processes for harvesting, drying, and storage, below is basic information about how to deal with herbs.

How to harvest herbs

When cutting off the portion of the herb you want to preserve, make sure to use a sharp knife or pair of scissors. A clean cut will prevent the herbs from loosing any oils and chemicals that make it valuable.

You will want the herbs to be clean of insects and dirt, but avoid running them under water unless absolutely necessary. Try spraying them with a misting spray bottle instead, in order to prevent mildew from forming during the drying process.

Remove any dead leaves or damaged tissue, and only keep the portions of the herb that are in good condition. Once the herbs are harvested, it is important to process them as soon as possible.

If you plan on drying them, you will want to get them ready for the drying process in order to prevent any oils from being lost.

How to dry herbs

If you decide to dry your herbs, you will want to make sure you have a cool, moisture-free environment for them.

Tie your herbs in bunches of about ten, and then hang them upside down from the ceiling.

Rooms that may become humid or tend to steam up should be avoided, such as a bathroom or kitchen. A fan works well at keeping the room well ventilated, which can prevent fungus from growing on the herbs during the drying process.

When herbs are hung to dry, allow 1 to 3 weeks for the herbs to complete the drying process.

If you want to dry your herbs but don't have three weeks, there are many other ways to go about it.

You can dry your herbs in your microwave oven, but it usually takes practice to determine how long you should put each type of herb in for.

Place your herbs between two paper towels, and place on medium power for about 1 to 2 minutes. Experiment and find out the best time for each type of herb, because it varies from microwave to microwave.

You can use your oven as well for drying herbs, since it allows you to dry large quantities all at once.

Place brown paper with slits on top of the oven racks, and place your herbs directly on the paper. The slits will allow air to pass through the herbs, and leaving the oven door open a crack will allow the moisture to escape.

Dry at max. 35 degrees Celsius (95 F) till your herbs are completely dry.

How to Store Herbs

The best place to store dried herbs is in airtight containers, such as jars or plastic containers.

Dark glass is better for storing herbs than clear glass, but don't worry about spending additional money if you only have clear glass jars in your home.

You will want to store them in a dry and cool location, especially away from direct sunlight.

It's important to store similar herbs together and label them correctly - along with the date they were stored in order to maintain complete freshness for an entire year.

Locations that contain moisture or excessive heat should be completely avoided, since they can take away some of the amazing properties that dried herbs have to offer.

Freezing is another popular method for storing your herbs, but it only works for specific herbs. Soft-leaved herbs such as basil or parsley benefit from this storage method, while other herbs such as chives must be frozen since they cannot be dried.

You can place your herbs into freezer bags for storage, or even place them in ice cube trays with water and use them whenever needed.

They can last for three months when frozen, so this method should only be performed if you plan to use your dried herbs within that period of time.

Placing dried herbs in bottles of oil is not only a great way to store them, but they can also double as a decoration for your kitchen or any other room in your home.

Olive oil usually works best, but other oils work great as well.

The dried herbs will flavour the oil that can be used for cooking, or you can remove the herbs when you are ready to use them.

When stored in oil, use your dried herbs within six months of drying them.