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Drying Herbs

Do you have an abundance of beautiful herbs still growing in the garden and would love to continue enjoying them through out winter?  Drying Herbs is a great solution.

How To Dry Herbs | ahealthylifeforme.com

It is great to have dried herbs hanging close at hand that you can quickly trim and use in your cooking during those cold and chilly months, and a huge bonus is walking into a room to smell the lovely aromatics they give off as they dry. There is nothing like smelling Rosemary or Lavender when you walk into a room.   You can also make small bundles to tie onto presents during the holiday season, or imagine keeping a basket of bundled Rosemary by the fireplace that you could toss into the fire and enjoy its lovely aroma as it fill your room.

If you don’t have herbs maybe a friend does and would love someone to come over and do a trim up for them?  You can also purchase herbs at the farmers market or grocery store.  (I recommend organic, pesticide free if possible)

I cut Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sage and Lavender.  Herbs such as lovage, parsley and basil don’t dry well, and you will be disappointed with the end result.  When you head out to start harvesting take a tray or something to carry your cut herbs, scissors and rubber bands.  I prefer to tie my herbs as I cut.  That way all the removed leaves and cuttings are left in the garden, but this is strictly a personal decision.  Plus, I like to give any bugs a chance to evacuate before I head into the house.

 

When you go to cut try to cut in the morning and most importantly when herbs are dry (no dew or rainwater).  Also before you start cutting think about how you will be using the herbs.  Will you strictly be drying them to use in recipes, making a Herb Swag (which I will be posting how to do) or using as gifts, cut the length based on how you will use them?   Whatever your reason try to cut to a similar length.  Again think about what you will be using them for when you go to bind them.  More stems for a swag, less for a gift, but try to stick from no less than 4.  Hole your herbs together and twist the rubber band around the end securing tightly.

How To Dry Herbs | ahealthylifeforme.com

 

How many you use will also depend on how thick the herb’s stem  Thyme and Oregano have thinner stems, so put more per bundle than Rosemary and Lavender, which can have less.  Also, remove all leaves on the bottom where you will be wrapping them.  I secured my bundles using rubber bands because they are inexpensive and as the herbs dry they will shrink and the rubber band will keep tight.  If you use string or twist ties, the herbs may fall out of the tie once they shrink.

 

Once you have all your bundles tied you need to store them.  To keep them from collecting dust a lot of people say you have to cover them as the hang.  You can use a paper bag, paper towels, what ever you have on hand will work as long as it keeps the herbs dry and dust free.  If you’re using a paper bag, punch hole in bottom and use butcher twine to tie to rubber band around herbs and then thread string through hole in paper bag.  Attach string to whatever you plan to hang them.  I don’t do this, it takes too much time and really where would I hang all those bags?  I like to show them off as they dry.  I hang them from the handles from my cabinets that showcase my china, I make them into swags which allows me to hang a lot of herbs in one area.  My one rule is to make sure that the room I hang them in is dry and that no direct sunlight will be hitting them.  Direct light destroys the herbs essential oils.

How To Dry Herbs | ahealthylifeforme.com

Your herbs should be completely dry in about two weeks.  They are now ready to use.

Store your dried herbs in air tight containers. Zippered plastic bags will do. You can find some really cute spice jars to use and fill to give as gifts to family and friends over the holidays.  Be sure to label and date your containers.  Your herbs will retain more flavor if you store the leaves whole and crush them when you are ready to use them.

When cooking use about 1 teaspoon crumbled dried leaves in place of a tablespoon of fresh.

 

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14 comments on “Drying Herbs”

  1. Amy, you said most people cover the herbs when they dry them but then you said you do not cover yours. So how do you keep the dust off of them? Maybe I misunderstood.

    1. Linda, I haven’t had a problem with dust, so I prefer to not cover. If you have an area where you are prone to get a lot of dust, like a garage or cellar I would cover, but otherwise I don’t think it will be a problem.

  2. Just started an herb garden this year. Can you dry cilantro. I know you can purchase it dried. Love this herb.

    1. Kris,
      Yes, if you plan on using them for cooking and not just decoration. Make sure to lay them out in a single layer after you rinse and dry to make sure that there is no moisture trapped anywhere.
      Thanks for the question, Amy

  3. It’s too damp here to dry herbs in plastic bags so they go in the warming draw of the oven. Works perfectly.

    1. How long do you leave them in the warming drawer? I am trying to dry peppers in my warming drawer, and its not been a great success.

  4. Avatar photo
    gardensunshine

    Love your photos as always. Your herbs look so much healthier than mine!
    I started freezing most of mine. Parsley freezes very well and will last many months that way.

    1. I’ve never tried freezing Parsley. Do you individual freeze then store in a bag or just throw it all in a bag at once?

      1. Avatar photo
        gardensunshine

        I chop it up and put in a ziplock or freezer proof tupperware, then I can just grab a handful when cooking.

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