| How To Dry Herbs Tips for Drying Herbs |
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Whether you grow your own herbs, or bought more from the market than you can use at one time,
drying herbs can be an easy and practical way to store them for later use.
Below is a list of many common herbs that can be air dried using the following simple instructions.
drying herbs can be an easy and practical way to store them for later use.
Below is a list of many common herbs that can be air dried using the following simple instructions.
Harvesting
There are a wide variety of herbs that can be dried, and of course they all have different recommended
stages at which they should be harvested. To make it easy for you, we have created a chart that shows
this information. To see it please click on How to Harvest Herbs
Using a very sharp knife or garden scissors cut your stems. Do not pick them as it will cause bruising on
the stem and a place for decomposition to start. Leave an extra inch or two at the bottom of your herbs
for bundling.
Harvest your herbs in the late morning when all the dew has had a chance to dry. This helps to prevent
mildew
Visually inspect the herbs. Remove any bugs or damaged leaves or flowers with your sharp knife before
drying.
Bundling
Open Method
Using a rubber band near the cut end of the herbs, gather 5 to 7 stalks together and attach together.
You want your bundled end to be very secure as stalks shrink during the drying process. Yet you want
the other end loose enough to ensure air flow through out the bundle.
*Note: Green Onions and Garlic are hung by the tops with the bulbs hanging down. The tops can be
braided together for hanging.
There are a wide variety of herbs that can be dried, and of course they all have different recommended
stages at which they should be harvested. To make it easy for you, we have created a chart that shows
this information. To see it please click on How to Harvest Herbs
Using a very sharp knife or garden scissors cut your stems. Do not pick them as it will cause bruising on
the stem and a place for decomposition to start. Leave an extra inch or two at the bottom of your herbs
for bundling.
Harvest your herbs in the late morning when all the dew has had a chance to dry. This helps to prevent
mildew
Visually inspect the herbs. Remove any bugs or damaged leaves or flowers with your sharp knife before
drying.
Bundling
Open Method
Using a rubber band near the cut end of the herbs, gather 5 to 7 stalks together and attach together.
You want your bundled end to be very secure as stalks shrink during the drying process. Yet you want
the other end loose enough to ensure air flow through out the bundle.
*Note: Green Onions and Garlic are hung by the tops with the bulbs hanging down. The tops can be
braided together for hanging.
Anise
Basil
Bay Leaves
Celery Leaves
Chervil
Chili Peppers
Chives
Cumin
Dill
Fennel
File Powder (Sassafras)
Garlic
Green Onions
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
Tarragon
Thyme
Basil
Bay Leaves
Celery Leaves
Chervil
Chili Peppers
Chives
Cumin
Dill
Fennel
File Powder (Sassafras)
Garlic
Green Onions
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
Tarragon
Thyme
Drying
Hang your herbs by the rubber band or string onto your drying rack.
Drying times vary from a few days to a couple weeks. You will know your herbs are dry when they
crumble easily.
Locate your drying rack in a dark warm room, garage or walk in closet. Or you may place your herbs in
a covered porch or patio if herbs are bundled in paper bags even out side under a shade tree will work
if you are willing to bring them inside every evening. Your goal is to keep herbs out of direct sunlight yet
in a place with good air circulation.
Your herbs are dry when the leave easily crumble.
Seeds will be released during the drying process place newspaper under your drying rack to keep
seeds off the floor and to make gathering easier for next years garden.
If you dried your herbs by the bag method your seeds should be already collected for you in the bottom
of the bag. Simply cut the sides off your bag where the wholes begin. Fold the bottom of your bag
together. Tape your bag closed and label your bag for easy storage and planting next spring.
Storing
Store your herbs in small glass jars with tight fitting lids. Keep the jars out of the light, away from heat
and out of your refrigerator.
Enjoy your herbs all year round!
Hang your herbs by the rubber band or string onto your drying rack.
Drying times vary from a few days to a couple weeks. You will know your herbs are dry when they
crumble easily.
Locate your drying rack in a dark warm room, garage or walk in closet. Or you may place your herbs in
a covered porch or patio if herbs are bundled in paper bags even out side under a shade tree will work
if you are willing to bring them inside every evening. Your goal is to keep herbs out of direct sunlight yet
in a place with good air circulation.
Your herbs are dry when the leave easily crumble.
Seeds will be released during the drying process place newspaper under your drying rack to keep
seeds off the floor and to make gathering easier for next years garden.
If you dried your herbs by the bag method your seeds should be already collected for you in the bottom
of the bag. Simply cut the sides off your bag where the wholes begin. Fold the bottom of your bag
together. Tape your bag closed and label your bag for easy storage and planting next spring.
Storing
Store your herbs in small glass jars with tight fitting lids. Keep the jars out of the light, away from heat
and out of your refrigerator.
Enjoy your herbs all year round!
OR
Paper Bag Method
Using paper lunch sacks that you have
prepared by cutting a couple dozen half
inch holes in on the sides of the bag,
not the bottom or within 1 inch of the
bottom, place your herbs in the sack.
You will want the 1 to 2 inch of your
stalks to be outside of the opening of
your bag. Then using your rubber
band or a piece of string secure the
open end of bag to the stalks.
Do not bundle different herbs together
as their flavors and fragrances will
transfer to each other during the drying
process.
Paper Bag Method
Using paper lunch sacks that you have
prepared by cutting a couple dozen half
inch holes in on the sides of the bag,
not the bottom or within 1 inch of the
bottom, place your herbs in the sack.
You will want the 1 to 2 inch of your
stalks to be outside of the opening of
your bag. Then using your rubber
band or a piece of string secure the
open end of bag to the stalks.
Do not bundle different herbs together
as their flavors and fragrances will
transfer to each other during the drying
process.
| Also see our other free guides on How to Dry Flowers and also Drying Herbs for Teas |