An Easy Technique to Dry Fresh Herbs

Herbs add excellent flavor to any dish! They are easy to grow and have an aromatic scent that fills the air with fresh fragrance. I’ve got mint growing right now in my back flower bed and I love running my hands through the leaves to smell the refreshing scent!

Drying fresh herbs is a simple and fun process. More than likely you will have all the needed supplies on hand around your home. It’s also an economically savvy food preservation strategy. By drying your own herbs, you can save money and be environmentally friendly!

Supplies:

• Airtight containers
• Garden Scissors or Purners
• Markers or Labels
• Paper bag
• Paper towels
• String or elastic bands

Instructions:

1. Gather your herb clippings.
2. Remove any dry or diseased leaves from the cut herbs. Also look for bugs that might be a few tucked away.
3. Make sure the herbs are dry and dirt free. Rinse with cool water if needed. Then place somewhere the leaves will get plenty of air circulation so they can dry out completely.
4. Discard the lower leaves along the bottom inch or so of the stem. You can use these leaves fresh or dry them separately.
5. Bundle four to six stems together and tie as a bunch with a string or rubber band. The drying process works best with smaller bundles. The bundles will shrink as they dry and the rubber band will loosen, so check periodically to make sure that the bundle is not slipping.
6. Pierce holes in a paper bag, then label the bag with the name of the herb you are drying.
7. Place the herb bundle upside down into the bag. Secure the bag by gathering the end around the bundle and tie it closed. Make sure the herbs are not crowded inside the bag. *You do not have to use a paper bag but it does help keep the herbs clean from debris.
8. Hang the bag upside down in a warm, open room.
9. Check in about two weeks to see how things are progressing. Keep checking weekly until your herbs are dry enough to crumble and ready to store.

 

Once dried and stored in sealed containers, herbs will retain good flavor for up to one year. Now you have fresh dried herbs ready to add flavor to your favorite dish!