Drying herbs is a great way of making your summer herb garden last all year long. Drying herbs is not only fun, but it is also economic. Here are some tips on drying fresh herbs in your home. The first part of drying herbs in your home is harvesting the herbs you would like to dry.
1. Remember to use a strong pair of scissors or a sharp knife. A razor blade is also a good alternative when harvesting herbs. Perennials can be cut down very far because they will grow back next year. Annual herb plants can be cut all the way down or even pulled out of the ground.
2. Lavender flowers should be cut when the flowers are half open.
3. Another important thing when harvesting your herbs is to remove the dirt. A good method I have found to clean fresh herbs that doesn't bruise the leaves is to spray the plant and shake off the excess water. When drying lemon balm it is important not to bruise the leaves because this will decrease the flavor.
4. After the leaves are cleaned cut or pull a few off the bottom of the stems so that an inch at least is bare, and tie a string lightly around the bottom. Remember that you don't want too many pieces of herb in a bundle, and I like to group 6 to 12 pieces depending on how big the leaves on each stalk are.
5. Now find a dry, well ventilated area that is secluded to hang your herbs. It is also important to make sure the area you hang your herbs is also dark.
6. A good tip for drying herbs is putting your herbs in a brown paper bag that has a few holes punched in it; mint is especially good if dried in a brown paper bag because it helps keep the flavor.
7. Herbs should take about 1 week to a month to dry, and they can be checked by seeing if the stems snap. When the leaves are thoroughly dried they will be crumbly to the touch. Pull off the leaves and put them in air tight bottles. Remember to label these jars.
8. There are a few important tips to remember when drying herbs. It is essential to not get the herbs too wet. If you get the herbs too wet they might mildew, and your herbs will be ruined.
9. Another thing to keep in mind is that the herbs will have as much potency as possible if they are picked in the morning.
10. Drying herbs is good for herbs that have high moisture content such as oregano, dill, and bay, but low moisture herbs such as basil and chives should be frozen to maximize flavor.
Now you know the basics for drying fresh herbs in your home so have fun and enjoy the flavor of your favorite herbs all year long!
