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Garden Gate:  Drying Herbs  |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 04 2008 : 3:27:35 PM
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Does anyone have any advise on drying herbs? I got this bright idea that I would wash the herbs then pull off the leaves. Well the one I started with, Oregeno, the leaves were wet and stuck to everything. My hubby walked in and couldnt beleive the mess. I let it all dry b4 trying to clean it as it smeared the coloring everywhere I wiped.
I have basil, rosemary, sage, thyme,oregano. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2008 : 4:07:41 PM
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I don't ever wash mine before drying. I don't use pesticides and I figure "a little dirt don't hurt". You can tie the stems with the leaves attached into little bundles and hang upside down is a "cool" place until dry. You can then pick off the leaves and crumble them to the desired size or you can use a coffee grinder (designated only for spices) to blend them up. I have taken basil leaves and layed them in single layers between two old window screens before as well. I keep this on the table inside our gazebo - out of the direct sunlight. Check them everyday - turning if necessary. Then crumble like before.
You can also take fresh spices and place them into the cups of an ice cube tray, fill with water and freeze. Then put the individual cubs into a big freezer bag. When you make soup or sauces just throw the cubes right in and the herbs with mix right in. You could make little spice blends or freeze each herb seperatly.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 10:56:20 AM
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Kim,
Sorry you had such a bad adventure with the herb drying...do try it again! I use snips or scissor to harvest the stems, then rinse them at least once in clear water (2nd rinse might be needed if the first rinse water is particularly dirty). Every once in a while, usually with oregano which grows close to the ground, I will need a third rinse. Dry gently in paper towels or thin linen or cotton towels. Then I lay the stems with leaves out on trays, racks or screens and/or bunches hanging from anything you can find to hold the bundles. The important thing is for air to be able to circulate around the herbs as they dry. Flip the herbs or rotate them every half day or so, and usually the herbs will dry in 3 days, give or take. Test them for dryness by crumbling a leaf or two; they should be crunchy-dry, not tender/soft at all.
Then you can pull the leaves off, discard the stems, and store in glass jars with good lids. Ziplocks and plastic are okay for short storage or transport (mailing to fellow farmgirls!) but glass is best for long term storage. I usually leave the leaves as whole as possible, as they will stay freshest that way. When you go to use them, take an amount of the leaves from the jar, then crumble to release the scent/flavor as you add them to your recipes.
A new tip I just read about is to use your crockpot to dry herbs in just a few hours versus days in the open air. I've done this with good success twice now. The instructions are to arrange your herbs loosely in the crockpot, leave lots of air space, and leave the lid OFF. Sift or turn the herbs every hour or two, and then when they feel pretty dry, just turn the crockpot off and leave them for another few hours.
Good luck with your efforts! You will love the dried oregano once you've got it on hand...just hang in there!
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 11:37:56 AM
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I just posted over in another topic about how I dry herbs. I use my dehydrator. Cut, rinse, dry in salad spinner and place on dehydrator trays. They will be dry in just 2 or 3 hours. I store them 'on the stem'. I read somewhere that they will stay fresher on the stem or at least not crushed.
Jo, I store my dried herbs in zip-lock bags. Maybe I shouldn't do that? When I blend my herbs for special recipe's, I store them in a dark brown jar. |
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lacisne88
True Blue Farmgirl
1181 Posts
Chelsey
Lake Stevens
Washington
USA
1181 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 2:55:50 PM
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Julie, I love the icecube idea! I've never heard that but I am going to try that next. What a great way to use herbs and keep them longer as well!
Chelsey
Farmgirl Sister #283
http://farmgirlpleasures.blogspot.com/ |
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 08:52:51 AM
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Belle, I am glad to hear you use the Ziploks - no issues over the long-term period, or do they get used up pretty fast in your house? I think keeping them on the stem works, too, I go back a forth depending how much room I have to store them, and my mood at the time (time to pick, pick, pick, or no time, so rush, rush rush)
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
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Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 10:42:59 AM
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| Freezing basil in icecube trays is the only way to go....super easy! |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4740 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2008 : 7:22:09 PM
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Even though my garden is organic, I like to wash everything before we use it. I use my salad spinner to dry my herbs after I wash them. The salad spinner does a great job, I leave the herbs on the stem when I wash & dry them. This way they don't slip between the strainers slats.
Dawn in IL |
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Garden Gate: Drying Herbs |
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Drying Herbs
