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Herbal Wisdom:  Infusing Herbs in Oils  |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 17 2005 : 09:31:10 AM
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I would like to start making my own infused oils. I've been reading up on the topic. Just wondered if any of the experienced gals would like to share tips or methods. One question I have is how long of a shelf life do they have. Do you need to add a natural preservative?
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2005 : 4:53:11 PM
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Hi, I have infused herbs in vinegar but not oil. I have many herb books including an encyclopedia of herbs & it seems you pretty much do it the same way but vinegar is a better preserative. I'll give you 4 steps I know to make oil & you can check it with other info you've been reading about. It's from the book; Practical Herb Garden, page 86, author is Jessica Houdret. step 1 put a good hanful of herbs or flower heads into a clean glass jar, single herb or a mixture that goes well together. Crush gently to release the oils. Step 2 pour in a mild vegetable oil (xtra virgin olive oil NOT suitable, too strong) until the herbs are covered fully.Cover jar & stand in a warm place like a sunny windowsill for about a week. Step 3 After about a week, strain off the herbs, replace with fresh herbs and leave it to infuse for another week. You can repeat this process until the flavormis stronger. Step 4 Remove the herbs, pour oil into a clean sterilized bottle with an airtight lid. The oil will keep for a few weeks if extra flowers have been added, OR 6 months without extra flowers. TIPS; use good quality mild-flavored oil like sunflower or safflower. Always cover herbs completely with oil during infusion process otherwise left out bits will detetiorate & ruin the quality. It's important to remove plant material before storage, if left it will start to decay the oil and become cloudy and sour. I hope this helps. Let me know how you make out. Michele
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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verbina
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
randi
n.j
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2005 : 12:23:45 PM
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| hi michaele, does farmingdale still have that cuite antique shop by firehouse? randi |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2005 : 12:53:32 PM
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Hi Randi, yes, they have one across the street also, Milk Can Antiques, she is somewhat expensive though, I like the other better. Michele
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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GardenWitch
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Michelle
Gaston
OR
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2006 : 09:05:51 AM
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I found this on Susun Weed's site:
"MAKING INFUSED HERBAL OILS
To make an infused herbal oil you will need the following supplies:
• Fresh plant material
• Scissors or a knife
• A clean dry jar with a tight lid
• Some olive oil
• A label and pen; a small bowl
Harvest your plant material in the heat of the day, after the sun has dried the dew. It is best to wait at least 36 hours after the last rain before harvesting plants for infused oils. Wet plant materials will make moldy oils. To prevent this, some people dry their herbs and then put them in oil. I find this gives an inferior quality product in most cases.
Coarsely chop the roots, leaves, or flowers of your chosen plant. Fill your jar completely full of the chopped plant material. Add olive oil until the jar is completely full. (Patience and a chopstick are useful tools at this point.)
Tightly lid the jar. Label it. Put it in a small bowl (to collect seepage and over-runs). Your infused oil is ready to use in six weeks."
I'm not sure about shelf life, I'm looking for info, but I think if you keep them in a cool place they keep a long time. And I'm sure the refrigerator would increase that too, although I don't know if that would affect the potency?
I've made rosemary infused oil and Douglas Fir infused oil, and both were HEAVENLY. I was not as successful with dandelion blossoms, however. I'm going to try again this summer.
One tip I was given--let the herbs sit for a few hours after you pick them. Bugs will crawl away and they'll dry out just a little, decreasing the possibility of too much water making the oil go funky. And it's very important to check them every day or two at first and poke out the air bubbles. I use the handle of a wooden spoon instead of a chopstick, easier to move the herbs in my opinion.
Good luck!
(the whole article that I quoted from is at http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/February05/healingwise.htm)
To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves. --Gandhi
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Edited by - GardenWitch on Jan 24 2006 09:08:01 AM |
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ladybugsmom6
True Blue Farmgirl
128 Posts
Tami
Horicon
WI
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2006 : 3:20:17 PM
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Do you use these oils for cooking, or for massage??
-Tami
now ladybugsmom7, the newest farm girl Danielle elizabethwas born March23, Danielle Elizabeth |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 2:16:25 PM
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I am so glad I was reading through old posts! I have been meaning to do this lately so I can have nice flavored oils to rub into my roasts and such. I am just about to plant my herb garden for the year. I think I will make sure to plant some plants that will make good oils too!
Alee |
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EnchantedWoodsGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
959 Posts
Kathy
New Jersey
USA
959 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2007 : 5:11:35 PM
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I am making dandelion mixed with wood violet infused oil for breast massage. Danelions are supposed to be really good for your breast and cystic breasts.
I also have some chickweed infusing in olive oil that I will make a ointment out of.
Love making things like this! So far so good with the dandelion flowers in the oil, I did add a few squeezed caps of vitamin e to the mix though.
Here is Susun Weeds forum, check it out lots of interesting stuff on there
http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/index.php
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood
http://enchantedwoodmusings.blogspot.com/
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2007 : 5:58:03 PM
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Kathy-
Sounds like a really nice oil. Let us know how it turns out! :)
Alee |
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Herbal Wisdom: Infusing Herbs in Oils |
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Infusing Herbs in Oils
