Herbs - Drying Herbs

Herbs

Cooking With Herbs / Growing Herbs / Drying Herbs / Storing Herbs

Drying Herbs

If the herbs come from your own garden and you know that they haven't been exposed to pesticides or other chemicals, you only need to inspect them for insects and dirt. If they aren't dirty, there is no need to wash them. It is much easier to handle dry herbs than wet ones. If the herbs are store-bought or contain dirt, you will need to wash them and pat them dry with paper towels before drying. Make sure you dry them well, because wet herbs can mold.

Cilantro Hung to Dry

Herbs Drying on a Rack

Air drying

Tie a bunch of herbs (about 4 to 6 sprigs) together with a string and hang them indoors, upside down in a dry, warm spot, but not in direct sunlight. You can also dry them by lying them on a wire rack (like the ones you use to cool baked goods). Make sure there is good air circulation, so the herbs don't get moldy. Basements are usually too damp. They will take a few days to up to a week to dry. The herbs are ready to be used when the leaves crumble easily when you crush them between your fingers.

Oven Drying

Place the herbs on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven on the lowest setting until the herbs are dried. This can take anywhere between 15 minutes to a few hours. Check them and turn them over every now and then to make sure they don't become too dry or burn.

Food Dehydrator

Follow the instructions that come with the food dehydrator. Food dehydrators usually come with several shelves on which you can dry the herbs.

Dried Thyme

Basil Drying In Paper Bag
in Refrigerator

Refrigerator Drying

You can dry herbs in the refrigerator by placing them on one of the shelves (not in the bins) in a paper bag. This method will take several weeks, but works well for herbs like basil, dill, mint, rosemary and tarragon.
Microwave Drying

Place a single layer of herbs on a paper towel and microwave them. Check them every 30 seconds to see if they are done. It usually takes about 2 minutes. This method does not work well for all herbs. Some herbs will become too dry and lose their flavor. It works best for basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, tarragon and thyme. The quality however, will be less good than with the other methods.

Seed Drying

When you have harvested seed heads (see Growing Herbs), you can dry them by lying them on a wire rack. Unlike with herbs, seed heads are allowed to dry in direct sunlight. When the heads are completely dry, you can remove the seeds.
Storing

After drying, you can store the herbs in an airtight glass container (see Storing Herbs). You can crumble them up or store the herbs whole. Whole dried herbs can be crumbled up when you need them and will keep their flavor longer. If you see any sign of moisture in the container, you should remove the herbs and dry them a bit longer (a few minutes in the oven should be enough). Make sure the herbs aren't moldy yet.

Coriander Seeds