All it takes is a cabinet.
After trying my hand at herb gardening (see my post here for more on that), I’ve been thinking of different ways to make good use of the culinary plants that have (thankfully!) survived and thrived. One way to make the goodness last, especially with the winter months coming up, is drying fresh herbs.
Of course, I could buy any dried herb from the grocery store, but there are several benefits of doing it at home: 1) fresher taste for longer, 2) more natural (since I haven’t sprayed preservative chemicals on my plants), and 3) more cost-efficient.
Thanks to my trusty handbook, Herb Gardening for Dummies, I learned the basic steps to drying fresh herbs at home.
1. Choose the space. A dark, dry, warm environment is best. I used a pantry cupboard.
2. Prepare the space. Using some kitchen twine and duck tape, I made a small line from which to hang my herbs. I also gathered clothespins and rubber bands to bunch and hang them (see next step).
3. Harvest the herbs. Gather them in bunches with some garden shears or scissors. Be generous — a bunch of fresh herbs will dry up to a much smaller amount — but don’t remove more than one-third of the plant. For those who don’t have an herb garden, try buying fresh herbs at the grocery store and drying them yourself. You’ll still get a much fresher taste than store-bought dried herbs.
4. Gather and hang the herbs. Use rubber bands to bind the stems together. This works better than string, since the rubber band will shrink with the stems as they dry.
5. Close off the drying space and wait. Check every few days. Some herbs will take longer than others, but they should feel flaky and crisp when done.
6. Store dried herbs. Scrape the dried leaves off the stems and pour them into an airtight container such as a glass jar or sealable plastic bag. Place them in a dark cabinet to preserve freshness.
My first round of herb drying was an overall success (and I even used some of the dried oregano in a rice dish later that week!). The yield was much smaller than expected, so next time, I’ll try adding more lines and gathering more branches for my drying cabinet.
Happy drying, and happy homemaking!
Further Reading
Karan Davis Cutler et al., “Chapter 11: Harvesting and Preserving,” Herb Gardening for Dummies, 2nd ed.
