Best Way to Dry Herbs | Gardening

By ManuelWiggins
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Best Way of Drying Herbs and Maintain the Quality

Herbs are a great compliment to many recipes but buying dried herbs in the super market may mean you are buying a lower quality product that has been hanging around on the shelf for a long time. If you learn how to dry herbs from your own garden you will ensure that you have the best quality.

One of the easiest ways to dry herbs is to air dry them and this slow drying process which doesn't rob the herbs of their natural oils, works best with herbs that don't have a high moisture content, like oregano, bay, and thyme.

Best Way to Air Dry Herbs

It can cut herbs in the mid morning, as soon as confirming that the dew has dried. It must remove any insect damage or disease leaves. Herbs can put under cool water. Four or five small bundles of the herbs may be made. They may tied with string or using a band of rubber. Herbs bundles can be hanged in a ventilated place and left to be dried.

Some people prefer to place the bundled herbs in a paper bag as this helps to protect them from dust and the bag also catches any leaves that might fall off when they dry. Brown paper lunch bags work great for drying small bundles of herbs and are readily available. Simply cut or punch several holes in the paper bag. Place the herbs upside down in the bag and tie closed. Hang as normal. Check on the herbs in a couple of weeks. Leaves will be crispy and crumple between the fingers when dry.

How to Dry Herbs Using a Dehydrator

In fact the drying of herbs that include more moistures such as mint, chives or basil, will be better if a food dehydrator or freezing are used. Getting a dehydrator is a good way of drying, since it is faster and easier way. It maintains the high quality of herbs due to the controlling of temperature and air touring. Herbs may be placed after rinsing, in a layer on the dehydrator trays. Times of drying are different, according to contents of moisture, leaves' thickness, and quantities of drying per a time. Considering that herbs may be dried as soon as leaves become crisp and stems brittle.

Best Way to Store Dried Herbs

Store herbs after having dried, is important in order to maintain their freshness. There are many methods to store herbs, such as small plastic bags or jars. It must avoid light and heat. As soon as learning the ways of drying herbs, it will be considered as the first step towards being skillful cookers.

About the Author

Manuel Wiggins includes information and resources on his website about Herbs , and you can find more about Herb Gardens

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