Drying herbs

[booger]

I cut a bunch of herbs the other day, bundled them with rubber bands, and have them hanging on the clothesline to dry. Now I'm reading that drying in the sun is not a good thing to do. How do you dry your herbs? We can't do it inside here. Don't ask. No dehydrator yet, either, but it's on our list.

Most of the leaves are drying nicely, staying a greenish color. Some of the leaves, however, are turning icky brown. Will they all turn nasty like that if dried in the sun?

What other herb-drying tips do you have?

 

[nchomemaker]

I use my electric oven on warm setting for a few minutes then turning it off. I'll do that a couple times and most herbs are dried in a few hours.
I first wash the herbs in a dunk bath a couple times then drain and lay out on a big towel on the table. Depending on the herb, I take the leaves off the stems then lay them on cookie sheets and into the warmed oven.
I'm having good success with this.
Parsley dries nicely just put into a paper lunch bag into the fridge for a few days.
Dill seed heads I've put upside down in a paper grocery bag and shake it a few times a day for a few days.

 

[goatlady2]

I've found my herbs dry best laid on screens individually in the shade. Expecially do not bundle herbs tht have fat, thick stems - the leaves will get crisp and the stems are still full of moisture and will mold the leaves if packed together. Only dry the parts you will be using. Set the old window screens on bricks, boards, or whatever you have to raise them off the ground so the air can circulate underneath.

 

[booger]

Thanks!

No oven right now. Tried the screen thing before but bugs got into it after the dogs knocked it over. I have grand plans to build a screened box with screened, removable shelves but I never seem to get around to it. Guess I'll have to if I ever want decent dried herbs. Either that or make the dogs disappear.

 

[Vicki]

Hi booger and all! When I dry my herbs I bundle them in no more than 7 stems at a time and take a strip of masking tape, twirl it around the end to secure it, write what it is on the tape left and stick it upside down to whatever is available out of the sun. I usually use the sides of my hutch and have also hung them from a string tied across the garage like a clothesline. I also sometimes just take small paper bags outside with me and fill them with loose herbs. I then label the bag and sometimes punch a few holes in it or I leave it loosely folded. The herbs dry well all of those ways. When you're collecting seeds as well I hang like above with tape and place a bag over the seed heads and like nchomemaker, I hit the bag a few times when I walk by it to help the seeds fall in the bag. Once dried, I usually leave the herb in leaf form and put it in glass canning jars labeled of course. The more you chop them or grind them up, the less shelf life they will have. As for roots, I wash and chop them immediately and place them between paper towels and stick them somewhere my cats and dog won't knock them over. I write with markers right on the paper towel what they are and in a week or so they go in the canning jars as well. I'm glad you asked because I really need to get harvesting some and maybe this will give me a heads up tomorrow while I'm out there weeding.

Vicki

 

[booger]

Thanks, Vicki. I'm going to start getting my groceries put in paper bags for a while so I can do the herbs that way. (Unless I suddenly find the time and motivation to make my little herb drying cage.)

When dried, do most leaves retain their color? I don't mean vibrant, alive green but a general green tint. The brown leaves just don't seem very appealing. Can you tell I've not dried much stuff before? I know the dried herbs from the store retain their color but have no idea if that's from chemicals they put on them.

 

[Flagwaver]

Booger and me learning together!

After you all answer Booger's questions, please let me know how long the herbs have lasted in your jars?

I dried some basil last year and put it in a jar, but it looks a tad fuzzy so I wondered if it may have possibly grown some mold. I don't see how it could have because I dried it fully, but it just looks....well, uh, a tad off?

 

[Gingergirl]

Booger,
I dry in the dehydrator, but they do keep much of their green. Its the fast dry that retains color, not chemicals.

Flagwaver,
Try conditioning your dried herbs before storing, especially if vacumn packing. If I have room, I store most of them (that I don't keep by the stove) in the frig or freezer.

 

[Vicki]

The more they hold their color and smell, the better. Different herbs have different shelf life but in general I'd say storing them out of light, heat and moisture will keep most dried leaf and root about two years. When fine ground like most culinary spices, they are only good for 6 months to a year. Smell em! lol If they have no smell or not much taste, throw them out and replace them. Rule of thumb, fresh is best, dried is next, tinctures for endurance of time.

Vicki