How can I dry herbs?

Another email question asks, “How can I dry herbs?”

There are many ways and one way is with Culinary Salts.  Sturdy herbs such as rosemary, lemon thyme, savory, oregano and marjoram; fragile herbs don’t work well with regular drying so just spread herbs on cookie sheet; cover with salt; add another layer of herbs and salt.  Completely dry either sitting out for about a week in a cool, dark place or in the oven on low or with the light on; then pour everything into a food processor or blender to combine and store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

You can blend parsley, thyme and lemon zest; garlic, rosemary and sage; savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano to make Herbes de Provence.

You can try bundling Herbs and best for quick-drying, tougher herbs such as mints (except apple mint), rosemary, thyme and sage.  Try using rubber bands to secure 12 to 15 stems into a bundle and hang in a cool, airy room away from direct sunlight.  If it’s humid, finish in oven on lowest heat or with just the oven light on.  Once totally dry, strip leaves from stems, keeping leaves as whole as possible, and store in a jar with a lid.

I use a dehydrator.

If you try screen-drying herbs it is best for small or delicate herbs such as lovage, parsley and basil (herbs that typically “don’t dry well”).  I would use old window screens or muslin over a picture frame and then put herbs in a cool, shady place until dry, about a week.  Turn after a few days so they dry evenly. This is easier if you put herbs between two screens on top and bottom.

You can make herb sugars once your herbs are dried or even before then with fresh herbs.
Just take 1 cup sugar + 2 tablespoons dried herb or 4 tablespoons fresh herb and wrap herb(s) in cheesecloth or a cloth tea bag and set it on top of sugar in a wide-mouth canning jar. Shake. Let sit for four weeks, shaking every few days and you can use it then to make cookies: try lavender, peppermint, spearmint, ginger, lemon balm, hibiscus, clove.   For teas try spearmint, ginger, cinnamon, lemon balm and for cocktails try peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, ginger, lavender, hibiscus, or lemongrass.

May the Creative Force be with you as you tread the earth lightly!

Home Farm Herbery