How to dry your own herbs at home so you don't ever cringe at the price of spices in the grocery store again. Some brands are as much as ten dollars for a small jar. I decided I was no longer going to pay those kind of prices and determined to start growing some of my own herbs.
Cooking with fresh herbs is amazing. The depth of flavor is so much more than the dried version, but if you live in a climate that has cooler (or down right frigid at times) winters, then not all of your garden herbs are available year round. So like any true pioneer, we're preserving our herbs for use during the winter.
When to harvest herbs for drying
Harvesting and drying herbs is best done in the morning. They have the highest concentration of oils in their leaves at this time of day, you want to harvest right after the dew has dried but before the sun begins to heat up the air and plant. Basil is the exception and can be picked a bit later in the morning.
Lightly rinse your herbs to remove any dust or other unseen debris. I'm sure you practice organic gardening at home, so we don't have to worry about any icky chemicals or pesticides. Place herbs on an absorbent towel to suck up the rinse water.
There are two ways to dry herbs, one is using a dehydrator and the other is the old fashioned hanging method. Because we're so damp in the Pacific Northwest this time of year, I use the dehydrator.
How to dry herbs without a dehydrator
Old fashioned method. Tie the ends of no more than four to five stalks of herbs together. Hang the bunches upside down in a warm dry area, out of direct sunlight. Allow to dry until leaves crumble at your touch. Depending upon the moisture content in your leaves and the climate, this can take anywhere from a week to a month.
Best temperature to dehydrate herbs
Herbs are best dried at 95 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if you want to use them for medicinal purposes later. If you live in an area with high humidity, you may need to increase the temperature slightly, but try to stay as low as possible.
After a ton of research, I purchased my Nesco Square Dehydrator due to it's design to hold more food per tray than the circle varieties and the price point. I've had my Nesco for 5+ years and love it. We've done fruit leather, jerky, candied apples, and herbs so far. I've ran it for two days straight without any problem and it's extremely quite.
Dehydrator method. Place your herbs in a single layer on your dehydrator tray, making sure they're not touching. Because the herbs will shrink dramatically when dried, I use my fruit leather screens Nesco SQM-2-6 Clean-a-Screen for FD-80 and FD-80A Series Square Dehydrators You want to make sure there's enough between the herbs for the air to circulate.
Because herbs don't transfer flavors when drying, you can dry them together. I had four trays going at once with chocolate mint, spearmint, oregano, basil, and thyme.
How to tell when herbs are dehydrated
Dehydrating times for herbs will vary depending on the size of the leaves and the moisture content. Some will be done in 12 to 24 hours and others may take several days.
To test, take a leaf between your thumb and pointer finger. It should crunch and crumble when pressed. Leave the leaf in the largest form for storage and grind up right before use. The smaller the item the faster it will degrade and lose it's flavor and medicinal quantities.
Store herbs in a tight container. I prefer glass jars as plastic containers seem to affect the flavor of the herbs over time. I purchases these jars from my affiliate partner Amazon for this years herb harvest 4PK 4OZ Dry Herb JarsYou can also use any glass jar with a tight fitting lid you have on hand.
It's best to store dried herbs out of the light in a cool, dry place to retain the most flavor and the longest shelf life.
When cooking with dried herbs,I put the herbs in at the end of the cooking time to maximize flavor.
What herbs do you grow in your garden? How do you use herbs throughout the year?
I am in the process of hang-drying my mint. I have five different types of mint, but we live in a small RV trailer, so I hope you can imagine the dozen mint bundles hanging on every available wall! It makes the place seem pretty homey, though. 🙂
I bet it smells amazing, too!
I love my dehydrator! I dry basil, tarragon, and rosemary. I found it easier to buy dried oregano than dry it myself.
Tarragon is one herb I haven’t grown yet.
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Could u wrap cheese cloth around the herb bunch and secure it with a clothes pin to catch any pieces that fall?
As long as air can circulate well through the cheese cloth. I tried drying stinging nettle leaves in a cotton pillow case one year but they molded.
I am in the process of drying my nice organic basil. We have 2 large plants. I wished I had some mint. My daughter-in-law got her some seeds and I got the rest of them for future planting. My daughter got a piece of our basil to root. The best cucumbers we ever planted this year were 2 different kinds, canning cucumbers and English cucumbers. We had nice cucumbers all summer long and as you know in Texas we still are picking them a month the middle of September. Hubby is still picking okra.
Melissa thank you for the support, I just started with the idea of wanting to can my own garden food after loosing so much. I truly look forward to building my pantry with ur help.
God Bless you!!!
M’Linda
M’Linda,
So happy to help! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.
This is great, I have dried peppers using the old-fashioned method but I didn’t realise herbs would work the same. I string mine up (high) over the stove, as the dry heat that comes from it seems to help dry it out. I hang it too high to get steamed. Works great!
I am drying mint, lemon balm and tea catnip for a tea mix that is nice on your tummy. I usually make it fresh but I want some for overwinter. Crossing my fingers the dried leaves are as nice. Dry catnip for the cats. Oregano, thyme, rosemary, chives. I have lemon grass growing this year and its visually pleasing but I havent learned how to use it yet and dont know if it will make the winter here. I also added a mojito mint this year that is amazing!! I hope that one makes it too. Pretty much any herb that I can cook with and will grow in Indiana is my goal. Anyone have suggestions On something I really must have? Or use lemon grass?
If the lemon grass has grown to full length, at least about 3 to 4 feet high, you cut the leaf just above the stem, rinse in cold water, tie into a know and toss into boiling water for a couple minutes for a really great tea!
The stalks are used as seasoning for Asian dishes in meats, vegetables and soups.
I have really enjoyed reading your article on nettle tea and it’s benefits in helping with urinal infection. I myself have stage 4 kidney failure so enything that will help with the detoxing of my kidney’s is worth a try.