Preserving Herbs – Drying.

If you are like me you have an abundance of fresh herbs in your garden, perhaps more than you can use. What do you do with the surplus? I do what gardeners and cooks have been doing for years – dry the surplus!

By drying my herbs now I can store them and use them later on. The process of drying herbs is very simple; you can just toss the cuttings on a paper towel and leave them there to dry out. Just remember to check on them.

Herbs just need the slightest rinsing, unless they are covered with dirt or have been sprayed with something.

Find a spot indoors, that is warm and dry and has good air circulation to dry your herbs. I use a closet in our laundry room.

For larger quantities of herbs, bundle the sprigs together and tie with twine. Then hang them upside down to dry.

Leave everything undisturbed until the herbs are dry, which may only take a few days or may take longer. Once the herbs are dry strip the leaves from the stems. You can leave them whole or crush them. Left whole they retain their flavor better but crushed they take up less space. Your choice.

Store in a glass container with a tight fitting lid and keep away from heat and direct sunlight. Be sure to label your jars. Now you have a fresh supply of dried herbs to get you through the winter!