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How to Dry Herbs

 Drying herbs from your garden or herbs that you have gathered from the wild is extremely easy and will help preserve vital properties and nutrients. Herbs should be dried as soon as they are picked to prevent loss of beneficial properties.

When gathering herbs to dry, it’s best to pick them early in the morning but after the dew has dissipated. Do not gather herbs to dry after the sun has become too hot. The optimal time for gathering is around 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Make sure the herbs have not been sprayed with pesticides or poisons of any kind. This will diminish the healing properties of the herbs. Also, check to be sure the herbs are free of disease or insect infestation.

If the herbs are dirty, it’s best to brush them with a soft bristled brush to remove excess dirt. However, if a brush won’t do the job, you can rinse them quickly in cool water and immediately pat dry with a clean cloth.

To dry herbs by hanging them, gather about five to ten stems of one herb and bundle them together. Secure the ends together with a piece of twine, string or a rubber band. Do not dry more than one type of herb in the same bundle. Hang the bundles upside down in a well-ventilated area. Do not expose them to direct or bright light or too much heat. The temperature should be kept somewhere between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal drying conditions. Leave at least one foot of space between each hanging bundle to promote good circulation of air and enhance the drying process. If you are not completely certain you’ll know which herb is which after drying, you might want to label the bundles to avoid confusion.

The amount of time needed to dry each herb depends on the herb. Some take longer than others. It may take as little as three days or as much as three weeks. You’ll know the herb is sufficiently dry when the leaves or petals are brittle but not so brittle that they shatter upon touching. Avoid over-drying herbs as this can lessen the healing properties of the herb.

Although drying herbs by the hanging method is recommended, if you are short on space you can also dry them on screens. Remove the leaves and/or petals from the stem of the herb and spread them out in a single layer over a screen. Make sure you leave enough room between the pieces to allow for circulation of air. Do not dry more than one type of herb on a screen. If using this method, you’ll need a separate screen for each type of herb or use something as a barrier between different types.

Again, the time required to dry herbs on screens will vary. Check to see if they are brittle before storing the herbs. And, avoid over-drying. Once your herbs are sufficiently dry, store them in lidded glass containers in a cool dry place. Shelf life will vary depending on the herb but dried herbs generally last between six months to one year.
By: Willow Sidhe
Published: 08/28/08


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4 Posted Comments:

@ 3:42 pm 08/28/08 by R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen
Excellent tips on how and when to pick and dry herbs. I like to use herbs for my health as opposed to medications and such. I have always wanted an herb garden. Perhaps now is the time to get one going.
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@ 5:15 pm 08/29/08 by C.D. Crowder
I'm growing my first herb garden this year. Great advice!
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@ 10:55 am 08/30/08 by K.F. Lynn
this is really helpful, actually. i love putting herbs on and in my food, and we grow several kinds here at home on my yard. however, i'll be off to school on monday and there's no place for me to grow my own, so i'll use these tips, take some from home and dry them to use later on :]

thanks, really helpful!
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@ 5:40 pm 09/11/08 by yourstrulyisabel
I've always wanted to plant herbs in my garden. But I don't know the drying process so I have not really decided on planting them. This is excellent tips for me!
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