I love gardening, so I don’t mind that some plants demand more of my attention than others.I’m not mad when I have to grab the pruners to
13.07.2023 - 04:58 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Dry Fresh Garden HerbsCongratulations! You had a bumper crop of sage this year! Or maybe you found a baker’s dozen of potted basil plants on clearance at your grocery store.
Whatever the reason, you have more herbs than you’re able to use fresh and you need to figure out a way to make them last.
Drying herbs to preserve them is a practice that has been around for as long as cultivation has been a part of human civilization.
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The concept of drying is extremely simple.
You just want to expose as much of the surface area of the plant to the air as you can so the moisture evaporates – the quicker, the better. But as with many things that are conceptually simple, the execution requires a little more nuance.
To help you save those herbs, we’re going to discuss the many methods of dehydrating. Here’s what to expect, coming right up:
Almost any herb can be dried, so long as you understand the various methods available and when to use them.
The flavor of the plants comes from the oils stored inside their cells. Dehydrating concentrates these oils while removing the moisture that can cause herbs to spoil.
Get your screens, hangers, or dehydrators ready. Those herbs aren’t going to dry themselves!
Methods of DryingThere are many ways to dry herbs. Some work faster than others, and some are better for larger or thicker plants, but all of them will work if you’re patient.
Air drying has the distinct advantage of being free. However, it takes much more time and it usually takes up more space than other methods.
You can do this by hanging harvested plants or laying them out. Bonus points if you can lay them out on a screen.
Dehy
I love gardening, so I don’t mind that some plants demand more of my attention than others.I’m not mad when I have to grab the pruners to
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