Drying Fresh Herbs
Fresh, home-dried herbs add such a depth of flavor to your cooking throughout the long winter months that can be hard to get with store-bought herbs. What is better in the middle of winter where the snow and ice just never seem to stop than a dish that tastes like you brought it straight from the herb garden?!
You also will save a quite a few dollars and have a relaxing fall activity, whether you can get fresh herbs from your own garden, a friend, or your local farmers market. If you don’t have your own herb garden, plan one for this spring – the plants usually come back year after year. Luckily, I got a harvest in before the temperatures went below freezing!
What you will need:
– fresh herbs
– scissors
– string
– glass jars
Click on any of the images below to get your supplies! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This can help me build up this site of wonder!
Your scissors and string.
Cut your herbs right at the bottom of the stems as best as you can.
Place them in neat little piles.
Look at these beautiful herbs! The SMELL is so fresh and earthy.
Take your string and tie up your neat little bundles with a double knot.
.
Tie them really tight because as they dry the bundles shrink!
Bring them in for a nice wash with cold water!
Hang your individual herb bundles up to dry.
.
I have these little hooks above our kitchen sink and big window. And I love how they look! I think the sunlight and heat help them to dry out here.
.
Just make sure you hang them in a dry space and add some herb decor to your home for fall!
Depending on the herb and the space, you’ll watch your herb bundles wilt and then begin to dry.
.
I left mine up for quite a long time – a month or so because I loved how they looked. But as soon as they are completely dry and you can tell they will crumble between your fingers, they are ready to be put in their cozy little jars for the winter!
Remove the herbs off their stems and just crumble them between your palms or fingers.
.
I tell you, the SMELL is just incredible, meaning you will have a wonderful flavor or smell in whatever you hope to make with them.
Time for them to be put into their cozy little jars. SO CUTE!
They will stay fresh for months to come. I use them all throughout the winter and spring.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
With oregano, parsley and chives you can make a zingy lemon mediterranean bean salad.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Sage is perfect for brown butter sage pasta with butternut squash.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Basil is a must for Margherita pizzas!
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Lavender, Mmmmm, putting little satchels of it in your dresser or making a bath salt is just heavenly!
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Enjoy!
One Comment
Pamela Franzen Perkins
Love the pictures and information on herbs! Looks pretty in the windows too!