Harvesting & Drying Herbs
There is something so satisfying in cultivating, growing, harvesting, and preserving your own herbs. For me, there is just something so beautiful in sprinkling homemade seasoning over the food I’ve prepared. Growing and harvesting your own herbs is really simple too and I’ve broken down several methods to give you the motivation needed to do it yourself! Even if you don’t have a green thumb, herbs are some of the easiest things to grow, and you can grow them virtually anywhere and even in a very limited space! There are several methods for drying herbs, but the most common ones are air-drying, oven-drying, and using a dehydrator. My favorite requires virtually no costs associated with it, and I can just walk away and come back in a few weeks! You probably guessed it, and you’d be right, air drying is my go-to method for drying herbs! I’ll explain each method below, but first, it is important to harvest your herbs correctly! This is pretty simple but some things to note are making sure you cut the herbs in the proper place, using leaves that are healthy and disease free, and the best time of the day to do it!
1. First, choose the right time of day: The best time to harvest herbs is in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun is too hot. This is when the oils in the leaves are at their highest concentration.
2. Pick the right leaves: Look for leaves that are healthy, green, and free of any pests or damage.
3. Use sharp scissors: You should use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the leaves. This will ensure a clean cut and prevent damage to the plant. I will be honest here though, and while I know using scissors is best practice and I will always tell you the “right” way to do things, I typically use my fingers, ha!
4. Cut at the right place: Cut the leaves from the top of the plant, just above a node where new growth is occurring. This will encourage the plant to produce more leaves. If hanging to dry, it’s totally fine to just cut a larger bunch and not worry about cutting individual leaves. As you can see below, Jocelyn harvested a big stem of basil!
Jocelyn learning that what she holds in her right hand, will become what is in her left hand!
Now that we know how to harvest our herbs, let’s move on to preservation methods. As I’ve mentioned earlier, I prefer the free method of preservation, and not only that, but I also don’t have to monitor anything. I hang my herbs and come back in a few weeks.
1. Air-Drying:
- Harvest the herbs in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun is too hot.
- Remove any damaged or wilted leaves and rinse the herbs gently under cold running water.
- Shake off the excess water and pat the herbs dry with a clean towel.
- Tie the herbs into small bundles with anything really. I use kitchen twine, but you can use anything. Hang them upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area. I always hang mine in my kitchen with all my plants, they enjoy each other’s company!
- Allow the herbs to dry for 1-2 weeks, or until the leaves are dry and brittle to the touch.
- Once the herbs are dry, remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container or resealable bag. I prefer glass jars that I find at local thrift stores! You can put the leaves in whole or muddle them down smaller.
Fresh herbs just tied up in my kitchen to air-dry for a few weeks!
2. Oven-Drying:
- Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature setting (around 140°F/60°C).
- Rinse the herbs gently under cold running water and pat them dry with a clean towel.
- Spread the herbs out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they are in a single layer and not touching each other.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and prop the door open slightly to allow air to circulate.
- Allow the herbs to dry for 1-4 hours, or until they are dry and brittle to the touch.
- Once the herbs are dry, remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container or resealable bag.
3. Using a Dehydrator:
- Rinse the herbs gently under cold running water and pat them dry with a clean towel.
- Spread the herbs out on the dehydrator trays in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other.
- Set the dehydrator to the lowest temperature setting and turn it on.
- Allow the herbs to dry until they are dry and brittle to the touch.
- Once the herbs are dry, remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container or resealable bag.
Now that we’ve talked about the different methods of drying herbs, let’s talk about the best part, gaining independence from relying on others to provide you with prepackaged herbs from the store and saving money! Growing and preserving your own herbs can be cost-effective and aid in self-sufficiency and here’s why:
1. Reduced cost: Growing your own herbs can be less expensive than purchasing them from a grocery store or farmer’s market. You only need to invest in some basic gardening tools, seeds, and soil to get started. Also, preserving your own herbs can save you money in the long run as you can use them throughout the year and don't have to buy them every time you need them.
2. Freshness and quality: When you grow your own herbs, you can ensure that they are fresh and of high quality. Simple fact, you know where they came from. You can control the growing conditions and avoid the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Also, when you preserve your own herbs, you can ensure that they retain their flavor and aroma, which may not be the case with store-bought herbs that have been sitting on the shelf for a while.
3. Self-sufficiency: Growing and preserving your own herbs can also help you become more self-sufficient. You can rely on your own garden to provide fresh herbs for your cooking and other needs, which can reduce your dependence on outside sources. This can be especially helpful during times when it may be difficult to access fresh herbs from stores or markets.
Growing and preserving your own herbs just makes sense to me and it doesn’t matter where you live. Herbs are super low maintenance and make any dish taste better! It is a cost-effective and empowering way to not only make your food taste better but ensures the quality and freshness of your herbs and reduces your dependence on outside sources.