Drying Herbs Information

How to dry herbs

When drying herbs on flat surfaces, the leaves, stems and roots must be turned over until the herbal parts become stiff and crisp to the touch. When the leaves and stems,etc are completely dried, they will crumble when squeezed with your hand. At this point in the drying process, the herbs must be made into a powder. A blender will start the process and then put the blended herb into a motar and pedstal for further pulverizing into a fine powder.

Here is the preliminary process for sucessfully drying herbs:

Herbs may be dried using a fruit dehydrating maching. Just make sure the herbs are spaced apart on the trays and the temperatue does not exceed 130f. Make sure air can circulate among the trays of herbs. Check the drying periodically and when the herbs are crisp to the touch, you can begin the powdering process. Remember, herbs placed on the bottom of the dehydrator will dry more slowly than those placed on top.

Also used to dry herbs is the oven of your kitchen cook stove. Just make sure the herbs are spaced apart on trays and the temperature does not go above 130f. Do not use a clothes-dryer to dry herbs! A hair dryer can be used to speed the herb drying process, just make sure you don't "burn the herbs".

Do not raise the temperature of the drying process. Herbs will burn and lose flavor and essential oils, so be careful.

Of course herbs are used in their fresh state, but more frequently used in their powder state. Fresh herbs are used in salads and as plate garnishments, stews and sauces. However, powdered herbs can be used in these dishes, too. If you want to make a clear sauce or gravie, simple put in desired powdered herbs and then sift the finished liquid through a strainer to take out any objectionable particles.

With some herbs, the seeds are used and the process for drying the seeds is different than drying the entire plant. Seed herbs must be picked just prior to the ripening of the seed. The entire seed herb plant should be harvested and then put in a well circulating drying room or shed. As the seed herb dries, the seeds will mature into ripe seeds at which time the plants must be threshed of their seeds. Lay flat a large cloth, cotton or tarp, gather a bunch of seed herb plants in your hand and firmly but gently tap the plant against the flattened cloth. Seeds will seperate from the plant and lie on the cloth. Gather the seeds, keep them dry for further processing or use. Leave the seeds on their cloth bed for a week or two to insure the seeds are completely dry. Make sure no moisture contacts the seeds.

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