Best Way to Dry Herbs
How to Dry Herbs and Retain Their Quality
Getting herbs from supermarket are not advised, since they have stored there for long time. It is advised to cultivate them in your garden and drying them personally. In this case, you will obtain the highest quality of herbs.
One of the easiest ways to dry herbs is to air dry them and this slow drying process which doesn't rob the herbs of their natural oils, works best with herbs that don't have a high moisture content, like oregano, bay, and thyme.
How to Air Dry Herbs
Herbs can be cut in the mid morning when the dew has dried. Leaves can be removed if shows insect damage or disease. It may be rinsed under cool water along with. Small bundles can be made of herbs, and tied with a rubber band. To do the final step, hanging the herb bundles in a warm place is favored.
There are many other ways of drying herbs. It may use paper bags. To do that, small bundles will be placed upside down in the bag and tied well. It must remember to punch some holes in the bag to permit air entering. The bag, then, may be hanged as usual. Two weeks, later, the bag can be opened and herbs may be taken as well.
How to Dry Herbs Using a Dehydrator
In fact the drying of herbs that include more moistures such as mint, chives or basil, will be better if a food dehydrator or freezing are used. Getting a dehydrator is a good way of drying, since it is faster and easier way. It maintains the high quality of herbs due to the controlling of temperature and air touring. Herbs may be placed after rinsing, in a layer on the dehydrator trays. Times of drying are different, according to contents of moisture, leaves' thickness, and quantities of drying per a time. Considering that herbs may be dried as soon as leaves become crisp and stems brittle.
Storing the Dried Herbs
After you have dried your herbs, you will need to store them properly to make sure they retain their freshness. You can use small plastic bags with zip seal tops or store in small jars. It is best to keep dried herbs away from light and heat. Once you learn how to dry herbs, you're just one step away from being the best culinary cook on the block.