Drying Herbs: 5 Tips on How to Harvest and Dry Herbs
If you are fortunate enough to have a home herb garden, you are aware of how using fresh can herbs add so much flavor to your cooking. But what if your herb garden produces more herbs than you can use? You definitely do not want to waste those delicious morsels, so the best way to preserve their delicious flavor is to dry your herbs.
This article will explain five tips about how to successfully dry herbs including tips on the best time for harvest, and when, where and how long to dry your herbs.
Harvest Your Herbs Just Before Drying
To help maintain the wonderful properties of your herbs, harvest immediately before you plan on drying them. The best time to harvest and dry herbs is when they are fully grown and have just started to flower. Before drying, make sure to remove any damaged leaves or stem.
Dry Herbs at Similar Rate
To make sure your herbs are all drying at about the same rate, harvest them in bunches which are about the same size. For drying, bunch about 8 – 10 stems together and fasten securely with string.
Dry Herbs by Hanging Upside Down
Once you have bunched your herbs together, you will need to hang them upside down to dry. Do not pack herb bunches tightly together. Leave a little room for air to circulate around the herbs.
Dry Herbs in a Dry, Dark Place
The best place to dry herbs is in a dark, dry location. If necessary, protect herbs from dust or wind by covering with a paper bag. The best temperature for drying herbs is 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Herbs Need 5 Days to Dry
In dark dry conditions; herbs usually take five days to dry, although in cooler weather, the process may take up to two weeks. When herbs are papery, they are dry and ready for storage. Remove leaves from stems, and store in airtight container away from sunlight.
Store dry herbs as leaves, but crush right before using. This will help the herbs to release their full properties. While fresh herbs are delicious, home grown, dried herbs are equally as wonderful and a simple way to have flavorful herbs at your fingertips all year round.
If you like to learn more about Secrets to Growing Herbs Indoors, click here => Indoor Herb Gardens
Culinary Herb Garden: Add A Little Spice to Your Cooking
Ask any chef and they will tell you fresh herbs are a magic ingredient for many special dishes. A culinary herb garden is the perfect choice for any who enjoys cooking.
This is a great video about how to grow a culinary herb garden, including recommendations about which herbs to plant. Remember when choosing herbs for your garden to include your favorites and perhaps one or two new varieties to add a little extra pizazz to your cooking.
What to learn how to grown your own home herb garden? Learn how here => Growing Fresh Herbs.
AeroGarden Space-Saver 6 with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit
Good Morning America calls the AeroGrow AeroGarden, “One of the top new consumer products.”
Grow a wide variety of garden-fresh herbs, tomatoes, and other tasty vegetables naturally on your kitchen counter 365 days a year.
With the AeroGarden Space-Saver 6, you don’t need a green thumb to have your own home herb garden. The AeroGarden Space-Saver 6 is a fully automated indoor smart garden with built-in grow light that removes all guesswork. Everything you need is included!
What are people saying about the AeroGarden Space-Saver 6 with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit
“Great Product!
I bought the AeroGarden Space-Saver 6 for my girlfriend and she loves it. It is amazing how fast plants grow in the product. Within twenty-four hours some of the herbs were already sprouting. The AeroGarden will also notify you when to add water and nutrients. The AeroGarden Space-Saver 6 is easy to assemble and fits perfect in corners on counter tops. I highly recommend the AeroGarden Space-Saver 6.”
“Excellent gift. A hobby for anyone. The Aerogarden Elite is a very well designed, easy to use and decorative as well for a kitchen corner. It uses an aerating water pump which runs very silently. Lamps turns ON for 16 hours every day so it can keep kitchen lit during night time. I love its contruction which has a stainless steel like finish on top where pods are located and should avoid corrosion due to moisture. The elite model is a bit more expensive but I believe is worth the extra cost.”
“Feels Cheap – But Delivers On Its Promise
I’m very happy Aerogarden decided to make a slightly smaller unit; their regular gardens take up so much space.
The Spacesaver comes in a huge box, but does not weigh much at all. The bulk of the box (and the unit) is nothing but some pieces of plastic. Installation is a breeze (if you read the manual correctly) and when it is all put together you do end up with a pretty sturdy setup, I just can’t help feel that it is all rather cheap for the price.
The unit itself has a neat control panel with indicators for all the various settings. All in all a good item, and a perfect gift if you can find it at the right price.”
For more information and reviews, CLICK HERE => AeroGarden Space-Saver
