Extension Service Garden Hints

When and how to dry herbs from the garden

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The best time to dry herbs is before they flower, because they have more flavor. You don't need anything too fancy. A paper bag will dry herbs just fine.

But a dehydrator or a microwave oven works well too, says Nellie Oehler, family and community development staff with the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Most herbs can be dried in the open air in a paper bag in a well-ventilated area. Select herbs that are fresh, still green and tender. Lightly rinse the herbs before drying.

The new leaves at the tip of the plant are usually the most flavorful. Some herbs get a bitter taste after they flower and lose a lot of their flavor. After washing the herbs, cut off the dead or discolored leaves or stems. They can then be tied together and hung up to dry.

One of the simplest ways is tie all the stems together and suspend them upside down in a small brown paper bag or in old pantyhose. If the leaves and seeds drop from the stems they will be in the bag. A bag also keeps the dust, bugs and spiders out.

Hang herbs upside down in the bag so the oils will flow into the leaves for more flavor. Cut a few holes in the paper bag so the moisture can escape.

Herbs generally take five to 10 days to dry in a paper sack, said Oehler.

For quicker results, use a dehydrator or microwave. Dehydrators can produce a quality dried herb in one to three hours. Be sure not to have the dehydrator too hot. It is best to dry herbs at 90-100 degrees. If dried at a higher temperature it will dissipate the herb oils and lose flavor.

Oehler does not recommend sun drying because the light will cause color changes and losses in aroma and flavor of the herbs.

Microwaves work great for drying small quantities of herbs in mere minutes. Do not dry more than one or two cups at a time, she advised. Place the herbs between microwave-safe paper towels. Microwave them two to four minutes on high power. Check to see if the leaves have dried. If not, reset the timer for a few more seconds. Let the herbs completely cool before packaging.

"If you dry too large a quantity in the microwave at one time it will cook them instead of drying them," said Oehler. "It is best to let them air dry for a little while after the microwave process so that the temperature and moisture evens out."

Package dry herbs in a cool, dry, dark, place in any container that excludes air, light and moisture.

By: Carol Savonen
Source: Nellie Oehler

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