How To Dry Herbs

Hi guys! I'm posting a bit late today as the lazy bug bit me (again).  Summer is almost over here in our country as we have occasional rain showers here and there but before summer finally ends, I would like to share with you a method I use to enjoy my favorite summer herb, the basil, during the rainy season.  Basil is the perfect herb for tomato-based dishes which I really, really love, i.e., baked macaroni and pizza, but as much as I want to have fresh basil all year round, basil plants do not do well during the rainy days plus there are some recipes which do better with the dry version of the herbs so I try to dry my own herbs from my humble garden.  Drying herbs is simple.  The only thing you need is lots and lots of sunshine, so why not exploit the summer heat and dry up some basil to prepare for those rainy days.
How To Dry Herbs


For this, we will need the following:
1.  Basil or herbs of your choice
2.  A woven bamboo tray
3.  Food cover
How To Dry Herbs

First, harvest your herbs.  I chose basil because it is my favorite herb but you can definitely go ahead and harvest herbs of your choice like thyme, sage, or rosemary.  Basically, every herb can be dried so go ahead and pick you favorite.  If you did not water your herbs the morning before harvest, it is always best to wash the leaves before drying to remove any dirt it might have.  After washing the leaves, place them on a bamboo tray like this or if you do not have a bamboo tray, any shallow container would work as long as the leaves are not overlapping each other.
How To Dry Herbs

Next, all you have to do is place the cover over your tray and place it in a sunny spot. Above the roof would be a perfect spot but impractical as you would have to occasionally check these so I placed mine just in our terrace where we have lots of sunshine until 10 in the morning then I place them outside near my garden for direct exposure to sunlight.
How To Dry Herbs
After waiting and waiting, this is what I got.  You will have to turn the leaves every now and then for even drying.  It took me approximately less than week to dry these but drying time will absolutely depend on how much time you expose them to direct sunlight.   The herbs should be slightly brown, not burnt, and can be easily crumbled into pieces.  Those are the signs that your herbs are ready for storing :)
How To Dry Herbs

Now, place your herbs in a clean and dry container then store.  Enjoy your summer herbs even during rainy days :)
How To Dry Herbs
 Hope you enjoyed today's cheap tip!
Until next time :)
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21 comments:

  1. I agree! Italian herbs are always the best in pastas and pizzas (well obviously because both dishes originated there). Thanks for sharing how to do this. I have a rosemary plant in our garden so I will definitely use your technique. :)

    Jenn
    The Pink Lemonade Girl

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    Replies
    1. i love rosemary! i have one here too. it's perfect for roasted chicken. yum!

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  2. Really interesting!
    Kisses

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  3. this cover is amazing, i always was wondering how to prevent the dust while the herbs are drying out side, it is such a cool idea. love the posts around the lifestyle and this is is one of those.
    Go0d Luck

    I have changed my blog patterns, can u check it and tell me if it looks good or no?
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    1. yep, checked it. i love the new magazine-style look ;) thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Excellent tips! :) Happy Wednesday, babe!

    -Ashley
    http://lestylorouge.com

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  5. I didn't realize there's dry or wet herb. Hehehe! But basil is definitely a great add-on to a lovely dish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hehe :) yes, absolutely. i love basil for any tomato-based dish :)

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  6. Thanks for sharing, I never did this before, so I'm happy with the tips :)

    xxx

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  7. These are some really nice tips! I actually didn't know that this was possible before.
    I love using herbs in pasta hehe!
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