How to Dehydrate Herbs

How to Dehydrate Fresh Herbs

• 1

  Harvest your herbs once they've grown to full size. With your scissors, clip approximately one-half of your growth. (The Cooperative Extension at North Carolina State University states that you can harvest up to 75 percent of your growth, but some prefer a more conservative approach.) Neatly organize each clipping with the stems facing the same way and place in your colander.

• 2

  Rinse the herbs gently until clean. Be careful not to use too much pressure, as this will crush the herbs and release essential flavors. Once you are finished rinsing, set the colander aside to drain.

• 3

  Clip several 12-inch pieces of ribbon/string and set aside.

• 4

  Return to your colander and gather your herbs by the stem in bundles no bigger around than a pencil eraser. Wrap the ribbon around the group of stems and tie a knot tightly around them. Leave the remaining ribbon free.

• 5

  Find a cool, dry place like your basement and hang the hanger from the rafters. Tie the loose ends of the ribbon bundles to the hanger. Check your dangling bundles daily to make sure they are not slipping from the ribbon bundles.

• 6

  Take down the herbs once they are 100 percent dry and harvest the dried leaves from the bundles. Remove the leaves from the plant stalk and store in plastic bags or recycled jars.