How to Dry and Preserve Herbs and Roots

Drying herbs is a great way to preserve herbs. When you dry them they can be stored for later medicinal use or used to flavor your favorite foods.

Drying and preserving herbs is a simple process you can do right at home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Herb or roots of choice
• Screen
• String
• jar, airtight container or sealable plastic bag

1. Harvest your herb at the best time for your chosen herb.
   Leaves and stems are often best picked before they have a chance to flower.
   Flowers are best picked before full bloom.
   Bark and twigs are often best gathered in the Spring, when leaves first arrive.
   Rhizomes and roots are best gathered just when the leaves begin to change color in the Fall.

2. Gently wash leaves, stems and flowers.
   Gently scrub bark and roots.
   Pat dry completely (to help avoid mold.)

3. For whole stems/plants: tie a string around the bottom stem or around the bottom stem of a small bunch (4 or 5 at a time)
   
   Leaves, twigs, bark and flowers: lay out on a screen.
   
   Roots or rhizomes: Chop in 1 inch or smaller pieces. Lay each piece spread out onto the screen.

4. Whole stems/plants: hang upside down by a string in a dark, dry area.
   
   Leaves, twigs, roots: Set screen outside in a warm shaded place.

5. Whole stems/plants: check often to make sure string is not becoming loose as the plant is drying.
   
   Leaves, twigs, roots: Turn over daily the leaves or roots on the screen. This will help ensure even drying.

6. In a few days to several weeks, depending on the herb or root, they should be fully dried.
   Store fully dried herbs in an airtight jar or a sealed plastic bag.

Tips & Warnings

• An old window screen works great for the drying process.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide

[writer7]

on 6/18/2009 Great tips on drying and preserving herbs and roots! I have to try this out!