How to Dry Herbs in the Oven
People love their seasonings when cooking their favorite foods. Some folks even are motivated enough to go about making their own seasonings or herbs in their home. Unfortunately, most people don't live in an environment where they can optimally dry herbs, but using an alternative such as the oven is a possibility. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Scissors
- Paper towel
- Baking paper
- Baking sheet
- Tongs
- Oven mitt
- Plastic bag or airtight container
Instructions
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Harvest the herbs from your garden. Use a strong pair of scissors to cut stems at the base of the plant and leave a long stem.
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Wash the herbs. As with any plant in the garden, it is subject to outdoor conditions and dirt. Wash them gently using the sink -- with water running on low -- or with some sort of mist spray. Lay them on a paper towel and pat dry.
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Turn the oven on to about 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Place a sheet of baking paper on the baking sheet, then place the herbs on the baking paper.
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Place the sheet of herbs into the oven for drying. Leave the oven door partially open. You'll have to watch them very carefully, as it will be very easy to burn or toast the herbs and ruin them.
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Flip the herbs over if necessary using tongs so that they can bake evenly. Your herbs will be done and properly dried when they appear crisp. The drying process in the conventional oven should take about three to four hours.
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Place the dried herbs in a plastic bag or container for storage.
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Tips & Warnings
Overcooking the herbs will provide less taste.
Hanging and air drying herbs are the best way for them to keep their flavor.
Using a dark glass container will help with storing the herbs. This kind of container will help shield them from light and heat.
Be more thorough cleaning the herbs if using chemicals in the garden. These chemicals may be harmful to your health.
Dry herbs are more potent than fresh herbs, so use less when cooking.
References
- Photo Credit Siri Stafford/Lifesize/Getty Images
