If you bought a bag of fresh herbs and only used a leaf or two in a recipe, or if you’ve got a large end-of-season herb harvest, here’s what you need to know to air-dry and preserve your herbs for lasting use. Place in a warm spot out of direct sunlight.   To retain the best flavor of these herbs, you'll either need to allow them to dry naturally or use a food dehydrator. Preheat your oven to 200º C. Spread the parsley leaves on a flat baking tray. Dehydrating – you can use an oven but it is slow and if heat is not low enough sometimes the herbs will lose efficacy. Get rid of them. If you have herbs with stalks, tie them together into a bundle and hang them up. Inquiries around Drying time will depend on where you are and how much sun you get at home. Put the fresh parsley on the dehydrator trays. Strip large-leaved herbs, such as sage and mint, from their stalks. You save money and still enjoy the optimum flavor. It’s best to pick and prepare one variety of herb for drying at a time.Discard any damaged leaves. Use the lowest setting so that you don’t burn the parsley. A dehydrator uses hot air. Tie the herbs in small bunches with twine, rubber bands or string and hang to dry. Turn on the microwave. Drying parsley is a great way to extend your harvest. DryingAllFoods.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, 3 Easy Methods for Dehydrating Marshmallows, 3 Super-Easy Ways to Dehydrate Kiwi at Home, 3 Easy Methods for Drying Mint Leaves for Tea, 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Dried Parsley, A Complete Guide on How to Store Dried Herbs, How to Dehydrate Food Successfully: A Beginner’s Guide, How to Harvest Oregano – A Complete Guide, How to Dry Flowers – From Harvesting to Drying Flowers, 4 Easy Methods for Drying Stinging Nettle at Home. Air-Drying Parsley Pick the parsley in the morning. How to dry fresh herbs from the garden will vary based on the tools you have on hand. If you run a dehumidifier in your house, you can dry parsley inside. Measure and cut them to fit your baking sheet. Dehydrators are a bit expensive. The garage or a shed are ideal for drying herbs. Oven Drying . Microwave Drying. READ ALSO: 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Dried Parsley. Here is what to do: Make small bundles and tie … Avoid moist, humid places like the bathroom or kitchen. It can take a couple of weeks, but you end up with a purer, cleaner flavour than with other methods. People have dried herbs for centuries! You just have to carefully arrange the leaves on the microwave plate, slide the plate back into its place, and nuke. Microwave-dried herbs retain excellent color and potency. Set them on a clean towel to air dry for a few hours, making sure to spread the herbs so they’re not overlapping. Storing Dried Herbs. Air dry parsley by hanging in loose bundles in a cool dark area for around 2-3 weeks. You don’t need any special equipment for this method, either. Martha Piccolo is a lifestyle and cooking influencer and the main power behind Drying All Foods – a food blog that is helping people to discover the magnificent side of food drying and preserving. Air Dry – Traditional Option. Simply air dry herbs – Drying the herbs in the air has proven its worth and is one of the easiest and best ways to dry herbs properly. Microwaving for short periods of time on the other hand neither cooks the herb leaves nor does it leave them open to atmosphere for long periods of time. You can even dry parsley by air drying it or putting it under the sun for several days. Herbs are incredibly easy to grow—and tend to grow in abundance! Put the baking sheet in your porch or some other similarly warm area. Step 4. Place them into airtight jars, … Always store dried parsley away from heat. There should be no big clumps. Have a number of trays, wooden racks etc. You can use it as you would fresh ones. Bring the baking tray in when the sun sets so that you don’t get any dew on the parsley. Put the tray in the oven. When herbs are dried, they are safe from bacteria, mold and yeast, and will remain potent for at least six to 12 months. You don’t need a lot of equipment to dry parsley this way. You can even use reclaimed glass containers as long as they come with airtight screw caps. This requires a more expensive purchase but if you dry a lot of vegetables in addition to herbs, it’s well worth the expense. It is also the most environmentally friendly way of preserving them. If you compare air-drying to micro wave drying it's clear that leaving herbs in the open atmosphere for a week or two is a sure way for them to loose a good portion of their taste and aroma. They used it in their food but also to create homemade medicins. Start by laying the herb foliage in a single layer on a paper towel, either on the oven rack or on the glass insert. Air-drying is the easiest and most economical way to preserve fresh herbs for use all year. Sun dry parsley on a sunny day. Cover slatted racks with muslin or similar to allow air to penetrate. Store the dried parsley in an air-tight container until ready for use. The Best Herbs for Drying . While you can use this method for almost any herb, we do recommend those varieties with lower moisture content. Check after every 30 seconds. Though drying parsley leaves can be done outside, better results are usually seen when the parsley is dried inside. How to air dry herbs Step 1. Air-drying is the easiest and most economical way to preserve fresh herbs for use all year. Air must flow over and around the drying herbs. Step 2. Fold over the top of the paper bag, lay it on its side, and then just let the parsley dry for 10-14 days. Do not harvest during the early hours of the morning as the parsley are still likely to be a bit damp from the night dew. You just need a baking sheet and some old window screens. To air-dry herbs Spread individual leaves or sprigs of herbs on a rack or a baking tray lined with cheesecloth. Air drying is great because it does not deplete the oils that occur naturally in the herb (which is where all the flavor comes from). Then check the herbs, and if they are still soft, keep testing at 20- to 30-second intervals. Air-drying herbs takes time and requires patience, however it’s also very simple. Place it in a front or rear windshield (probably best if it’s not a car you drive often) and let the heat of the day slowly dry the parsley. Drying in a Dehydrator. Dried parsley keeps for about a year. But it requires little to no maintenance, it is effortless to store, and it can look beautiful in your kitchen or pantry. Keep them evenly spaced and flat. It removes moisture from food in a gentle and slow manner. When dried indoors, you will get a better color and better flavor. When you air-dry herbs in bundles, it takes about two to three weeks before they are totally dry. Probably not the most attractive method, lay a single layer of parsley on a window screen, cookie sheet with a baking rack on top, or other surface where air can circulate. Dried parsley keeps for a year. Using the microwave method for drying parsley, thus, enables the parsley to retain most of its color and potency. The traditional way to dry your herbs is with the help of air. Mason jars make fine containers, too. Home-dried herbs are fresher. Herb Drying Basics. After you pick your fresh parsley, wash it, let it air dry (you can speed up the drying by blotting lightly it with a paper towel if you like), and then place it in a paper bag. Keep the containers moisture-free and the dried parsley will remain aromatic even after a year and a half in the freezer. Or, my favorite method, you can create small bunches of parsley and tie with a jute rope, natural yarn or bread tie. They are also very effective for drying food. But they are easy and convenient to use. Remove the tender leaves from the woody stems. If you're going to air dry parsley, you want to … Choose a bright, hot, sunshiny day for drying parsley. Get another paper towel and put it on top of the parsley. Do not leave on a metal tray but use a wooden block. If they are not dry enough, keep nuking in 20 or 30- second intervals. Shake the herbs or send them through a salad spinner to remove most of the water, then blot dry with a towel. Crush the dried parsley using a mortar and pestle. They should be picked before the flowers develop. The plant tissue may also heat up a bit because of the water it contains. Use your hands to gently separate the leaves from the tough stems. Cover the microwave glass plate with a paper towel. The parsley may be dry enough to keep at noontime – or you may need a couple of days or more to complete the drying process. Air drying is one of the easiest and most foolproof ways to dry parsley as long as you have a hot, dry room available. Using an oven to dry parsley can take around 2-3 hours on the lowest setting. If you’re going to be drying herbs using this method frequently, you may wish to make a drying screen out of mesh, like mosquito screening, mounted on a wooden frame. It’s important to harvest herbs at the right time. If you are in a hurry or do not have anywhere to air dry them, then you can dry herbs in your microwave. Careful that the swags or bunches do not touch. Herbs dry best when left to hang leafy ends down so that the concentrated essential oils in the stems will flow into the leaves. The water, however, soaks up nearly all of the heat. READ ALSO: Which Food Dehydrator is Right for You. Position the blanched parsley on the tray. First, … Other air drying racks such as a pasta drying rack would work beautifully. Santa Cookies and Other Christmas Traditions Fold over the top of the paper bag, lay it … Make sure to be very gentle when washing herbs like basil, which are easily bruised and torn. How to Practice Boxing at Home During Pandemic? Check the parsley. Otherwise, the parsley will not dry as it should. Drying parsley is not as difficult as some people think. Video. Check the parsley on a regular basis. How To Air Dry Parsley. Continue sun drying the next day. If you bought a bag of fresh herbs and only used a leaf or two in a recipe, or if you’ve got a large end-of-season herb harvest, here’s what you need to know to air-dry and preserve your herbs for lasting use. You can dry parsley in the microwave in 2 minutes. Spread out the stems. However, the day needs to be just right. Copyright © 2018-2020 All rights reserved. Choose a bright, hot, sunshiny day for drying parsley. READ ALSO: A Complete Guide on How to Store Dried Herbs. Herbs can be dried in the oven or microwave, but air-drying herbs is one of the easiest ways to dry herbs at home. Herbs dry in the air; Herbs dry in the oven; Herbs dry in the dehydrator; Herbs dry in the microwave; Air dry herbs. It's very easy and fast. Put the dried parsley on a piece of wax paper. Hanging herbs to dry (or air drying), dehydrating herbs, freeze drying herbs, oven drying herbs, and even drying herbs in a paper bag will allow the garden’s harvest to be enjoyed for years to come. Air Dry Parsley Spread parsley leaves out on a baking sheet, and place them in a dry shaded area, until fully dry. In most instances, an attic, garage, or garden shed are good options because there is typically less moisture in these rooms. Air drying – the most common and easiest method of drying herbs Freezing – although not strictly a “drying” method, freezing is one way of storing herbs that don’t dry well. Dried parsley is best stored in containers with airtight lids. … Just about anybody who has an oven, a microwave, or a dehydrator can do it. A dehydrator comes with trays with small perforations or holes in them to facilitate the circulation of the warm air essential for drying food. Keep your jars in a cool, dark place. These herbs include dill, r osemary, thyme, marjoram, and oregano. Keep the parsley in the dehydrator for the time specified by the instruction manual. That's right, you can dry herbs in a microwave and it's pretty easy to do! If you have the space for this, here is cute sign rack for drying herbs . You may also crush the parsley using your hands. Harvest on warm, dry mornings after the dew has evaporated. Store the jar in the freezer or in a dark, dry area. Tips. It is dry enough when you can easily crumble it in your fingers. Turn the sprigs over so that each side gets an even tan as it dries. The key is to ensure a good air flow. After you pick your fresh parsley, wash it, let it air dry (you can speed up the drying by blotting lightly it with a paper towel if you like), and then place it in a paper bag. Arrange different plants on different trays and dry apart so that the flavours don’t mingle. Check for stalks that you may have overlooked. In the oven (maybe) Drying herbs is one of the best jumping-off points for preserving our own food. You blow warm air (somewhere between 125 and 200 degrees) at fruits, vegetables, herbs or beef strips. You can still use them after a year but they will not be as aromatic. Glass containers are a good choice. Dried herbs lose their flavor as they age—so herbs that were dried … Store the dried parsley in an air-tight container. The screen ensures that the air flows freely around the parsley. If you are new in blanching parsley or any other herbs, watch the video. Measure and cut them to fit your baking sheet. You have dried parsley within seconds! Inspect the leaves regularly for any signs of mold. https://todayshomeowner.com/how-to-air-dry-fresh-herbs/, https://homegrownherbgarden.com/2020/06/29/dry-parsley-with-5-easy-methods/, https://www.doityourself.com/stry/drying-and-storing-parsley, https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/drying/drying-herbs-zm0z13fmzmat, https://www.lifebetweenthekitchenandthecoop.com/how-to-dry-parsley/, https://kitchensnitches.com/using-an-air-fryer-to-dehydrate-food/, https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-dry-and-store-herbs-1403397, https://www.careomnia.com/parsley-grow-dry-store, https://www.shiftingroots.com/simple-tips-to-easily-air-dry-fresh-herbs-at-home/, https://www.ruralsprout.com/dry-herbs-at-home/, https://www.organicauthority.com/live-grow/blogorganicorganic-fooddry-your-own-organic-herbs, https://feastandfarm.com/how-to-dry-parsley/, https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/herbs/how-to-preserve-your-garden-herbs, https://www.herbalfoo.com/drying-herbs-a-complete-guide/, The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu how to. Lay two sheets of absorbent kitchen roll paper and then put a … It is also extremely easy and fast to dry parsley in the microwave. Once they are completely dry, store in air tight containers and continue to keep out of direct sunlight. Step 3. Store dried leaves whole to retain their flavour. Template:Video:Air Dry Parsley. This is a simple and easy process but you do need to pay careful attention over what you are doing. The warm air has to circulate in and out of the air fryer in order for it to remove the warm moist air (Usually, air fryers only circulate air within the air fryer when cooking). If you have a really profuse harvest, you can opt to store your dried parsley in freezer containers. A food dehydrator is another way to dry your herbs. If you always have a lot of fruit, vegetables, or herbs that you want to dry, you may want to invest in a dehydrator. You can also air-dry parsley indoors, by tying a few stems together and hanging them upside down from a nail or rack. In microwave drying, the water that the parsley contains gets most of the energy that the microwave produces. Air drying works best with herbs that do not have a high moisture content, like bay, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, summer savory, and thyme. Check the parsley. Hang them in a cool dry place to allow to air dry. The water heats up and evaporates. Put the parsley on top of the screen. Cover the leaves with another paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute. A well ventilated, dry and warm room is the best location. How to Protect Your Health from Covid-19. You only want to dry it out, not cook it. Nuke the parsley on high for about a minute. How to Save Living Expenses for College Students. Turn the herbs regularly for the first few days. (I don’t recommend just drying it on the counter without the bag. SEE ALSO: How to Dehydrate Food Successfully: A Beginner’s Guide, Copyright © 2020. How to Save Money While Traveling With Your Pets? If you have more parsley than you can use right now, don’t hesitate to dry the surplus and store them. It is an inexpensive and gentle option. If you have a food dehydrator, you can use it to dry parsley and other herbs. Wash the old screens. But leave small, feathery herbs, like dill and fennel, on the stalks until drying is complete.Tarragon, bay, mint, lem… Store the crushed dried parsley in an airtight jar. Otherwise, the parsley will not dry as it should. If you are using products from your own garden, harvest the parsley at midmorning.