This 12 months, I lastly took the plunge and began our personal little outside backyard—and I’m so enthusiastic about it! One of many issues I’ve been trying ahead to most? All of the contemporary herbs we’ll have proper exterior our door. Basil, mint, parsley… all the good things for summer time cooking.
However let’s be sincere—when you have got a backyard and even shopping for a giant bunch of cilantro from there retailer, typically these contemporary herbs pile up sooner than you need to use them. I’ve undoubtedly been there, looking at a countertop stuffed with greenery, pondering, there’s no approach I’m getting by all this earlier than it wilts.
For brief time period use, placing them in a mason jar of water within the fridge works effectively, however for long run preservation, I really like dehydrating herbs. It’s such a easy solution to make them last more so you’ll be able to take pleasure in these homegrown flavors anytime you need! And also you don’t have the stress of getting to make use of them abruptly. Plus, don’t herbs from your personal backyard (or countertop AeroGarden) one way or the other simply at all times style higher? I don’t know why that’s, however it’s true!
If you wish to inventory your spice cupboard with your personal dried herbs and keep away from losing all that goodness, hold studying! I’m sharing a bunch of simple, no-fuss methods to dry herbs—whether or not they’re homegrown or store-bought.


How one can Dehydrate Herbs at House (It’s Simpler Than You Assume!)
There’s nothing higher than having a stash of herbs able to go everytime you’re cooking. (Particularly when you’re following my summer time meal prep concepts or making my winter dinner concepts! I unapologetically use a lot of herbs.) Gone are the times of last-minute grocery runs since you’re out of parsley or basil. Whenever you dehydrate herbs at residence, they’re at all times proper there in your spice cupboard, able to make dinner style further scrumptious. And hey, it stretches your grocery price range, too!
On this put up, I’m strolling you thru every kind of super-easy methods to dry herbs at residence. Truthful warning, although… When you begin drying your personal herbs, you would possibly simply develop into that one that proudly exhibits off their little jar assortment. I completely get it!
Is It Higher to Dehydrate or Air Dry Herbs?
There are two foremost methods to dry herbs: air drying and dehydrating. Each work, however I’ve bought to say, dehydrating herbs is certainly my favourite technique!
Dehydrating takes approach much less time—suppose 1 to 4 hours in comparison with a couple of week for air drying. And even higher, the outcomes are tremendous constant. Plus, there’s approach much less threat of your herbs molding or going unhealthy—which, let’s be actual, is a complete bummer in any case that rising or buying.
For those who reside someplace with excessive humidity or unpredictable climate, dehydrating offers you a peace of thoughts. Irrespective of what number of random summer time thunderstorms come your approach, you understand your herbs will dry correctly each time. It’s fast, simple, and virtually foolproof.


What Herbs Can You Dehydrate?
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Sage
- Oregano
- Marjoram
- Bay leaves
- Terragon
- Basil
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Mint
- Chives
- Lemon balm
- Fennel fronds
How one can Dry Herbs
How one can Dehydrate Herbs within the Oven
Step 1: Begin by preheating your oven to its lowest setting (normally round 170°F and even decrease if yours can go decrease). To assist the moisture escape, you’ll be able to prop the oven door open only a bit with a picket spoon.
Step 2: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and unfold your herbs out in a single layer. Strive to not allow them to overlap—you need them to dry evenly.
Step 3: Pop the tray within the oven and let the herbs dry for 1 to three hours. I wish to test on them each 20 to half-hour, simply to verify they’re not getting too crispy or burned.
Step 4: You’ll know they’re prepared when the leaves crumble simply between your fingers. It’s oddly satisfying, belief me!
Step 5: As soon as they’re cool, retailer them in an hermetic jar and luxuriate in your homegrown (or store-bought) herbs anytime you cook dinner.
How one can Dehydrate Herbs in a Meals Dehydrator
Step 1: Begin by harvesting your herbs and giving them a delicate rinse in cool water to scrub away any filth or little hitchhiking bugs. Pat them utterly dry with a towel or allow them to air-dry till there’s no moisture left. You need them good and dry earlier than they go into the dehydrator.
Step 2: Unfold your herbs in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Give them somewhat area so that they dry evenly.
Step 3: Set your dehydrator someplace between 95°F and 110°F.
For herbs like basil, mint, or parsley, lean towards the upper finish. For woodier, extra delicate herbs, like thyme, rosemary, or oregano, the decrease setting works completely.
Step 4: Allow them to dry for about 1 to 4 hours, checking each hour to verify they don’t over-dry.
Step 5: You’ll know they’re prepared when the stems snap simply or the leaves crumble between your fingers.
How one can Dehydrate Herbs in an Air Fryer
Step 1 – Harvest herbs early within the day, as soon as the dew has dried off—that’s once they’re at their freshest. Give them a delicate rinse to scrub off any filth or little bugs, then pat them utterly dry. You may take away herb leaves from the stems when you’d like as effectively.
Step 2 – Organize the herbs in a single layer in your air fryer basket or on the racks. Make certain they aren’t overlapping so the air can movement round them evenly.
Step 3 – In case your air fryer has a “dehydrate” setting, go forward and use that. If not, simply set it to the bottom temperature it permits—ideally below 180°F.
Step 4 – Allow them to dry for two to 4 hours, checking in each half-hour to an hour. For those who’re operating it at 180°F, hold a better eye on them so that they don’t over-dry or burn. Give the basket somewhat shake or simply flip the herbs midway by to make sure they’re drying evenly.
Step 5 – You’ll know they’re prepared when the leaves crumble simply or the stems snap. Your spice cupboard will look absolutely stocked very quickly!
How one can Dehydrate Herbs in a Microwave
Step 1: Give your herbs a delicate rinse to scrub off any filth, then pat them utterly dry with a towel. It’s actually necessary they’re completely dry earlier than going within the microwave—you don’t need them steaming as an alternative of drying!
Step 2: Lay the herbs in a single layer on a paper towel positioned on a microwave-safe plate. Cowl them with one other paper towel—this retains the light-weight herb leaves from flying in every single place whereas within the microwave.
Step 3: Microwave on excessive briefly, 30-second bursts—most herbs can be prepared in 1 to 2 minutes whole. Although, this time could fluctuate relying on the moisture content material and the facility of your microwave.
Step 4: Verify in the event that they’re prepared by crumbling the leaves between your fingers or snapping a stem. In the event that they crumble simply, you’re good to go!


How one can Retailer Dehydrated Herbs
Use hermetic containers.
The easiest way to retailer dried herbs? Hold it hermetic!
Mason jars, glass spice jars, or little steel tins with snug-fitting lids all work completely to assist herbs keep flavorful. Simply you should definitely skip plastic baggage for long-term storage. These supplies are inclined to let in air and moisture, which may wreck all of your laborious work.
Retailer them in a cool, darkish place.
Tuck these hermetic containers in a cool, darkish spot—suppose pantry, cupboard, or perhaps a kitchen drawer. Preserving them away from mild, warmth, and humidity helps protect their taste and shade for so long as potential.
A bit of tip? Strive to not retailer herbs proper subsequent to the range or dishwasher. The warmth and steam from them can shorten their shelf life. Nothing could be worse than having to toss them out after you simply spent all that point prepping them!
Make certain to label the whole lot.
Don’t skip the labels—belief me!
On the subject of storing your dried herbs, a great label is your greatest good friend. You should definitely jot down the identify of the herb (so useful afterward) and the date you dried it proper on the container.
Even when you suppose you’ll bear in mind, all of them begin to look somewhat alike after a couple of months. Which, while you begin to construct a pleasant little herb assortment, issues can get difficult. Save your self the guessing recreation and simply label them from the beginning!
Hold dry herbs for six to 12 months.
Your house-dried herbs will keep contemporary and flavorful for about 6 to 12 months—typically even longer in the event that they’re saved correctly.
Outdated herbs received’t harm you, however they undoubtedly lose their punch over time. For those who’re undecided whether or not they’re nonetheless good, simply rub somewhat between your fingers and take a sniff. If the aroma’s nonetheless sturdy, you’re good to go. If it smells like… effectively, not a lot… it’s most likely time to refresh your stash!
Hold your spice cupboard stocked and your grocery invoice stretched by dehydrating herbs at residence.
There’s simply one thing so satisfying about doing issues your self at residence. I’ve at all times been a giant fan of DIY initiatives, so planting my very own backyard was a no brainer. Plus, dehydrating additionally helps us stretch our grocery price range and take advantage of all that backyard goodness! We get to economize, savor our laborious work, and have flavorful herbs all on the identical time.
One of the best half? You actually don’t want a lot to do it. A microwave, oven, air fryer—or when you’re feeling fancy, a meals dehydrator—and somewhat know-how is all it takes. Earlier than you understand it, you’ll have a stash of freshly dried herbs able to taste your meals for months to come back!