Monday, September 13, 2010

3 Easy Steps in Drying Herbs

If you want to conserve your herbs after harvest, the best option you have is drying them. Drying herbs makes it possible for you to keep them for future use - for alternative medicines or for culinary cooking purposes. Drying your desired herbs makes them helpful for future medicinal and culinary reasons even when they aren't in your garden anymore. Do you have some ideas on how to dry your garden-fresh herbs? If not, please read this article so that you will be properly guided.

Drying herbs is a critical part in the effective preservation of newly harvested and fresh herbs. You can do this at home by simply using straightforward processes. Before drying your herbs, you first need to know if they are good to go for harvesting. For instance, the stems and leaves are finest harvested when they start to flower. In almost the same light, flowers are best harvested before they start blossoming. During spring, twigs and bark are best gathered for harvest during autumn, when the leaves start to have a change in color for Rhizomes and roots.

Once you're finished harvesting, the next step is to wash the leaves carefully as well as the roots. It is essential to wash the leaves because most gardeners are using fertilizers to track how their herbs grow. Who in their right state of mind would want their family to eat foods rich in fertilizers? Cleanly-washed herbs will become safe for consumption. Consider reading the tips below:

1. Air -drying process

For drying herbs, this is one of the most well-liked methods. The first thing you need to do is to remove any dead leaves and tie them in small bunches. Next, blanch them in boiling water for a couple of seconds. Shake off any excess water from the leaves and allow it to dry. You may also use a towel to pat the leaves until it dries. The length of time that it will take for the herbs to dry depends on your house's temperature. Sometimes natural air drying takes two to three days. An indicator that the leaves and stems are already dry are the herb cracks you will see and when the leaves are already brittle.

2.Using an Oven in drying herbs
Oven dried herbs are always guaranteed to have longer freshness. You just place them in the oven when they are cleaned are ready for drying. The oven must be in the prescribed temperature level during the procedure. It will only take an hour to dry the leaves in the oven.

3. Drying herbs through Microwave

Using the microwave to dry your newly harvested herbs is a basic and undemanding procedure.Expert gardeners have been using this technique of drying herbs for years. Microwave-drying herbs are easy to do, but you have to be mindful of what you are doing. Put a layer of herbs in at least 2 sheets of kitchen roll that is absorbent and then another paper towel layer. When this is ready you can turn the oven on and start drying.
So, are you ready to dry your herbs now? Start now by selecting what method you want to use in drying your herbs. Before proceeding, don't ever forget to wash your herbs.

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