If you have open shelves in your kitchen that do not receive direct sunlight then your jars of herbs would be a beautiful addition to your décor. I just “flag” the email and it is never deleted that way. Air Drying Medicinal Herbs Once you have completed your drying and garbling it is time to store your herbs. For low-moisture herbs, dry them in the dark with good air circulation and temperatures below 110°F. This article was written by Diane, one of our dearest writers who is also a herbalist. 1. We really appreciate it. Alternately, you can plunk them in a dehydrator. When you have a stock of your own dried herbs on hand cooking, and herbal preparations become easier. Air drying is another method of drying herbs that works well in dry climates. Collecting, Drying, and Storing Medicinal Herbs. Your dried herbs will retain the most flavor by storing them in an airtight container, in a cool, dry spot that is out of direct sunlight. Here is the process: Preheat your dehydrator. Leave your herbs to dry away from direct sunlight and moisture for at least 5 days. They retain more of their oils when kept intact. Dry herbs in the oven easily by placing the parts on a bit of cheesecloth. These plants can best be dried by laying them out on a perforated surface like a woven tray or screen and leaving them in a shaded indoor setting for about a week. Once your herbs are dry, it is time to sort them and prepare them for long term storage. Leafy Herbs. Dry. Herbs are garden favorites and are used for many culinary and medicinal purposes. I don’t recommend oven drying or microwave drying because the herbs can easily get too hot and lose their medicinal qualities. Thus, it is possible to dry or dehydrate herbs, flowers and spices to maintain all their properties and prevent spoilage over time.. A steady stream of warm, dry air quickly dries my herbs before they have a chance to degrade. Check the jars occasionally to make sure they are dry and have no mold growth. It would be wise to check them periodically to be certain there is no mold growth; A few ways to determine if your herbs are still good is to observe any changes in their color and aroma. Rinse with cool water only if necessary and pat dry with paper towels. It’s generally not a good idea to hang them in direct sunlight, because they can burn and become over-dry. I like to keep dried herbs in clean glass jars … 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. I look forward to every email I get from you. I prefer to store my herbs in large mason jars with a tight fitting lid and then placed in a cupboard. Either way, you'll want to bring the herbs indoors when they are thoroughly dry. Cut the stems about one inch above the soil. Herbs should maintain their potency in your mason jars for up to two years as long as they were dried properly. You can see the difference in color as I add it to my container of store bought parsley. This allows us to have access to these medicinal herbs all year long. Once a root dries it may become so dense and tough that cutting it into small pieces could take an act of God. Some people hang them in the kitchen window, but I recommend choosing a spot out of direct sunlight. You should make the articles you send us available in PDF form so we can keep them as a reference when we go back to use them. This method will take about a week. Garbling is the process of separating the leaves, flowers, and stem portions and discarding the unwanted parts. Native Americans used black cherry as a medicinal herb to treat coughs. Be life threatening, so i may have issues with mold, wash them and scrub off excess. As i add it to my container of store bought parsley by placing the on! 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