drying herbs

[pelmetman]

We use a lot of herbs in cooking and grow quite a few in the garden but still buy in quite a lot of dried ones.
Today I picked lots of oregano, tied them into bunches and put them into paper bags, and have placed them in the airing cupboard to dry, I will then crush them and place them in jars.

We have a good supply of chives, rosemary, bay and sage which we use throughout the winter. Also growing the usual basil, corriander, lemon balm, thyme and parsley but would appreciate hints on what others grow and dry for winter use.

Sue

[theabsinthefairy]

I grow pretty much the same herbs as you as well as mint for mint tea in the winter.

I cut chives fresh and freeze them in ice cube trays for use in the winter, as well as fennel bulbs, these freeze well when cut up, and also dill fronds, just chop and freeze in ice cube trays. To use the dill and the chives I normally serve on hot boiled potatoes, just put an 'ice cube' of herb in a pan on the hob with a small amount of butter, stir a few times until they melt, then pour over the spuds. Just add the ice cube of herb into soups or casseroles or sauces.

Remember when picking herbs for drying pick within the first couple of hours of a sunny dawn - this is when most of the oils are at their strongest in the plant and will give you a stronger flavoured dried herb than one which has been picked in the afternoon or early evening.

Have you grown horseradish - very invasive but useful herb? I also grow chamomile in my flower and herb garden, alongside lavender and dry those flower heads for use in winter too.


Sounds like you have most recipe ideas covered with that selection Sue.

Chive flower heads can also be dried and used in salads over winter, they just don't look as purple and pretty but still have a lot of flavour.

[Silver Ether]

I also freeze herbs but just cut them and put them in to small lidded tubs and find I can just spoon the amount I want ... hadn't thought about chives though ...will give that at go too

[spymurph]

Coincidentally I have been thinking about the same thing. Yesterday I cut all my dill which looked like it was about to bolt. I have tried three different methods to keep it for future use.
1. Hang a bunch up to dry.
2. Freeze some in cubes.
3. Add some to some small jars of oil for barbecued fish.
Let's see what works best.

[Pennylane]

When hanging the bunches of herbs do you think it is best to have them in the dark?

[theabsinthefairy]

I hang mine in the chimney breast behind the Rayburn, which is quite shady but not dark as such, but when I am overrun I hang them everywhere - in the hall from a high level shelf, in the barn, from the lilac tree on a sunny day for crushing the same day.

I hang my sun dried tomatoes in the ash tree in full sun - cut into quarters string up like a garland and hang in full sun for a full two days until dry but still smelling very tomatoey - then put in a sterilised jar and cover with olive oil.

[pelmetman]

I have never tried doing sun dried tomotoes, but I will this year as we've planted loads of plants, (as long as we get some sun )

Its one of those things that is obviously really easy to do and yet they are really expensive to buy. Thanks for the tip.
Sue

[Pennylane]

Your place must be a real picture with all your garlands and bouquettes everywhere...so there is no fixed rule..I have hung them in the airing cupboard and over the rayburn when it is damp...for flowers I wrap in newspaper beyond thier flower heads to shade them a bit...I wondered if anyone had a better way...but it seems what suits you and the conditions works well ,easy for everyone to try.
Like the sun dried tomatoe tip, we are having such a heatwave in could work in Wales...do you take them in at night?

[prison break fan]

Sun dried tomatoes sound lovely! hope we get enough sun to try them! Most herbs I just chop up and spread on trays in the conservatory. This year I want to do mixed herbs. pbf.

[Pennylane]

Maybe hanging the tomatoes in the conservatory might compensate for the english sun...

[theabsinthefairy]

Hi Pennylane - no I don't take them in at night because the temperatures tend to stay in the 20s overnight with little or no dew. I try to pick a couple of days when the forecast is for very very hot - reaching high 30s during the days, and so they dry extremely quickly.

[Pennylane]

Think I will have a go just to see what happens but put them in the conservatory at night because we do have heavy dew and morning mists here...its been so very hot here latelythat there is a chance of it working...thanks for the idea