Herbs are usually easy to grow in the garden or in containers and are actually essential to every dish. In this article we explain how to harvest and store herbs so that they last longer and give tips that will help you.
Harvesting and drying herbs is not difficult. You just need to know when to harvest to preserve maximum flavor and how to harvest to encourage fresh growth. Of course, storage is also crucial.
When to harvest herbs?
Begin harvesting the herb when the plant has enough leaves to sustain growth. Limit these harvests to less than a third of the plant to keep it growing and producing more leaves. The right time depends on the part of the plant you are harvesting.If you have the herbsfor leaves, you should do so before flowering. For herbs grown for seeds, you should harvest when the seed pods change color from green to brown to gray, but before they burst. And when you harvest the flowers, you should collect them just before full bloom.
What is the best time of day to harvest herbs? Herbs have more flavor at the beginning of the day, before the heat of the sun dissipates their oils. Harvest early in the morning before the heat of the day arrives. Note that annual herbs can be harvested until frost and perennial herbs can be cut until the end of August.
How to harvest herbs so they grow back?
How do you harvest herbs correctly? Before you begin harvesting, remove dead or damaged leaves and wipe off any existing dirt. When it comes to herbs, harvesting usually serves to promote growth because cutting off new shoots causes the plants to branch out and produce more foliage. Don't cut the entire plant unless you want to replace it. Harvest herbs regularly during the growing season once the plant has enough leaves to sustain continuous growth.
Cut sprigs of herbs just above a clump of leaves or at the bottom of the stem. If you like herbscorrectly and oftencut enough and they will reward you with lush growth. Regular pruning makes plants fuller, lusher and more productive.
Which tools to use for harvesting?
The easiest way to harvest herbs iswith your fingers,when it comes to tender plants. Or simply cut off fresh herb sprigs. You can do one for thatUse herb scissors– a compact cutting tool that is perfect for the gentle growth of herbs.Hand cutters are a classic cutting tooland the first choice when you need to harvest large quantities of herbs.
How do you harvest herbs for drying?
Dried herbs are typically three to four times stronger than fresh herbs and are often used in dishes. To substitute dried herbs in a recipe that calls for fresh herbs, use 1/4 to 1/3 the amount called for in the recipe. How do you preserve herbs? Drying is the easiest and most common method for storage.
Note: Drying in the sun is not recommended as the herbs may lose flavor and color.
When harvesting your herbs, be careful not to harm the leaves. Rinse the leaves in cold water and shake gently to remove excess moisture. Before setting them out to dry, discard any damaged leaves and stems.
There are a few common methods for drying herbs and they are usually simple procedures. Here we show the common drying methods.
Herbs air dry
This is a simple and natural method that has a rich history of culinary and medicinal use. Air drying herbs used to be a common method that most pharmacists and chefs used to dry herbs. All you need is to simply expose the leaves, flowers or seeds to warm, dry air.Note that the herbsbe dried in a well-ventilated place.
Air drying herbs can be done on a tray or by hanging them in small bundles. This means you don't need any special equipment for drying. The best place to dry herbs is a dry place out of direct sunlight that is clean and free of dust, smoke, or steam. Air drying usually takes 5-10 days. Outdoor air drying is often possible, but for better color and flavor retention, you can dry indoors.
Use a food dehydrator
This is a quick way to dry herbs because the temperature and air circulation in the dehydrator can be controlled. Preheat the dehydrator with the thermostat set to 30°C to 45°C. In areas with higher humidity, temperatures of up to approximately 52°C may be required. After rinsing and shaking the plants under cool running water, place them in a single layer on dehydrating trays. Drying times can vary between 1 and 4 hours. Check regularly. When are herbs dry? If they crumble, they are dry.
Note: The stronger herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme, savory and parsley are easiest to dry without a dehydrator. You can easily tie them into small bundles and hang them to air dry.
Oven drying is a common method
Of course, you can also dry herbs in the oven. It is best to use a muslin cloth on which to place the plucked leaves. Set the oven to the lowest setting and dry for about 30 minutes. You'll know the leaves are dry when they crumble slightly. It usually takes two to four hours.
Microwave for quick drying
Microwave ovens are a quick way to dry herbs if you only want to dry small quantities, and microwave drying ensures preservation of the leaves' fresh flavor and vibrant color. Start by separating the leaves from the stems and washing the parts you want to preserve. Place the leaves in the microwave between two paper towels. Heat in 30 second increments, checking in between to make sure the leaves aren't burning. As the leaves dry, they become smaller. Total drying time should take about 2 minutes.
Which herbs are suitable for drying?
Most herbs can be dried easily and retain their healthy properties. The most common herbs for drying are:
- marjoram
- Oregano
- Thymian
- Rosemary
- Lorbeerblatt
- Curry Blatt
- Fennel seeds
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Dill
Which herbs are not suitable for drying?
There are herbs that lose their aroma when dried. These are sensitive plants such as basil, borage, chives, coriander and parsley. Then how can you store these herbs? Freezing may be a better option here.
How long do dried herbs last?
In most cases, dried herbs have a shelf life of 2-3 years. But you have to store them properly. Heat, humidity, sunlight and air all negatively affect your herbs. They essentially break down the essential oils that give spices their flavor.
Storage of dried plants
The herbs are dry when the leaves are crispy and easy to crumple. Then you can pack and store them. How do you store herbs? Place them in airtight containers and store in a cool, dry, dark place to protect color and fragrance. Glass stores aromas,so you can use your herbscan be stored in jars. Just make sure that no moisture gets into the containers, otherwise the herbs will spoil quickly.
When storing, you can keep the whole leaf or crumble it. With basil or mint, it's easiest to crush the leaves. However, if you leave the leaves whole, they will retain their scent.
