From the garden
Does it get much better in the dead of winter than taking out a handful of personally grown preserved herbs to add flavor to a big pot of winter soup?
Saving an abundance of summer herbs is a simple activity that delivers rewards for a long time. It just takes a little effort.
The simplest way to preserve herbs is to dry them. They can be hung in bunches or dried in a dehydrator. Air drying is sufficient for most herbs and reduces accidental damage of tender foliage that can be caused in a dehydrator.
Hanging bunches. Cut herbs from the mother plant leaving lengths of stems that can be easily gathered and tied with string or raffia. Gently rinse foliage with cool water to remove dust and insects. Avoid bruising the leaves. Lay flat in a single layer on paper towels or newspaper away from direct light. When dry, tie into a bunch and hang upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space. After leaves have completely dried, strip leaves from stems and store.
Herb leaves that can be effortlessly dried are basil, cilantro, dill, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme.
Drying lavender is a little different from most herbs as most are saved for their leaves. Lavender is valued for its fragrant, spiked flowers that keep their fragrance when dried. Flowers are harvested when buds first open. Gather the floral spikes into bunches and hang upside down in a dark spot that has good ventilation.
Dehydrator. Culinary sage leaves are candidates for drying in a dehydrator as they take a little longer to dry because they are fleshy. This is not to say that they cannot be air-dried, but the drying process takes less time in a dehydrator.
Mint leaves are also good candidates. They are fleshy and can mold unless closely watched if the air drying method is used to preserve the leaves.
Prepare for the dehydrator following the same steps as for drying by bunching. Gently rinse then place washed leaves on racks in single layers keeping temperatures no hotter than 90°F. Leaves are dry when they easily crumble. Sweep them into bags or airtight jars for storing. Keep in a dark place.
Completely dried herbs can be stored in zip-top plastic bags. Keep in a dark place.
Herbs stored in decorative airtight jars make great gifts.
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
