5 Ways to Dry Herbs

Whether you have some leftover store-bought rosemary from yesterday′s meal of roasted veggies, a garden overflowing with lemon balm, or a large backyard patch of wild stinging nettle, drying herbs is a great option for preserving this abundance for a year-round supply of cooking spices and herbal preparations.

Drying herbs effectively is a key step in getting the most out of your wildcrafting experience! Find five ways to dry herbs below, an excerpt from the online Botany & Wildcrafting Course, which takes students on a captivating voyage through the science of botanical identification and the art of wildcrafting edible and herbal botanicals.

A Guide to Drying your Herbal Harvest

Drying methods depend on many factors, including the herb(s) in question, the plant part(s) to be dried, the temperature and humidity of your drying space, the equipment available, and how the herb(s) will ultimately be used (i.e., home use versus commercial distribution).

Most herbalists will dry their herbs in one or more of the following ways:

Herb Drying Method 1: Outdoors on a clean surface, shaded from direct sunlight

Spread fresh herbs on a tarp, cloth, or other clean surface on the ground. To keep plant material out of direct sunlight, choose a naturally shaded area or create shade with a canopy, shade frame, or hoop house.

Herb Drying Method 2: In layers on drying frames or screens

This method maximizes available space much like an urban skyrise: spread herbs on screens or drying racks that can be stacked on top of each other in a frame. If your drying room is small enough, use a dehumidifier to speed up the drying process (this applies to any indoor drying method, including the next method below).

Herb Drying Method 3: Bunched for hanging or drying in paper bags

Collect herbs into small, loose bundles, and hang from nails or a string (much like a clothesline) in an out-of-the way location away from light. Bundles may be tied with string, twist-ties, or rubber bands (the last option keeps individual stems from slipping out of the bundles as they shrink with drying). Alternatively, bundles may be placed in paper bags to prevent contamination by dust or other particulate matter. When drying herbs in paper bags, the bags should be left open or have holes cut into them to allow air to circulate.

Herb Drying Method 4: In dehydrators

Layer herbs on racks in an appliance designed to maintain air flow and control temperature. Dehydrators range from standard home food dehydrators (choose one with an adjustable thermostat) to larger, specially designed cabinets.

Herb Drying Method 5: In an oven at a very low temperature

Spread herbs on trays or oven sheets, and place in an oven that can be set to a temperature below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (gas ovens can be kept off with only the pilot light lit; the light bulb in some ovens may provide enough heat), and monitor for dryness. If needed, the oven door can be left ajar to increase air circulation and ensure that the temperature doesn′t rise too high.

Next time you′ve got an overabundance of fresh herbs on your hands, give one of these herb drying methods a try! And for more details on drying and the pros and cons of each drying method, along with a wealth of information on plant biology and ecology, botanical terminology, field identification, wildcrafting techniques, and more, sign up for the Botany & Wildcrafting Course, curated by the Herbal Academy′s team of expert herbalists and botanists.