This process works for all herbs. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Although you may gather a lot from an especially vigorous crop of herbs, remove no more than a third to a half of your plant at a given time. Allow the herbs to cool inside the oven once cooking has finished. Be careful not to wash them too thoroughly to avoid adding excess water and losing the plant’s flavorful compounds. While the oven is preheating, place your herb sprigs in a single layer on a cookie sheet. For some climates, ovens and dehydrators may be the only way to dry freshly harvested herbs. It’s best to wait until mid-morning, as the dew should be gone by then. wikiHow's. Kept whole, these herbs can give you a steady supply of accouterments for your dishes for months to come. Lay out parchment over a baking pan, preheat your oven and keep it on the lowest heat setting. An oven thermometer is an indispensable tool for this purpose, allowing you to measure the internal temperature so you can make the necessary adjustments. This will help the herbs dry out faster and prevent them from cooking inside the oven, which would cause them to lose some of their flavor potency. Choose healthy, vigorous stalks and leaves. Take great care to remove any hard stems that might find their way into the food. If you have herbs that you need to dry, you may want to dry them in the oven. After your herbs are fully dried, you’ll want to store them in sealed containers to retain their freshness, just like you would with herbs from the store. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Check the herbs every 15 minutes to make sure that they aren’t burning. Despite this, dried herbs have a more concentrated aroma, which means you would need to use less of them in a dish. Run a full sink of cool water and have a salad spinner resting on a tea cloth at the ready. How to Dry Herbs in Your Oven. You must take extra caution when drying herbs in the oven. If you have a gas oven, do not leave the door open, as this is very hazardous. I am a bit of a workaholic, but if I can find an easier and faster way to do something, I’m all for it. Start by carefully selecting and preparing the herbs. You can get the best assurance of flavor quality from dried herbs that were harvested fresh, as you would have known exactly when they were harvested. Here are all the important things you need to know about drying herbs in the oven. A microwave or an oven set on low may seem like a convenient shortcut, but they actually cook the herbs to a degree, diminishing the oil content and flavor. Ideally, herbs dry out effectively in an environment that is no more than 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees F). With both methods, you'll know the herbs are dry when leaves crumble easily. It would significantly speed up the process, keep the dog hair out of it, and it would just be easier overall. Then, set your oven to its lowest temperature and put the tray inside, turning the herbs every 30 minutes. How to dry herbs in the oven While you can dry any type of fresh herbs in a very low oven, some people prefer using the oven for woody (thyme, rosemary) herbs, rather than tender (basil, parsley) ones, which are more delicate. Achieving the optimal temperature is a challenge. Mid-morning is the best time to harvest herbs from your garden, as the dew would have evaporated while the essential oils within the plants have not. How to Dry Herbs in Your Oven. Use an oven mitt to remove the cookie sheet. If doing several herbs, try to place similar herbs together. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Always keep the heat at the lowest possible setting. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If you use a clear jar, place it in the dark to preserve the color of your herbs. Although time-consuming, taking several days to finish, this produces the best results for low-moisture herbs with tiny leaves that dry out quickly. Strip the herbs from their stalks, and lay them out on an oven rack covered with a layer of muslin. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Find out how to dry fresh herbs at home to save money and reduce food waste. Store in labeled, dated airtight containers like canning jars, plastic storage containers or freezer storage bags. A much faster version of this principle can be employed using microwave ovens, which works better for delicate herbs like cilantro. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. To quickly dry herbs in an oven, line a cookie sheet with muslin or parchment paper and place a single layer of herbs on that tray. If you suspect they are, pull them early to check them for dryness. Wait about 30 seconds, then close the oven again. Cut the herb's stems off about halfway down and discard any bits with obvious flaws like bird poop, insect infestation, or dead leaves. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. To make sure the air is circulating inside the oven, leave the door of an electric oven slightly ajar. This article has been viewed 18,797 times. DryingAllFoods.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, 3 Super-Easy Ways to Dehydrate Kiwi at Home, 3 Easy Methods for Drying Mint Leaves for Tea, A Complete Guide on How to Store Dried Herbs, How to Harvest Oregano – A Complete Guide, How to Dry Flowers – From Harvesting to Drying Flowers, 4 Easy Methods for Drying Stinging Nettle at Home, Let the herbs remain in the oven for about 20 minutes, then. Learn more... Herb gardens are a great addition to any home, and fresh herbs are readily available at many grocers or farmers markets. If necessary, you might need to preheat the oven and then turn it off with just the light on to achieve the appropriate temperature range for optimum results. If your herbs have already flowered, you can deadhead the flowers. Set … The temperature must be below 200, else the herbs will bake rather than dry. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Dried herbs are best kept in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or cupboard at room temperature. Drying Herbs in the Oven. Separate the herb leaves from the stems and discard the stems.