Preservation of herbs

Hello everyone!

I have a question! How can you preserve herbs, what do you have to consider when drying them? I hope you can give me some tips on this. Most of the time I only use the herbs fresh, but then I have to buy herbs in winter, even though I have enough to get through the whole year.

LG,
sennor :)

Preserving in Oil or Vinegar

Hello sennor!

So: there are different methods to preserve herbs. Even herbs that stay green in winter, such as rosemary or sage, are cut back in autumn. That means you should really think about preserving herbs to be able to enjoy the aromatic taste of summer in winter as well. One option is to preserve the herbs by pickling. That means you take a clean bottle (it’s best to sterilize it by boiling) and then fill it with the desired herbs. Actually, almost any herb is suitable for this. Whether basil or sage, lavender or thyme. Then you fill the bottles filled with herbs with vinegar or oil. It is important to ensure that the herbs are completely covered by the oil or vinegar! Because if parts of the plants stick out, they can grow mold! Then place the bottles (or small bottles) preferably in a warm place. The sun should not shine directly on them... but it has to be warm. It should steep for at least 1 month, but better 2 to 3. Then you can either strain it and thus remove the herbs, or you can leave them in, but then you have to use the oil or vinegar faster. Small, nice bottles are best suited for this.

Best regards,
Gardening :)

Hi,
first of all, thanks for the detailed information. You really have to consider a lot when making such an herbal oil. And it also takes some time until it is "ready." But then the quality is good, meaning it pays off! I am looking forward to more tips... ;)

Ciao,
sennor :)

Hello sennor!

Then we come to a very important process, which is usually the first step: drying the herbs! It is usually important to harvest the herbs just before full flowering. You can also dry parts of the herbs, such as the seeds, flowers, leaves, or roots, but also the whole plant, which is best tied together. After that, you simply hang the plant upside down in a dry place. The place must not be damp, as this can lead to mold formation. Moldy herbs must be disposed of. If you have a house, the attic or loft is excellent for the drying process, which should proceed quickly. Air circulation is also important in this regard. Drying in direct sunlight is not recommended because valuable ingredients, which are ultimately what matter, are lost. You can of course also dry herbs indoors, if you observe the aforementioned factors.

If you harvest only parts of an herb, such as just the leaves, the same applies as for the whole plant. Apart from the fact that parts cannot be hung up. That is why drying by laying the parts on a clean surface is suitable. Anyone who has a fly screen or similar can use it very well, since air also comes from below. One more important thing: you should never stack the herb parts on top of each other, but only lay them out in a single layer.

Best regards,
Gardening :)

Hello!

So I have something to add to that as well... ;)
Here’s the following: If you want to dry roots, you have to pay attention to a few things. When you dig them up, they are obviously surrounded by soil. Therefore, the very first thing you have to do is brush the roots thoroughly and cleanly with a brush. Soil residues, which normally always cling to roots, should be rinsed off under running cold water. Then it’s important to dry the root as quickly as possible. For this, you first cut it into thin slices. If the roots are very thin, you can skip this step. If you have a warm and dry place where the roots can really dry quickly, that’s good. If not, you have to use the oven. You turn it to about 30-40 degrees, but no more. You leave the oven door open! This way the moisture can escape well. Those who have a drying device are clearly at an advantage. However, the drying process takes several hours, and that costs energy. Anyone who can find a good drying spot saves quite a bit.

Best regards,
[Gartengestaltung] :)

Herb Butter

Hi!

You make really precise specifications. Thank you very much! How does infusing in alcohol actually work? Does it work similarly to oil or vinegar? What I’m also curious about is, how do you actually make herb butter? I believe that’s also a good way to preserve herbs, isn’t it?

Best regards, sennor :)