Drying herbs

[The Mama Chicken]

My herb garden is overflowing so I have been drying herbs this morning. I just finished 5 trays of basil and now I have 2 trays of tarragon and 3 trays of leaf celery (parcel) going. I'm going to be making celery salt with the leaf celery and sea salt. My little Mr.Coffee dehydrator is one of our best $5 yard sale finds.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah, I like my 6-tray Nesco. I got 3 half pint jars of Oregano earlier from one batch which will easily do me this year. My next batch of Oregano will be for gifts. That's still a few weeks away.

I'm still waiting on the Basil and to see what else I do this year, hopefully the Sage will produce enough. The jury is still out on that. But I don't just do herbs.

I normally dry tomatoes, which are great in many things. I've been know to dry chopped onions too when they start to show signs of going bad. They can only hang for so long.

If my peaches do like they look like they will, some just might wind up in there. I'm thinking about seedless grapes too. Looks like I may have to do something with them.

I agree. A dehydrator can be a great tool.

 

[The Mama Chicken]

Here's a picture of the finished product.

 

[digitS']

Basil work okay in one of those?

I know an old fellow who likes basil, dries it, and claims the Dark Opal is the best choice.

Since basil turns black at any opportunity, I've wondered if it's just that the Dark Opal already has all that pigmentation.

Steve

 

[The Mama Chicken]

Steve, the jar on the right is basil. It did get dark, but it didn't turn black. It works really well, after about 2 hours in the dehydrator it was done.

 

[nachoqtpie]

hubs got me a dehydrator last year for my birthday.... I haven't used it yet... :/ I really need to tho.

 

[lesa]

Those look great Mama C! I really enjoyed having my dried herbs this winter. Need to do a little extra basil- ran out about a month ago. I had plenty in the garden, just got lazy and didn't dry enough...Will try hard, not to make the same mistake this year!

 

[digitS']

hubs got me a dehydrator last year for my birthday.... I haven't used it yet... :/ I really need to tho.

Almost exactly the situation here except, I think it was a Christmas gift for DW 2 years ago .

She had serious plans for veggies & fruit . . . I guess I should have bought it for myself.

Steve :/

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

You need to make some zucchini candy!!
Best made w/ those 5lb ones that 'sneak up' on us...

http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com/sassy_sweet_notes/2010/08/what-to-do-with-a-5-pound-zucchini.html

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I need to dry and store my chives. Its my first time drying herbs for storing. Any tips? My chives are from hoody, so they are extra special.