How To Preserve Fresh Herbs Like A Pro

Herbs are important parts of our daily lifestyle. Their importance is visible in their health benefits and food taste enhancements amongst other things. Herbs have a short shelf life which makes it imperative to learn how to preserve them.

This article will provide a simple guide on how to preserve herbs and store them properly. Read on to learn exciting tips about herb preservation.

The Best Methods of Preserving Herbs at Home

The goal of preserving herbs is to retain their content, taste, and flavor while extending the shelf life. The good news is there is a wide range of options available to store your herbs.

The first to note is that there are different types of herbs; some are leafy and sturdy, while others are delicate and soft. The best method of preservation depends on the herb. Interestingly, some preservation methods are good for any herb.

The three main herb preservation methods in a DIY setting are:

• Herb Drying
• Herb Freezing
• Herb Infusion

Herb Preservation Using Drying Methods

Removing the moisture content of herbs is one of the best and most effective preservation methods. This method is more practical for herbs with low or moderate moisture content. That way, you can preserve the aroma and quality for months.

Here are various ways you can preserve your  herbs through drying:

Air Drying Herbs

The simplest method to preserve your herbs is by air drying. Air-drying steps are simple and easy if you are new to herb preservation. However, this method is suitable only for sturdy herbs with low moisture content.

How to Air Dry Herbs

To Air-dry your herbs, collect the stems or leaves of the same type in small bundles and rinse them off in running water. While rinsing, the herbs should have the stems up with the leaves down. Allow the water to run off gently; it’s best if you don’t squeeze or shake off the water. Once the dripping stops, tie the bunches with a string. An elastic string is the best to use as it firmly holds the stems as they lose moisture.

After tying the stems into bunches, hang them upside down in a well-ventilated area. You can either hang them in a shed or indoors. For flavor preservation, it is best to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Also, avoid the cooking zone, water storage areas, or the dishwasher because the air in these places contains high moisture or heat.

Depending on the moisture level, the herb bunches take three days and two weeks to fully dry.

Tip: 

• Separate the bunches based on types and species. Do not tie two different types of herbs in one bunch for best results.
• If the leaves are too small to tie, spread them out evenly on paper to dry out.

Food Dehydrator

Another simple yet faster method of drying herbs is using a food dehydrator. A food dehydrator is more suitable for fruits like tomatoes and garden fruits. However, it can also help preserve herbs of aromatic qualities if you set the food dehydrator at a low temperature.

How to Dry Herbs with a Food Dehydrator

To dehydrate, prepare, separate, and wash each leaf under running water. After washing, place each herb on the dehydrator and arrange them in a single layer with no leaf on the other.

A low temperature of about 95⁰F (35⁰C) dries out the herbs without any loss of flavor. How long the dehydration entirely occurs depends on the moisture level of the herbs. A simple hand test can help you determine whether the leaves are fully dry.  Once the leaves crumble and detach from their stems, they are dry and ready for storage.

On average, your herbs should get fully dehydrated between 2 to 5 hours. However, check the dehydrator users’ manual to confirm the required period and temperature before using.

Microwave Drying

Microwave drying is an excellent alternative if you find air drying difficult. Thick and succulent herbs like parsley and celery leaves are more suited to this method.

How to Dry Herbs with a Microwave

Wash and spread the herbs evenly in a single layer on a paper towel. Cover the spread with another paper layer to protect your herbs from direct heat. The recommended wattage rate for these leaves is 1000 watts for three minutes.

This process is a meticulous one that requires attention. After placing the leaves in the microwave, check them every 30 seconds until the leaves are dry. While checking, rearrange the leaves to ensure that each part is exposed correctly. Also, before the expected three minutes is complete, check for dry leaves and separate them from the others.

The test for dryness in microwave drying is the same as that of the dehydration method. The dry leaves readily crumble with the slightest force. When the stem easily detaches from the leaves while in a bent or straight position, it is dry and ready for storage.

Preserving Herbs by Freezing

Freezing is another simple method of preserving herbs. It is perfect for soft herbs with high moisture content. Freezing is much more preferable to drying because the latter can reduce the quality of such herbs’ flavor. The aim of freezing herbs is to keep the leaves as fresh as possible. Also, freezing is a better option if you plan to cook the herbs or serve as salad in the future. Here are some creative freezing options available to you:

Frozen Herb Cubes

A convenient way to preserve herbs is by using ice trays in refrigerators. Ice cube trays are popular for making ice cubes, but you can be creative with them. This method is suitable for storing tender and edible herbs like mint and cilantro.

The best part is that the process is straightforward. Select your herbs and pluck them off from the stems. Also, chop freshly prepared leaves into smaller pieces and pack a moderate portion tightly in each ice tray while filling it halfway. After, top up the tray with clean water and freeze.

If the leaves are not tight in the trays, you can use an alternative method to keep them frozen properly. Freeze the herbs for an hour.

Tip: You can mix herbs of different types in a single cube. It doesn’t have to be a single herb type.

Frozen Herb Cylinder

An alternative to freezing in ice cubes is using plastic bags to make small cylinders of herbs. This option suits herbs with broad leaves that are difficult to freeze in tight spaces like ice trays. Besides, you don’t have to chop the leaves into tiny pieces.

Pack a handful of the herbs after picking and rinsing carefully. After, place them inside small plastic bags and press the leaves to the bottom to tighten them. Roll each bag into a cylinder shape and hold down the shape using elastic bands. It is best to have a separate roll for each type of herb.

Ensure to label each roll for easy identification. You can freeze each herb separately using this method. Alternatively, pack the cylindrical-shaped herbs into a freezer bag and zip to ensure it is airtight.

Frozen Herb Paste

Some herbs turn bad and black if frozen bare, which is majorly caused by moisture and the nature of the herbs. It is essential to know how to preserve herbs that have this tendency. The answer is to preserve them as a herb paste. This step involves processing herbs into a paste and freezing in olive oil. It is a perfect way to make basil pesto and other types of pesto.

The step involves removing the leaves from the stems after carefully rinsing them under running water. After, pick out the leaves and squeeze them into a blender or food processor. Add olive oil in small quantities and blend until you have a uniform mix. Your mix should be thick and paste-like. After, pour the mixture into ice cubes and freeze it for long-time use.

It is best if you freeze the mixture immediately. Herbs in oil tend to release oxygen, which can lead to botulism. When frozen, the herbs can retain their content, including oxygen.

Frozen Buttered Herb

Including butter is an excellent way to preserve your herbs and add flavor. This method is best for meals that involve stuffing and spreadings. It is also one of the few herb preservation methods suitable for any herb.

The process of making herbed butter is straightforward. To start, prepare your butter and leave it at room temperature until it is soft and ready. After, select the herb blend for the process and rinse thoroughly. Also, separate the leaves from the stems and spread them out until it is completely dry. If the herbs have broad leaves, slice them into smaller pieces for the easy mixture. After slicing, mix the herb with your preferred type of butter and continue to mix until you have a uniform mixture.

You need greaseproof paper for storage. Cut the mixture into appropriate sizes and wrap it in parchment paper or any other suitable type. You can wrap it in a cylinder form and tape it off the edges. Alternatively, wrap the mixture into box shapes. But remember to freeze the mixture to ensure long-lasting preservation.

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Creative Preservation by Herb Infusion

Herb infusion is a simple way of preserving and transferring the aroma or flavor of herbs to another natural substance or compound. The infusion helps you to improve the quality of these compounds. Using this method, you don’t need to keep the herb; after the infusion, the selected compounds absorb the herb content. The absorbent usually has a longer shelf-life product than the green herbs. Here are the options available.

Herbs-infused oils and Vinegar

Do you want to add flavor to your oil for salad dressing? You can use this old but creative method of preserving herb flavors. It is a colorful method that enables you to add more flavor and aroma to your cooking. It is good for sauteed vegetables and pizza, too. It can also be a gift to a dear one.

For this method, it is best to get a clean glass jar. Prepare the herbs by removing them from the stems after washing. Dry out the leaves completely after washing to avoid bacteria action. Put the dry herbs inside the jar. Remember, the quantity of herb determines the strength of the flavor.

Olive oil is often the obvious pick if you use oils for preserving this herb. But you can be creative with your selection. Avocado or grapeseed oils are also suitable for this process.

When using vinegar instead of oils, there are options. However, it is best to use light-hued vinegar such as white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar.

Pour the oil or vinegar to the required level and leave enough space at the top of the glass jar. Shake the jar to release any trapped air. The next step is to shut the glass jar using the lid. You can keep the solution for at least two weeks before removing the herbs.

Your oil or vinegar is ready for use. It is best to sieve the oil or vinegar before using it to remove herb sediments.

Herb-Infused Salt and Salt-Preserved Herbs

Using salt to preserve herbs is a unique and ancient method with two satisfying results. The method preserves the herbs and their flavor, making them suitable for future use. What’s more? The quality of the salt improves as the salt also absorbs some of the flavor of the herbs. So, in the end, you have two desired results. Delicate herbs like basil, parsley, and tarragon are the perfect option for this method.

To begin, get a dry, clear jar and your preferred salt. Kosher salt and sea salt are good options for this salt preservation method. Rinse the herbs and make sure it’s dry before preserving.

The next step is to spread a thin salt layer at the jar’s bottom. Then, add a layer of herbs and cover with another layer of salt. Add another layer of herbs to the salt cover. Repeat the sequence until the jar is full. The uppermost layer should be salt and not herbs.

The herbs remain fresh and usable for up to six months. During this period, the salt quality in flavor also improves. You can remove the herbs from the layer and replace them with fresh herbs if needed.

Alternative method: If you do not have use for the herbs in the future, you can infuse the flavor faster into salt. Chop the herbs to a coarse level before adding them to the salt layers. Ensure not to chop the herbs into a paste-like mixture.

The infusion process is complete in two or three weeks, and the salt is ready for use. You can store the salt in airtight containers for up to six months. It can sometimes last up to a year if its storage method is completely airtight.

How to Store Dried Herbs

A glass jar is the best storage medium for dried herbs. Before storing, removing insects or eggs that can eat away at the leaves is essential. For air-dried leaves, gentle heat action is the best option for air-dried leaves. For other types of drying that involve heating, there is no need for this step.

You can also store these herbs in clear and dry glass jars. These types of jars ensure the aroma stays in the herbs. It also preserves the color. It is best if you store it in a cool, dry place. There should be no exposure to direct sunlight or heat. These herbs will remain useable for a year in these conditions.

How to Store Frozen Herbs

Most methods of freezing herbs involve the use of ice trays. After freezing in ice trays, pop out the frozen herb, transfer it into a freezer bag, and zip it tight. One simple way to pop out the herbs is to place the ice tray in a water bowl at room temperature. After a few minutes, the iced herbs pop out.

Other methods involve the use of herbs in cylinder-shaped bags. It is enough to store in airtight bags and keep in the freezer.

While keeping the zipper bag airtight is important, knowing how to keep the herbs frozen is also necessary. Here are some helpful tips:

Place the frozen herbs in the deep parts and away from the freezer door. Frequent opening of the freezer often leads to fluctuations in temperature, and the herbs could begin to thaw. Storing in the deep portions of the freezer ensures constant temperature.

When you bring out the bags, remove the needed portion and return the rest as soon as possible. You can cut the needed portion if you have more than you need. This step works well for buttered herbs.

What are the primary uses of Preserved Herbs?

Preserved herbs have many beneficial properties that make them valuable for different uses. Knowing how to preserve herbs is good, but knowing the proper use for each type and category of preserved herbs is equally important. Here are the main uses of herbs after preservation:

Herbs serve as seasoning

Herbs help to flavor food when cooking. They are great cooking recipes when fresh. Preserved herbs also have the same effect in cooking. If you plan to use your herbs for cooking, freezing is often the best method. It retains the moisture content of the herbs and allows the soup or meal to absorb the flavor and nutrients easily. Dried herbs, too, can help enhance the flavor of your cooking. Here are some cooking tips when using preserved herbs:

• You don’t need to thaw the frozen herbs; you can drop them in your cooking as solid.
• Add dried herbs early during cooking to give time for rehydration and absorption.
• Unlike dried herbs, adding frozen herbs later during the cooking is okay.

Herbs are great for making tea

A simple use of preserved herbs is to consume as tea. Tea is the extract from the leaves. Herbal teas have various benefits that vary depending on the type of herb. The benefits include an immune system boost and other antioxidant effects.

It is essential to brew tea using hot water. The hot water extracts the nutrients of the herbs and kills off harmful microorganisms at the same time. When brewing, add the herbs to hot water and maintain a temperature range of about 200⁰F (95⁰C). Maintain this temperature for 10 to 20 minutes to have the best result.

You can take herbal tea while warm or freeze to make iced tea.

Herbs are Good Food Preservative

You can also use preserved herbs to add flavor, aroma, and taste to certain products, such as meat and vegetables. The herbs also help to preserve the meat.

Herbs are Beauty Products Ingredients

Herb-infused oils are also useful in skincare products. It is a safe method to treat or heal your skin. This option is another excellent use of preserved herbs. You can also use dried herbs for beauty products. Oils, lotions, and cleansers are some beauty products that use preserved herbs in different forms.

Why do we Preserve Herbs?

Herb preservation is a technique that provides you with a lot of benefits. Other than the benefit derived from isage, there are other reasons why preserving Herbs is important. Herbs, when fresh, can only maintain their form and nutrients for a few days. Therefore, to preserve your leaves, stems, roots and barks from spoiling, it’s better to preserve them.

Here are two other reasons why you should consider preserving herbs:

Availability

If you grow herbs in your garden, no doubt you understand the availability issue. Some herbs are available throughout the year in fresh forms. However, some herbs are available only in certain periods of the year. Preservation helps to keep the herbs in store and ready for use at any time.

Cheaper Option

It is cost-effective to get your fresh herbs in large quantities and preserve them for future use. Commercially preserved herbs are costlier than fresh herbs. These herbs often cost more than usual in cases of scarcity due to the season. Hence, you will be saving costs while saving these herbs.

FAQs on how to Preserve Herbs

Question: Is it better to freeze or dry herbs?

Freezing is the better option when preserving herbs. Note that both methods are suitable for different types of herbs. If you plan to preserve the herbs for cooking or essential oils, freezing is a better option.

Question: Do Herbs lose flavor when frozen?

Herbs retain their flavor and content when frozen. This method of herb preservation retains the color and nutrients of your herbs.

Question: Can I freeze herbs without water?

Yes, you can opt to freeze herbs in oils or butter. However, some herbs retain their nutrients easily when frozen in water. It is necessary to know the difference before choosing.

Conclusion

If you learn how to preserve herbs using the different methods above, you can enjoy the benefits of having your herbs ready for use at any time. Herb preservation, along with other benefits, enhances your cooking. The standard choices are drying and freezing. Other options, like infusion, are also effective for specific oils. Through herb preservation, you can retain the flavor of your herb for as long as possible and enjoy the benefits of organic living.