Storing Your Herb Harvest
It can be difficult to say goodbye to your herb plants, especially if you enjoyed having fresh herbs throughout the season. The best way to keep fresh herbs throughout the winter season is to keep growing them either in a greenhouse or in your home. If you want to grow them in your home, keep them in the kitchen and near the window. Kitchens tend to be one of the hotter rooms of the house, and herbs can survive the winter in there. These methods can be costly, though, and storage may be a better option for you. There are several methods of storing your harvested herbs, though, and you can continue to enjoy your herbs during the winter months.
The first method of storing your herbs is to dry them. You can hang your harvested stalks in a warm dry place. Before hanging them, make sure you pat them dry with some paper towels so that they don't develop mold while being hung. It will take about two weeks before they are completely dry. You can also dry your herbs out in the sun or in the oven.
Another method of drying your herbs is to lay them out in the backseat of your car during a sunny day. Keep the windows up, and make sure your car is in direct sunlight. The car will insulate heat and dry your herbs in about two days. Like air drying, remember to pat your herbs dry before laying them out on the backseat.
Once your herbs are dry, you can store them in airtight jars. These will keep out the moisture. Dried herbs tend to be crumbly, but try not to crush the leaves or stems of dried herbs so that they retain their full flavor. If you plan on storing a lot of herbs, invest in large jars.
Using dried herbs for cooking is different from using fresh ones. You will have to use different quantities depending on whether the herb slightly loses flavor when dried or if its flavor intensifies. You can try freshening up your dried herbs by soaking them in some water for a few minutes before using them in your recipes.
Another way of storing your herbs is to freeze them. There are three ways of doing this. Some people prefer washing fresh leaves, sprigs or flowers, patting them dry with paper towels (to prevent mold) and then placing them in airtight containers (zip lock bags do well), and then putting these in the freezer. Other people like blanching the fresh herbs first. To do this, the herb is dipped in boiling water and then immediately dipped in ice water. Then they are patted dry with paper towels, and again put into air tight containers for freezer storage.
Page Two: More Methods of Herb Storage (Storing Your Herb Harvest continued)
