How to Dry Herbs in the Microwave
Pick out the herbs that you want., Remove any discolored herb or rotten leaves., Rinse the herbs., Lay the herbs on a paper towel., Place the paper towel in the microwave., Take the paper towel out of the microwave., Store your herbs.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Pick out the herbs that you want.
It's recommended that you choose the herbs before they flower.
Select herbs that are fresh, still green and tender.
Mid-morning is the best time of day to collect fresh herb leaves.
If you harvest them too early in the morning the leaves may still have dew covering them.
When harvested later in the day, the heat may be too intense and cause your herbs to wilt before you have a chance to bring them inside.
Chives grow quickly in spring and summer.
Cut as you need them for use, trimming right down to the base.When cutting parsley, always remove the whole leaf, together with the leaf stalk, nipping it back to where it joins the clump.
Avoid the oldest leaves as these tend to be tough.Cutting rosemary for culinary use will prevent the plant from becoming woody.
Use secateurs to trim 10 centimeter (3.9 in)
- 15 centimeter (5.9 in) from each shoot, as required.
Avoid cutting back into woody, leafless branches.When harvesting basil, nip out with scissors or between finger and thumb, the tips of the plants back to just above a pair of leaves.
New growth will emerge at this point.
Don't nip just below the leaf, leaving a short stem, as this will simply wither., Take the herb leaves off the stem. , Run cool water over the herbs in a colander.
If you have a salad spinner, use that to dry the herbs, a few sprigs at a time.
If you do not have a spinner, dry the herbs between layers of paper towels, patting them down gently to remove as much water as possible. , Lay the herbs on a paper towel.
Cover the sheet, but make sure that there aren't too many herbs on it.
Place another paper towel on top of the herbs. , Let them dry for about 2 minutes.
Check them every 30 seconds to make sure that they don't get burned. , Take the paper towel out of the microwave and let the herbs rest for a couple of minutes.
This way the moisture from the microwave will evaporate into the air. , Take a dark container and place your herbs in it.
Make sure that you keep the container out of heat and light.
You can also use sealable airtight bags.
Don't forget to label your herbs with the name of the herb and date when your dried it.
Dried herbs are best used within a year.
As your herbs lose their color, they are also losing their flavor. -
Step 2: Remove any discolored herb or rotten leaves.
-
Step 3: Rinse the herbs.
-
Step 4: Lay the herbs on a paper towel.
-
Step 5: Place the paper towel in the microwave.
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Step 6: Take the paper towel out of the microwave.
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Step 7: Store your herbs.
Detailed Guide
It's recommended that you choose the herbs before they flower.
Select herbs that are fresh, still green and tender.
Mid-morning is the best time of day to collect fresh herb leaves.
If you harvest them too early in the morning the leaves may still have dew covering them.
When harvested later in the day, the heat may be too intense and cause your herbs to wilt before you have a chance to bring them inside.
Chives grow quickly in spring and summer.
Cut as you need them for use, trimming right down to the base.When cutting parsley, always remove the whole leaf, together with the leaf stalk, nipping it back to where it joins the clump.
Avoid the oldest leaves as these tend to be tough.Cutting rosemary for culinary use will prevent the plant from becoming woody.
Use secateurs to trim 10 centimeter (3.9 in)
- 15 centimeter (5.9 in) from each shoot, as required.
Avoid cutting back into woody, leafless branches.When harvesting basil, nip out with scissors or between finger and thumb, the tips of the plants back to just above a pair of leaves.
New growth will emerge at this point.
Don't nip just below the leaf, leaving a short stem, as this will simply wither., Take the herb leaves off the stem. , Run cool water over the herbs in a colander.
If you have a salad spinner, use that to dry the herbs, a few sprigs at a time.
If you do not have a spinner, dry the herbs between layers of paper towels, patting them down gently to remove as much water as possible. , Lay the herbs on a paper towel.
Cover the sheet, but make sure that there aren't too many herbs on it.
Place another paper towel on top of the herbs. , Let them dry for about 2 minutes.
Check them every 30 seconds to make sure that they don't get burned. , Take the paper towel out of the microwave and let the herbs rest for a couple of minutes.
This way the moisture from the microwave will evaporate into the air. , Take a dark container and place your herbs in it.
Make sure that you keep the container out of heat and light.
You can also use sealable airtight bags.
Don't forget to label your herbs with the name of the herb and date when your dried it.
Dried herbs are best used within a year.
As your herbs lose their color, they are also losing their flavor.
About the Author
Charles Young
Writer and educator with a focus on practical DIY projects knowledge.
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