Best Practices for Drying and Storing Herbs
Key Takeaways
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Harvest herbs at the right time by choosing healthy plant material and harvesting leafy herbs in the morning after the dew has evaporated, often before flowers open.
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Use gentle, low-heat drying methods such as air drying, tray drying, or a dehydrator, depending on the herb. Good airflow and low temperatures help preserve aroma, flavor, color, and quality.
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Make sure herbs are completely dry before storing. Leaves should feel crisp and crumble easily, while stems should snap rather than bend. Residual moisture can lead to mold.
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Store dried herbs in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place away from heat, light, moisture, and air. Keeping herbs whole until use can also help preserve aromatic compounds.
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Label and regularly check stored herbs for moisture, mold, unusual odors, or loss of aroma. Many dried herbs are best used within about a year, depending on the herb and storage conditions.
There’s something satisfying about growing or harvesting your own herbs and finding a way to enjoy them long after the growing season ends. Drying is one of the oldest and simplest methods of preserving herbs, allowing you to build a year-round supply for teas, culinary preparations, crafts, and other herbal projects.
Familiarizing yourself with some best practices for drying and storing your herbs can help you get the most from your botanical harvest.
Why Is It Important to Dry Herbs Properly?
Fresh herbs contain significant amounts of moisture. Drying removes that moisture, helping create an environment that is less favorable for spoilage and mold.
Proper drying also helps preserve the volatile oils responsible for much of an herb's characteristic aroma, flavor, and quality. Excessive heat can cause these aromatic compounds to dissipate, while light, heat, air, and moisture can gradually reduce quality during storage.
The primary goal is simple: Remove enough moisture to preserve the herb without unnecessarily compromising its qualities.
When Should You Harvest Herbs for Drying?
For many leafy herbs, such as basil Ocimum basilicum, and peppermint Mentha ×piperita, harvesting shortly before the flowers open can help capture flavorful, aromatic plant material. Harvest in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the sun becomes intense.
Handle herbs gently after harvesting. Bruised or damaged leaves can deteriorate more quickly, so select clean, healthy plant material whenever possible.
If you’re harvesting herbs for a specific purpose, remember that the ideal harvest time can vary depending on the plant part you want to preserve.
Best Practices for Drying Herbs
1. Start with Clean, Healthy Herbs
Remove yellowed, bruised, damaged, or soiled leaves and stems. If your herbs need washing, rinse them gently with cool water and shake or pat them dry to remove excess moisture before beginning the drying process. The less additional moisture you introduce, the easier it will be to dry your herbs thoroughly.
2. Choose the Right Drying Method
Different herbs can benefit from different drying techniques.
Air drying is simple and works especially well for sturdier herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano. Gather small bundles rather than large bunches and hang them upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
Tray drying is another low-tech option. Spread individual leaves or small stems in a single layer on a clean drying screen or tray and place them somewhere warm, dry, dark, and well-ventilated.
Dehydrators can be particularly useful for tender, higher-moisture herbs such as basil, lemon balm, mint, and tarragon. Always follow your dehydrator manufacturer's instructions and specific temperature recommendations.
3. Keep the Temperature Low
High temperatures can damage an herb's color, flavor, and aromatic oils. When using a dehydrator, a low setting is generally preferable.
Avoid relying on intense heat to speed up the process. Slow and controlled drying is often better for preserving quality.
4. Provide Plenty of Air Circulation
Good airflow helps moisture escape from the plant material. Avoid packing herbs tightly together or creating large bundles, which can slow drying and increase the risk of mold.
For air-drying, choose a location with good ventilation and keep herbs out of direct sunlight.
5. Make Sure Herbs Are Completely Dry
This is one of the most important steps. Herbs are generally ready for storage when the leaves feel crisp and crumble easily between your fingers. Stems should become brittle and break rather than bend.
Don't rush this step. Storing herbs while they still contain moisture can create an environment where mold develops.
A helpful practice is to place a small amount of dried herb in a sealed jar and check it for condensation over the following days. If moisture appears, remove the herbs and continue drying them before long-term storage.
How to Store Dried Herbs
Once your herbs are thoroughly dry, proper storage helps preserve their quality for as long as possible.
1. Choose Airtight Containers
Store dried herbs in clean, airtight containers that protect them from moisture and air. Glass jars with secure lids are a practical choice. Dark or opaque containers can provide additional protection from light.
2. Keep Herbs in a Cool, Dark, Dry Place
Heat, light, moisture, and air can all contribute to quality loss. A kitchen cabinet or pantry away from the stove, sink, and direct sunlight is generally a better storage location than a sunny windowsill or a cabinet directly above the stove.
3. Store Herbs Whole When Possible
For the best flavor and aroma, consider keeping leaves whole and crushing or grinding them just before use. Breaking plant material into smaller pieces increases its exposed surface area and can accelerate the loss of aromatic compounds.
4. Label Everything
It's easy to forget what's in an unlabeled jar, especially when several dried herbs look similar.
Label each container with:
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Herb name
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Date harvested or dried
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Optional: variety or intended use
5. Check Your Herbs Regularly
Give stored herbs an occasional visual and aromatic check. If you notice condensation, unusual moisture, mold, or an off smell, don't use the affected herbs.
For best quality, many dried herbs are generally recommended for use within about a year, although storage conditions and the individual herb can affect longevity. Aroma is also a useful indicator of quality: if an herb has lost most of its characteristic scent, its flavor and aromatic qualities have likely diminished.
Preserve Your Herbal Harvest With Care
Drying herbs doesn't require complicated equipment. With careful harvesting, gentle drying, proper airflow, and appropriate storage, you can preserve herbs for months. Remember, drying is only half the process. Protect stored herbs from moisture, heat, light, and air to help maintain their aroma, flavor, and character. Thoughtful preservation is an important part of growing, preparing, and enjoying botanicals year-round.
Learn more ways to incorporate herbs in your daily life with HERB 101 Foundations of Herbal Studies offered by American College of Healthcare Sciences.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. Always use herbs and essential oils with caution and keep out of reach of children. Use particular caution when pregnant or nursing. Always check contraindications and think safety first! The statements herein have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
