Dried Herbs
Drying preserves a summer herb harvest for the whole year — but herbs are different from fruit and vegetables: they must dry at a LOW temperature so their aromatic oils stay in the leaf instead of evaporating away. A few hours in the solar dehydrator turns fresh basil, oregano or thyme into full-flavoured dried herbs for the spice jar.
Imiyalelo
Harvest and rinse
Harvest and rinse
Cut herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, mint, parsley, sage) in the morning after the dew dries and just before they flower — that's when the aromatic oils peak. Rinse gently, shake dry, and discard any damaged leaves.
Materials for this step:
Basil200 gDry LOW at 35–40 °C
Dry LOW at 35–40 °C
Lay the sprigs in a single layer on the trays. Dry at a LOW 35–40 °C (95–105 °F) — higher heat drives off the volatile oils that give herbs their flavour and colour. Herbs start low in moisture, so this is fast: 1–4 hours.
Check for doneness
Check for doneness
Ready when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers and the stems snap. Any bendy or soft leaves need a little longer.
Strip and store
Strip and store
Strip the dried leaves from the stems. Store them WHOLE — they keep far more flavour than pre-crushed — in an airtight jar away from light, and crumble only when you cook. Best within a year.
Materials for this step:
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