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Preserving
Fresh Herbs
After having taken the time to grow
your own herb garden, you will want to make use of them. Following are four ways you
can preserve your herbal plants.
AIR DRYING---Pick your plants early to mid-morning after the dew has
evaporated and before the sun gets too hot and draws out the
oils from them. Never mix different varieties of herbs. Keep
them separated and tied in small bunches which can be hung up
in a well-ventilated warm place with as little light as possible.
Any corner of a room or cupboard or closet will do so long as
it is warm and dry. Any moisture will make the leaves go mouldy. They may take from 4-5 days to a couple of weeks to dry.
When completely dry, store the leaves in layers in a box separating each
layer with tissue paper. Keep the box in a warm and dry
place where no mice or insects can get inside. Air drying is
used for most herbs that are used in pot-pourris or herbal teas.
Herbs can be dried in a microwave but you will have to experiment.
Try a few leaves at a low setting for a couple of minutes. Note
how well the leaves are dried and add or subtract a few seconds
to get the exact timing and results that you want.
FREEZING---Preserving herbs by freezing can give them a better flavor if you intend on using
them for culinary purposes. Remove leaves from the main stalk,
wash and dry if necessary. Pack into small polythene bags. Keep
in mind that once defrosted, herbs will not keep. So only pack
as many in each bag as you think you will need for whatever you are
going to use them for.
SILICA GEL CRYSTALS---Use this method if you want to use the flowers of the plants
for pot-pourris or decorative flower arrangements. Lightly wire
the flower heads before they are dried so the stems can be
extended after drying if necessary. Push a lightweight wire
through center of each flower and trim so it is no longer than
2 inches at the most.
Silica gel can be purchased from floral outlets, garden centers
or chemists. Make sure the crystals are as fine as possible and
dry.
Fill a plastic airtight container to a depth of about 1 inch
with the crystals. Place each flower on the crystals and cover gently
with more crystals, filling in any gaps or crevices. When all is
covered, replace lid and keep in a warm, dry place. After about 2 or 3
days, carefully unpack and store in an airtight container with a little
silica gel in the bottom to prevent any reabsorption of moisture.
Before using, you may spray the dried flowers with polyurethane
varnish to help prevent the moisture from returning. However,
if the flowers are kept in a warm temperature, this should not
be a problem.
GLYCERINE TREATMENT---Not all herbs will respond to this treatment, but it is worth
seeing which ones will.
Mix two parts boiling water to one part glycerine (sometimes
equal amounts of each work better, you will have to experiment).
Fill a narrow container to a depth of
3-4 inches with the mixture. If
stems appear woody, smash them and stand them in the glycerine mixture
out of direct light. It takes a minimum of 4 days to 2 weeks for the
plants to take up the glycerine, some may even take longer.
The plants will visibly change color as it absorbs the glycerine.
Remove the plants from the mixture when beads of glycerine are
visible at the ends of the leaves. Wipe away any excess
glycerine with a soapy cloth before leaving them to dry. Then
store in a box away from light and moisture.
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