Preserving Herb And Flowers With Stems

When you have a bumper crop of herbs or flowers, dehydrating them is really a fantastic means to preserve them. They also make good gifts for friends and family members.

Herbs and flowers that we use on stems like rosemary and lavender can be dried in bunches. These bundles may take a little longer to become entirely dry, but using this approach can help to retain the genuine flavors and aromas of your beloved plants.

Start off by simply cutting the stems close to the root of the plant, making certain that they are as long as possible. Clean them carefully in cool water so that you don't knock off any leaves or petals. After that, very gently pat them dry. Now you want to gather up your stems and tie them together in bunches with yarn or ribbon. Do this by first laying out your ribbon and putting the stems in place one by one. Pull up your ribbon and snug it up around your bunch. Then, wrap it around a few times to make certain all is secure and tie it off. Your herb bunches are going to be hung upside down so make sure to leave a loop to hang them from.

These flower or herb bunches could be hung in your kitchens from a hook in the ceiling. They can also be hung in an enclosed porch area or sun room. Remember, you won't be able to rinse them once they are dry so it will be essential to dry them in an area which is free from bugs and dirt. Letting them dry is the perfect part since while they are dehydrating, they can certainly help make the location smell very nice. The drying period can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week or more, depending on the atmosphere they are dehydrated in. By no means make an effort to dry herbs outdoors or on a porch in cold winter months, they can freeze and turn soggy once they defrost.

To prepare herbs for storage, you will need a pair if kitchen scissors. You have a couple of options when chopping them down to a smaller size. The first process is to cut the leafy portion on the stems into shorter one to two inch lengths and hold them in a plastic container. Be sure to use a container that has a snug fitting lid to help keep them fresh. The other method would be to either remove the dry leaves from the stem or cut the tops into small pieces which can be put into a spice jar.