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You are here: Home / Naturally Frugal Living / How to Dry Herbs and Flowers

How to Dry Herbs and Flowers

July 24, 2015 by Katie Femia 3 Comments

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How to dry herbs and flowers using 3 different methods - hanging herbs to dry, how to microwave herbs to dry them, and how to dry flowers in books.

Before you know it, the summer growing season will be over. It can be quite sad to no longer have fresh blooms and herbs at your fingertips, but the good news is that drying is the  perfect way to preserve your end of season bounty. Drying your flowers and herbs is easier than you think, and it is a great way to enjoy them all year long. Dried flowers and herbs are so purposeful, and can be used in your cooking, crafting, or even your decorating. Take a look below at how you can dry your own flowers and herbs so you too can enjoy them all year long.

Herbs such as mint, oregano, rosemary, lavender, and more are perfect for drying. You can also dry flowers such as roses, daisies, salvia, and other varieties. So pluck those end of the season flowers and herbs and look below to see how you can get started on drying them!

 How to Dry Herbs and Flowers - 3 methods for drying herbs

How to Dry Herbs and Flowers:

Hang Dry Method

This method is ideal if you want to dry your flowers and herbs in bundles. For example, if you have a rose bouquet you want to keep intact or a bundle of lavender.

Directions:

1. First, arrange your flower or herb stems in a bundle.
2. Tie a string around the stems tightly.
3. Hang the bundle upside down is a space that is dry and warm.
4. Allow the flowers to hang for 15 days. Check on them every few days to see how they are doing. You may need to go for as many as 20 days if your blooms are not drying quickly.
5. Check your string every few days, since the stems will loose moisture and shrink as they do. You may need to tighten your string if this happens.
6. Once dry, go ahead and take your flowers or herbs down. They are now all ready for use!

The Microwave Method

This method is ideal if you want to dry flowers petals or herb leaves as opposed to stems or bundles. It is also a quick method and perfect if you want to dry in a few minutes as opposed to the course of a few weeks.

Directions:

1. Lay your flower petals or herb leaves onto a piece of paper towel. Then, place the piece of paper towel on a piece of parchment paper.
2. Cover the petals or leaves with an additional piece of paper towel and parchment paper.
3. Now, place the entire layered package onto a microwave safe plate.
4. Place the plate into the microwave. Put a plate on top of the stack to press the paper on the petals or leaves down.
5. Microwave on high for at least one minute.
6. Check on the progress. If not dry yet, repeat this process for another minute. Continue this process until the petals and leaves are dry.
7. Once dry, they are ready for use.

The Old Fashion Book Method

This method is also perfect for single blooms and leaves, and one of the oldest methods around!

Directions:

1. Press your blooms or leaves between two pieces of parchment paper.
2. Place the pressed paper under a stack of heavy books.
3. Leave the blooms to be pressed and dried for a week to ten days. Check on their progress every few days.
4. That’s it! How simple is that?

As you can see, all of these methods are quite simple and perfect for drying your herbs and flowers. If you own a food dehydrator, you can also dry them that way! Just follow manufacturer’s instructions for doing so.

When you dry your own flowers and herbs, you can easily enjoy them for months to come. Give these methods a try and see how easy it is to do this yourself!

More Tips for Working with Herbs

How to Freeze  Herbs 

How to Dry Herbs in a Paper Bag

How to Substitute Dried Herbs for Fresh Herbs

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Comments

  1. Kerri says

    July 25, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    Had no ideal how to dry my herbs. Thank you for the tips !

    Reply
  2. Pavers Yarrabee says

    July 15, 2015 at 2:47 am

    Great way to dry herbs and flowers… I must follow these tips…
    Thanks for sharing with us!!!!!!

    Reply
  3. shilpa says

    May 28, 2015 at 11:54 pm

    could you tell me if these methods can work to make the dry flowers remain longer without damp moisture leaving white stains on them ????

    Reply

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On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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