Fresh herbs are one of the easiest things to overlook when you’re rushing to prepare the garden for cold weather.
Then frost arrives.
And suddenly all that basil you meant to harvest is gone.
Before cold weather settles in, here are five ways to preserve herbs for winter.
1. Air Dry Them
Air drying works particularly well for many lower-moisture herbs.
Tie small bundles and hang them somewhere dry with good airflow and away from direct sunlight.
Once thoroughly dry, remove the leaves and store them in airtight containers.
2. Use a Dehydrator
A dehydrator gives you more control and can be useful when your house is humid or you’re processing a lot at once.
Use an appropriate low temperature for herbs and dry until the plant material is fully dry rather than leathery or damp.
3. Freeze Them
Some herbs preserve their flavor better frozen than dried.
Chopped herbs can be frozen in small portions so they’re easy to add to cooked meals later.
4. Make Herb Cubes
Chop culinary herbs and freeze them in an ice-cube tray with water or another recipe-appropriate liquid.
Once frozen, transfer the cubes into a labeled freezer container.
Then you can grab a portion whenever you’re cooking.
5. Bring Some Herbs Inside
Sometimes you don’t have to preserve the herb at all.
Depending on the plant and your indoor conditions, you may be able to pot it and continue growing it inside.
Label Everything
Trust me—you think you’ll remember.
Three months from now, several jars of dried green leaves can look remarkably similar.
Write the herb and year on the container.
Your winter self will appreciate it.
There’s something special about opening a jar of herbs in January and realizing:
I grew this.
Leave a Reply