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Harvesting: Early
in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the hot sun
brings out the oil. Harvest flowers for drying and fragrances
when they are just opened and fresh looking. Bring cut herbs indoors
out of sun as soon as possible after harvesting. Shake off excess
moisture, drain well, spread on a flat surface.
Air Drying: Hang in
bunches upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area or spread
in a thin layer on screens, or frames covered with cheesecloth.
Oven Drying: Spread
a thin layer on a cookie sheet and bake at no more than 120°F
until they are dry and crispy.
Microwave Drying: Place
a few sprigs on a paper towel and heat on the lowest setting for
30 seconds at a time until dry and crumbly. Timing will vary with
different herbs.
Freezing: Remove leaves
from the stems, herbs with small, fine leaves should be frozen
on the stem, can be chopped or frozen whole. Do not crowd the
leaves in the package and place them in the freezer where they
won't get crushed. Thaw them out and use them the same as you
would fresh herbs. A rather neat trick is to freeze the herbs
in ice cube trays. Pack your chopped herbs in the ice cube trays
then cover with water and freeze. Once frozen, pop them out of
the trays and store in bags in the freezer .
Storage: Store herbs
in airtight containers away from heat and light. Glass is best
because plastic will absorb the essential oils. Store herbs, dried
or frozen, for no more than a year because they begin to lose
their potency.
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