10 Easy Ways To Preserve Herbs

Enjoying a big bounty of herbs from the garden this year? Fresh is best when it comes to cooking with them, but here are ten easy ways you can preserve them for year-round use (along with a nifty tip at the bottom of the page for crushing them fast). Air/Hang Dry Method: If you have the space and the time, you can tie small bunches together (about 4 or 5 cleaned stems) and hang them upside down in a dark, warm, well ventilated area. The drying time is about 2 to 4 weeks – you want the leaves to be crispy and easily crumble between your fingers before you pack them for storage. If space is tight, here’s a clever project you can make using old frames, fiberglass screens, chain and S hooks (for hanging in tiers): Hanging Frames Tutorial.Oven: Arrange cleaned stems in a single layer on a cookie sheet with temperature set at 180° F. *First published December 19, 2006 Here’s a quick method to try if you need them fast…but watch to make sure they don’t smoke or start on fire.

Preservation Guide: How to Freeze Herbs Cut Off Long Stems The little stems between the leaves are fine to chop up. Chop With A Mezzaluna If you have one of these handy chopping devices, chopping fresh herbs is all that much easier, but a regular chopping knife will work just as well. Spoon Into An Ice Cube Tray Once everything is chopped up, spoon the herbs into an ice cube tray, making sure to distribute evenly. Pack them in pretty tightly. Top Off The Tray With Water Pour the water in slowly. Put The Cubes In A Freezer Bag After the cubes are frozen, pop them out of the tray and stash them in a freezer bag to keep them tasting their freshest. Food Storage: 20 Crops That Keep and How to Store Them Related Content Fresh Storage of Produce For the past few years, we've experimented with different ways of storing food fresh and now we're e... Here in southwest Virginia, my partner and I take pride in growing and storing most of our fruits and vegetables. Knowing where our food comes from gives us confidence in its goodness, plus we save about $5,000 a year through our gardening and food storage efforts. We bring many years of experience to this quest, and we’re still learning. Sleeping Quarters for Storage Crops Success with storage crops hinges on finding methods that convince the crops that they are enjoying a natural period of dormancy in unusually comfortable conditions. Most storage crops need to be cured to enhance their storage potential. Storing Potatoes Seeking out good food storage spots in your home or on your property can lead to interesting discoveries. Line plastic laundry baskets with newspapers, with potatoes arranged in layers between more newspapers. Storing Squash

National Center for Home Food Preservation Homegrown and Handmade Our food system is dominated by industrial agriculture, and has become economically and environmentally unsustainable. The incidence of diet-related diseases including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart disease has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Whether you have 40 acres and a mule or a condo with a balcony, you can do more than you think to safeguard your health, your money and the planet. Homegrown and Handmade shows how making things from scratch and growing at least some of your own food can help you eliminate artificial ingredients from your diet, reduce your carbon footprint, and create a more authentic life. Whether your goal is increasing your self-reliance or becoming a full-fledged homesteader, it's packed with answers and solutions to help you: Take control of your food supply from seed to plate Raise small and medium livestock for fun, food and fiber Rediscover traditional skills to meet more of your family's needs than you ever thought possible.