Your Easy Guide To Hang Drying Herbs (+Video)

Hang-drying herbs is nothing new. It’s always been an effective and super easy way to dry all types of herbs.

…But, over time, people have turned to more conventional methods like dehydrating herbs in the air fryer and oven.

Now while those methods are much faster and even easier, they’re not better.

I want to help you dry your herbs using this method of hang drying that will help you retain natural flavor and benefits!

Let’s get started!

What You’ll Need

One of the things I love most about hang drying is that it’s super inexpensive. Other than your herbs you don’t need much.

🌿You’ll need:

• Scissors
• Sturdy yarn or string
• A basket or something to collect your herbs in
• Baking soda to wash them
• A dark place to hang your herbs from. I hung my herbs from a hanging rod in my laundry room.

Here’s another option if you don’t have anything to hang your herbs from.

How To Choose Which Herbs To Dry Out

While drying your herbs out is a great way to preserve them, some herbs are best used fresh.

Herbs best used fresh:

• Basil
• Cilantro
• Chives
• Mint
• Lemon Balm

Herbs great for dehydrating:

• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Sage
• Bay Leaves
• Dill
• Marjoram

Tarragon and parsley are two herbs that can be used either way based on personal preference. In my tutorial video, I dried our parsley but left tarragon alone until I’m ready to use it fresh.

Step One: Collecting Herbs

When collecting herbs, all you need to do is gather them on a dry day. It’s best to do this after the morning dew has evaporated.

Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the herbs, leaving enough of the plant so it can continue to grow.

Step Two: Washing Herbs

When washing herbs before hanging them to dry, use water and baking soda to clean off dirt, bugs, or anything else that may be hanging around(no pun intended lol).

Just fill a bowl with cool water and baking soda. Swish the herbs around gently in the baking soda water.

Rinse them thoroughly with clean water to remove any leftover baking soda. After washing, pat the herbs dry with a clean towel.

Step Three: Bundle & Tie Herbs Together

Gather a small handful of stems together, but make sure the bunch is not too thick to allow for proper air circulation.

Tie the stems together with a piece of string, or twine and make sure the tie is secure but not too tight.

Step Four: Hang Herbs

Hang the bundles upside down in a cool, dry place with good air circulation, away from direct sunlight.

I like to hang my herbs from a drying rack in the laundry room but any well-ventilated area like a kitchen, pantry, or attic works.

In a week or two, the herbs should be completely dry and ready to store in airtight containers.

Step Five: Wait For Herbs To Dryout

Waiting for herbs to dry out can vary depending on the type of herb and the environment. Thyme dries out a lot faster than herbs with thicker leaves like sage.

But overall I wouldn’t leave my herbs hanging longer than 2 weeks. You don’t want them to start collecting dust!

Most herbs are dried between 5-10 days.

Step Six: Storing & Label Herbs

Once your herbs are dried out and reading to be stored away, take them down and store them in an airtight container. I like to use mason jars because it keeps me from having to use plastic but still keeps the air out.

After you’ve put your herbs in their containers label them with their herb name and date and store them in a dark, cool place(can be the same place you hung them) for future use.

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Why You Shouldn’t Use The Oven or Air Fryer To Dehydrate Herbs

While using the oven or air fryer is an effective way to dehydrate herbs, it’s not necessarily the best option.

Conventional ovens and air fryers can dry out your herbs too fast causing them to lose their essential oils and natural flavors. Sometimes the most “convenient option isn’t always the best.

Final Thoughts

Drying herbs is nothing new but like a lot of our old ways, we’ve stopped doing it. Growing and preserving herbs is a sustainable way to save money while using natural ingredients full of flavor and benefits.

Dried herbs when stored properly can last up to 3 years! I love how something so simple like growing herbs in your backyard can be so rewarding.

I hope this guide was helpful🤍 Comment and share what herbs you’re using and how you plan to use them!