drying home-grown herbs

[miguelito]

How do y'all do it? Alton 'Good Eats' Brown showed how to do it with a box fan, and some air filters. It looked pretty easy.

Can you just let the herbs air-dry, or will they get moldy and buggy?

I have some basil that needs pruning pretty frequently, faster than I can use it. It would be nice to be able to store some for after the plant dies. Same with thyme and oregano (those will probably live longer, though).

 

[DallasCowpoke]

I use two common window screens, duct taped together so they open like a book. Place herbs between them, set on arms of a patio chair so airflow to both sides. Set in sun. The hers on a plate in the micro will work in a pinch too.

 

[miguelito]

Cool, thanks.

 

[shorty]

You can tie a string around a small bunch, hand upside down, and just let them air dry as well.

The suggestions above are very good too. The screen method could be used for sun drying tomatoes if you have a vegetable garden.

Oregano and rosemary make it through winter here in far North Texas. It should thrive in Austin.