Preserve herbs: dry them

The evenings are getting cooler and cooler now that fall has arrived. Eventually, a cold snap will get to your summertime herbs. But all of that work during the growing season need not go to waste. Try drying herbs for year-round use.

Using a dehydrator is the fastest, easiest and foolproof method of preserving herbs. Very gently harvest, rinse and shake the water off the cuttings. Remove bruised or damaged leaves or stems. Set the dehydrator between 95 and 115 degrees and place herbs inside until dry (between one to four hours, generally).

Another drying method is to simply hang the herbs in a warm, dry inside place. Harvest, rinse and tie the plants into small bundles. Use paper bags perforated with holes for circulation. Place the herbs inside with the stems sticking out of the bottom and tie the end closed. Hang them upside down for several days.