(This page contains affiliate links. To learn more read my full disclosure.)
Herbs in cooking are like icing on a cake: it makes your food just that much better. The flavor of freeze-dried herbs is strong, flavorful, and superior to any air-dried herb. The bold flavor and fresh color brighten any dish you bring to the table. Freeze dried herbs are the closest option to having fresh herbs growing in your garden or on your windowsill.
Tools for Freeze Drying Herbs
- Salad spinner – this help get the excess water off quickly
- I have a Large Freeze Dryer from Harvest Right (watch my honest review HERE on YouTube)
- Cutting Board
- Bench scraper – this helps when packaging up your herbs after freeze drying
Prepping the Herbs
I find that fresh herbs picked, washed, and dried in a salad spinner do well straight into the freeze dryer. No pre freezing required. Alternatively you can use frozen herbs; the downside is they will not keep their bright coloring although the flavor will still be strong.
At the beginning of the season when herbs are slow growing you can pick, clean, and wrap in paper towel in keep in the fridge until you have enough to freeze dry.
TIP: save any herb stems and use when making broth
Herb Freeze Dry Routine
I have found that herbs are consistently processed in 10-12 hours in the freeze dryer. My preferred routine for picking and prepping any herbs in the morning. I keep them in Ziplock bags in the fridge with a paper towel to collect any moisture. I like to start a cycle of herbs at night before bed so the batch will finish the next morning after breakfast. The house tends to be cooler at night and the machine doesn’t normally need any additional drying time due to the heat of summer days. Alternatively, you could start a cycle in the early morning and have it finished in the evening.
RELATED ARTICLE: How To Freeze Dry Pears
How To Store Freeze Dried Herbs
Long Term Storage
When I have an abundance (above and beyond a years worth) of herbs we store in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. Mylar bags need to be stored in a cool place.
Immediate and Short Term Use(under 1 year)
I reuse spice jars filled for everyday cooking and those get refilled when they run out from pint sized mason jars that have been sealed with my favorite freeze dried tool — rechargeable jar vacuum sealer — and reseal after any refills to keep herbs airtight and the moisture out.
How To Use Your Freeze Dried Herbs
Freeze Dried Herbs are much stronger (think: fresh) than their dried counterpart, so you need less when cooking. The bright flavor herbs bring to food is an amazing addition to the way you can use your freeze dryer and honestly, I have yet to air dry any herbs, teas, or flowers since getting our freeze dryer.!
Watch the Process on YouTube: