How To Dry Herbs From Your Summer Garden

There are many different methods to drying herbs but I’m going to show you how to dry herbs from your summer garden the easiest way possible. We will walk through the steps of how to hang dry herbs and touch on the main points you need to know.

how to dry herbs by hanging bundles of sage, mint, and rosemary

Drying herbs from your own garden is fun and rewarding. It’s a great way to save money on your grocery bill too. Have you seen how much organic herbs go for these days?! Cooking with fresh herbs takes the flavor of your food to whole other level and preserving your own herbs is the next best thing.

stems of sage, rosemary, and mint on a dark cookie sheet that's sitting on a wooden bench

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stems of mint, rosemary, and sage laying on a dark cookie sheet that's placed on a wooden bench

Where Should I Hang My Herbs To Dry?

The best place to hang your herbs to dry is a warm, well ventilated area with low moisture, and out of the sun. If you live in an area with high humidity, it may take longer for them to dry. If you don’t have an area like that in your home you can tie a paper bag over the bundles and poke holes in it.

four bundles of sage and mint hanging from white shaker pegs

How Long Does It Take Herbs To Dry By Hanging?

It depends on the environment they are hanging in, but normally it takes around 7-12 days. Certain herbs will dry faster than others and thicker leaves will take longer.

If you live in a state with high humidity it may take longer than 12 days. You might even want to check out how to dry herbs in your oven or use a dehydrator to ensure your herbs don’t get moldy. Below are some great posts on those topics.

How To Dry Fresh Herbs In The Oven

Drying Herbs With A Food Dehydrator

bundles of sage, mint, and rosemary hang drying from a white shaker peg shelf with kitchen items on it and a viney plant going across

Do You Wash Herbs Before Hanging To Dry?

Totally your preference, but I like to wash mine. The herbs from my garden have a lot of dirt on them from the rain splashing in my garden beds.

mint, sage, and rosemary soaking in water in a white plastic bin

dirt and debris in a white plastic bin left over from soaking herbs

How To Dry Herbs From Your Summer Garden

Gather the herbs which you would like to dry, by cutting them from the bottom of the stem. Remove any wilted leaves.
Wash your herbs by soaking them in cold water. This will suffocate any bugs that are on them. If they have dirt on them you might need to softly rub it off with your fingers.
Lay them out on a dish towel or paper towels on a cookie sheet and let them dry out before hanging them up. This will ensure that mold doesn’t grow on them once you put them in bundles.
Keeping your herbs separated by what kind they are, form small bundles and tie them together at the stem with some twine. Making smaller bundles will ensure the herbs dry evenly and will prevent mold from growing.
Hang your herb bundles in a warm, well ventilated area, out of the sun, with the leaves pointing down. Place a paper bag with holes in it over the herbs if you don’t have an area in your home with these conditions.
Allow 7-12 days to dry. You will know they’re done when the herbs are crispy and crumble easily in your hand.
Chop up your herbs on a cutting board and store in airtight labeled containers.