How to Dry Parsley
First of all, I think we can all agree that making something yourself instead of just buying it at the grocery store makes it taste that much better. This definitely applies to drying herbs in my mind. Not only do they taste better when I dry them at home, they maintain a better green color than their over-processed counterparts. In this post, I’ll explain how to dry parsley.
Ways To Dry Parsley:
- Oven
- Microwave
- Dehydrater
- The right way
I’m obviously going to only focus on the last option.
How To Dry Parsley The Right Way
I’m a firm believer that doing certain things slowly, the old-fashioned way, is the best way. Drying parsley is one of those things. Although it takes weeks, drying parsley naturally is the best way. Here’s how I do it.
Step 1: Cut the longest stalks from your parsley plant. (I’m just assuming you’re growing your own herb plants like me.) Cut them as close to the their base as possible.
Step 2: Rinse your parsley under water to remove dust and other sediment. Gently rub the leaves with your fingers to dislodge anything.
Step 3: Lay the stalks on a paper towel and blot dry them with another paper towel. They don’t need to be bone dry, but try to get the most water droplets off of the leaves as you can.
Step 4: Remove the parsley leaves from the stalks.
Step 5: Break out your trusty Swingline and some parchment paper to make a little drying pouch. I normally tear off about 20 inches of parchment paper, fold it in half and staple up either side to create a pouch. Write today’s date and the date three weeks from today on the pouch (5/17-6/7).
Step 6: Place your parchment pouch somewhere where there is good air flow, that isn’t directly in the sun. I clip mine to my bakers rack in my kitchen with a really fancy bag clip…
How To Store Dried Parsley
Like any cooking show you’ve ever watched where they magically pull a fully cooked one of whatever they’ve been making out of the oven, I have a pouch of parsley that’s dried for 3 weeks.
The Final Step: Lastly, you’re going to want to store your now dried parsley in an air tight container. I love these little favor jars for storing all of my dried herbs. They are the perfect size and great to give as a small gift to family, friends, and coworkers. Add the dried parsley leaves to your container while trying not to break them into smaller pieces. By keeping the leaves as whole as possible it keeps the flavor and aroma in them. When you go to use the dried parsley, crumble the leaves to release it.
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