In the continuing saga of putting the summer’s bounty to good use and preparing for the dreaded cold months, I have been drying some of my favorite herbs.  It is so easy, it is silly not to do it!

I have tried a low oven.  I have used a dehydrator.  But my favorite way of drying herbs now is the microwave.  It literally only takes two minutes from start to finish…maybe less depending on your microwave!

First, cut your herbs (or if you have excess herbs from the grocery use them before they go bad).  Pick the leaves off the stems.  Scatter them in a single layer over paper towels then lay another layer of paper towels on top (an herb sandwich with paper towels for the bread).

Put the paper towel/herb sandwich in the microwave.  Set the timer for 30 seconds on high.  At the end of 30 seconds check the herbs to see if they are dry by touching them to see if they are appropriately crispy.  This typically takes 2 minutes for my microwave or four 30 second bouts.

Done!  You can whiz them in a food processor or blender to the desired size. But, I tend to accumulate them a bit at a time in the late summer.

I store them in an airtight jar.  Later in the fall when I am going  to begin to use them.  I whiz them in a batch and re-jar them for use.

Too easy not to do!  Like getting free herbs!