Dry store bought herbs

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Fresh herbs are always available at the grocery store or supermarket. But sometimes your recipe needs only a fraction of the packaged herb, and it would be such a waste to just throw the rest away. Of course, you can cook more dishes, but another option would be to dry the herbs and store them for future recipes. Here are easy tips on how to hang dry store-bought fresh herbs. 1 Perform the drying process before the store-bought herbs start to deteriorate. Make sure all of the stems and leaves are in good shape. Discard the leaves that are turning black or withering away. 2 Group the herbs into small bundles. This will help dry the stems and leaves more evenly. 3 Bundle with elastic tie. Tie the bundles with elastic ties. Small rubber bands will also work. These ties will prevent the dried stems from falling out when they shrink as they dehydrate. 4 Attach paperclips. Use paperclips to hang the bundles. Hang the herb bundles in a dry, well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight. Good ventilation will ensure that the herbs dry properly and don't rot, grow molds or attract insects. 5 Check the bundles regularly to determine if they are drying well. Different herbs require different drying times. 6 Pack in airtight containers. Label each container with the herb name and storage date. Use the dried herbs within a year's time for best results. I have also frozen them in ice cubes, this make them easy to add to stew or soups. Again use within a year. Hope this saves you a bit of money.