How to Dehydrate Herbs in a Dehydrator
To dehydrate herbs in a dehydrator, rinse and dry them, spread the leaves in a single layer on the trays, and dry them on a low setting until they crumble. Drying time depends on the herb and the machine, so check the manual's chart.
On this page (13 sections)
- How do you dehydrate herbs in a dehydrator, step by step?
- Which garden herbs work well in a dehydrator?
- How do you prepare garden herbs for the dehydrator?
- How do you spread herbs on the trays?
- How is drying herbs different from drying fruit?
- What dehydrator settings suit herbs?
- How much drying space does a herb batch need?
- How long do herbs take to dry?
- How do you know herbs are dry?
- What mistakes should you avoid with herb batches?
- How do you store dried herbs?
- Which dehydrator works for garden herbs?
- Start small when you dehydrate herbs in a dehydrator
You dehydrate herbs by rinsing and drying the leaves, spreading them in one layer on the trays and drying them on a low setting until they crumble. Here is how that works: herb leaves are thin, so they lose moisture faster than thick pieces of fruit.
That makes a garden harvest a good first project for a new machine. For the machines themselves, see the food dehydrators for jerky guide.
How do you dehydrate herbs in a dehydrator, step by step?
Work through seven short steps: prep, lay out, dry, check, cool and store. The sections below explain each one.
- Rinse the herbs and pat them dry.
- Strip the leaves from thick woody stems.
- Spread the leaves in one layer on the trays.
- Dry on a low setting, following the manual's chart.
- Check the leaves for a crumble, testing several spots.
- Let the herbs cool completely before you move them.
- Store the dry leaves in a sealed jar and label it.
Which garden herbs work well in a dehydrator?
Thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage are common picks for drying at home. Start with one herb in one batch, so you learn how it dries in your machine before you mix several.
Choose leaves that look full and green, with no spots or wilting.
How do you prepare garden herbs for the dehydrator?
Rinse the herbs, pat them dry with a towel, and strip the leaves from thick woody stems before you spread them out. Wet herbs slow the drying, so dry them well before they go on the trays.
Use a mesh liner when you dehydrate herbs
Small leaves can fall through an open tray, so a liner helps keep them on the rack. Set the liner in the tray first, then add the leaves.
Lova says the sheets trim with household scissors and go on the top rack of a dishwasher. The Cosori 5-tray's trays measure 9 x 10 inches, so a 14 x 14 inch sheet needs trimming there, and Lova says to measure your own tray before you order.
Lova also says its mesh suits solid foods, and that purees and fruit leather need a solid liner instead. For more on trays and liners, see dehydrator trays, mesh sheets and liners.
How do you spread herbs on the trays?
Spread the leaves in a single layer, so the warm air can reach each piece. A thick pile dries unevenly, while a thin layer lets the air pass over every leaf.
If one tray fills up fast, move to a second tray rather than stacking leaves on top of each other. The how a food dehydrator works guide explains the airflow that moves through the trays.
How is drying herbs different from drying fruit?
Herbs are thinner than most fruit, so they usually dry faster. Juicy or whole items take longer, because there is more water to remove.
Give herbs their own tray when you can. Their thin leaves can finish while denser pieces are still drying, and a mixed tray makes it harder to check each one.
If you do mix foods, pull the herbs as they reach the crumble stage and let the rest keep drying. Fruit and vegetables run on different schedules, so see how long to dehydrate fruit and how to dehydrate vegetables first.
What dehydrator settings suit herbs?
Choose a low temperature and a timer you can adjust, then check the leaves early. The Cosori 5-tray runs from 95°F to 176°F in 1°F steps, with a timer from 30 minutes to 48 hours.
Its four presets are jerky, fruit, vegetables and yogurt, so for herbs you set the temperature and timer yourself. Cosori says you can adjust any preset to your preferred time and temperature.
The Cosori 6-tray runs from 95°F to 165°F with a timer of up to 48 hours. Its range starts at the same low point as the 5-tray's.
How much drying space does a herb batch need?
A small harvest fits the Cosori 5-tray, and a larger one suits the 6-tray. The 5-tray has 3.1 square feet of drying space, and the 6-tray has 6.5 square feet, which is more than double.
Cosori describes horizontal airflow on both models and a rear-mounted drying fan on the 6-tray. Either way, keep the leaves in one layer, since a thick pile blocks the air.
How long do herbs take to dry?
Herbs take a few hours to more than a day, and the exact time depends on the herb, the load and the humidity. A smaller load and drier air shorten the time, while a full tray and a humid kitchen lengthen it.
Check the manual's chart and the National Center for Home Food Preservation guidance for exact settings. The time is a plan, and the crumble test is the check.
How do you know herbs are dry?
Dried herbs crumble easily when you rub them between your fingers. That is the test to use before you call the batch done.
Leaves that still bend or feel damp need more time. Check several pieces from different spots on the tray, not just the one at the edge.
Check a little early, then again, rather than waiting for the end of a long cycle. Thin herbs can finish sooner than thicker pieces of fruit.
What mistakes should you avoid with herb batches?
Wet leaves, thick piles and skipping the crumble test cause most of the trouble.
Wet leaves slow the drying, which is why the prep step matters. Pat them dry before they go on the trays.
A thick pile dries unevenly, so keep to one layer. Skipping the crumble test means guessing, and the manual's chart is the better guide.
How do you store dried herbs?
Store dried herbs in a sealed jar, kept away from heat and light. Let the leaves cool completely first, so no warm air goes into the jar with them.
Label each jar with the herb and the date you dried it. Keep leaves whole until you need them, and crush only the amount you plan to use that day.
Which dehydrator works for garden herbs?
Pick a model whose range starts near 95°F, as both Cosori models do. The Cosori 6-tray has 6.5 square feet of drying space, a mesh screen and a fruit roll sheet, which suits a bigger harvest.
Cosori says the 6-tray's brushless motor stays below 48 dB, which helps if the machine runs in a busy kitchen. For a wider look at machines suited to herbs and produce, see the best food dehydrators for herbs and garden produce.
The how to choose a food dehydrator guide covers the checks to make before you buy.
Start small when you dehydrate herbs in a dehydrator
Start with one tray of one herb, check the leaves for crumble, and adjust the next batch from what you learn. Small tests tell you more than a full rack does.
Once the method works, scale up to a full rack and keep the same prep and layout steps. Keep notes on the tray count, the setting and how long the herbs took, so each batch teaches you something.
Browse the garden harvest category for more produce guides.
Frequently asked questions
How do you dehydrate herbs in a dehydrator?
Rinse the herbs, pat them dry and strip the leaves from thick stems. Spread the leaves in a single layer on the trays and dry them on a low setting until they crumble, using your manual's chart for the time.
Which herbs dry well in a dehydrator?
Thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage are common picks for drying at home. Choose green leaves with no spots or wilting, since damaged leaves can dry unevenly, and start with one herb per batch so you learn how it dries in your machine.
How long do herbs take to dry?
Herbs can take a few hours to more than a day, depending on the herb, the load and the humidity. Check the leaves by feel rather than by the clock, and use your manual's chart and the National Center for Home Food Preservation guidance for exact settings.
How do you know when dried herbs are ready?
Dried herbs crumble easily when you rub them between your fingers, while leaves that still bend or feel damp need more time. Check several pieces from different spots on the tray, not just the edge, before you decide the whole batch is done.
