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Drying Fresh Herbs

Here’s a method for quickly drying hearty herbs in the microwave. Caution—don’t try this with delicate herbs!

Here’s a method for quickly drying hearty herbs in the microwave. Caution—don’t try this with delicate herbs!

Air-drying herbs can take several weeks, but we found that drying them (OK, some of them) in a microwave can be a quick, easy alternative. Lay a single layer of herbs on a paper towel-lined plate and cover with a second paper towel. Microwave on high power for 1 to 3 minutes, checking occasionally, until the herb appears slightly dehydrated. Cool at room temperature and then crumble or store whole in a plastic bag.

We used this method to test a slew of herbs. It worked with hearty herbs such as bay leaf, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme. But delicate, moist herbs such as basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley actually combusted and ignited the paper towel!

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