Thursday, September 20, 2012

How to Save those Summer Herbs?

We got a late start on summer gardening this year.  Our backyard was an overgrown wasteland when the weather started warming up, and it took us quite a while to get it in shape.  It's a small yard, but we've managed to make the most of it.  There is grass to play on, patio to eat on, and a boxed herb garden that makes me happy every time I look at it.



Now that the summer is winding down (or, as the temperature is telling me, has wound down already) I am trying to figure out what to do with my overabundant supply of herbs.

To dry or freeze?
I think it really depends on the herb.  Rosemary and lavender, the more woody plants, do well with drying.  They keep their scent, and a lot of the essential oils are still there when the moisture is gone.  Thought not a woody plant, the dill will probably be dried as well... even though it tastes so different dried then fresh and the thought kind of bums me out.

For the rest? Freeze, definitely.  I think.  I'm still researching.  Parsley and cilantro will freeze well in ice cube trays and water.  As for basil, I'm not so sure... I read here, on Apartment Therapy, about a way to freeze the herb in olive oil, which sounds good in theory.  I'll have to experiment.

I have zero clue what to do with the profusion of lemon verbena.  I hope it freezes well.

How do you preserve your summer herbs?  Suggestions welcome!

3 comments:

  1. Start making some bread, pasta sauce and maybe some soups like it is going out of style :-) .

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    Replies
    1. Lol, very true! I better start cooking like crazy... no more take-out for us!

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  2. UPDATE: I actually ended up freezing some of the rosemary, and the flavor has kept for the last month remarkably well! Also made a rosemary-cider vinegar hair rinse which is supposed to make hair shiny and healthy. Links to come soon!

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