How to dry dill at home for the winter
Growers do everything to preserve the entire harvest. To do this, they have to use drying, freezing and even conservation of the harvested fruits. All of these crop storage methods are widely available and are therefore popular with many dill growers. However, most often, when preserving the harvested greenery, they use drying. To preserve the harvested greens longer, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with how to dry dill.
Pros and cons of drying dill
For harvesting of harvested dill bushes use two common methods: freezing and drying. Many people use the first method of storing greens, as it allows you to preserve some of the beneficial properties of plants. However, it is better to use another method - drying. By drying ripe dill, it will be possible to preserve much more vitamins and other useful components. Essential oils are also preserved in dried herbs.
The disadvantages of drying a plant include the complexity of this procedure, since not every vegetable grower can properly dry the crop.
How to prepare dill for drying?
Before you start drying the collected greens, it is recommended to prepare them in advance. To do this, all the dill is thoroughly washed in a small container with warm water. Then it is placed in salt water for 5-10 minutes to release toxins from the plant.
When the dill is washed, it is wiped with a waffle or regular paper towel and laid out on the table so that it is completely dry.
How to dry dill?
It is recommended to determine in advance in what form to dry the greens, since the peculiarities of its storage depend on this.
Drying chopped dill
First, you should start preparing the place for drying. For this, the flat surface is covered with a cloth or special wrapping paper. Do not cover the surface with newspapers, as the branches will be saturated with typographic ink.
After preparing the place, all the collected dill is finely chopped and laid out on the surface. It is not recommended to place the chopped greens in the sun, as this will quickly deteriorate.
Drying dill with twigs
Most housewives prefer not to chop the dill, but to dry it whole.Many of them consider this method to be the best, as it does not take much time or effort. To do this, it is enough to collect ripe greens from the garden and thoroughly wash them from dirt. Then the branches of all the collected bushes are broken off and laid out in the sun so that they dry out faster. When the plants are well dried, the leaves are plucked from the branches and placed in a container for further storage.
The main advantage of this method is that the essential oils from dill dried in this way will evaporate more slowly.
How much dill to dry?
It is very important to determine the optimal drying time for the harvested herbs. Drying the dill leaves for too long can ruin them.
Experienced gardeners are recommended to dry the dill for no longer than three hours in cloudy weather. On sunny days, the duration of this procedure is reduced to two hours. Also, the drying time depends on the number of plants on the surface to dry. If the layer of greens is too thick, it will take longer to dry.
The main ways to dry dill at home
There are five main methods of drying dill that you should familiarize yourself with.
Drying in the fresh air
Most often, the harvested crop is dried outside. To do this, 4-6 bunches of plants are hung on the canopy with leaves down. It is very important that the sun's rays do not fall on them, from which the dill leaves may suffer. The top of the grass can be covered with a cloth to protect it from dust.
How to dry dill in the oven?
Some do not have the opportunity to dry the leaves outside and therefore use the oven. When using the oven, be careful not to accidentally spoil the herbs. The oven temperature should be within forty degrees.
To dry the grass, all the branches are laid out on baking trays and placed in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Then the greens are removed and the degree of drying is checked.
Dry greens in an electric dryer
The easiest way to harvest dill for the winter is for owners of electric dryers, since this device greatly facilitates the drying process. To prepare the grass, it is enough to spread it out on the trays of the dryer and select the appropriate mode with a temperature of no more than 35-40 degrees. After half an hour, all the leaves will be well dried.
Drying dill in the refrigerator
Another common harvesting method is refrigerator drying. To do this, the entire dill is laid out on a plate and covered with a piece of cloth. Then a plate of grass is placed in the top of the freezer. Drying time is 1–2 weeks. During this time, all moisture will come out of the leaves.
How to dry greens in the microwave?
Sometimes microwaves are used to completely dry the herbs. With this method, the harvested crop is laid out on any flat container with a napkin on the surface. The laid out greens are covered with another napkin on top, after which the container is placed in the microwave for five minutes. If during this time the stems are not dry, the procedure is repeated.
How to dry dill for the winter so that it does not turn yellow?
Often, during the drying process, the leaves lose their original appearance and become covered with yellow spots. This is due to the effect of high temperatures on the leaves. Therefore, in order to protect the plants from yellowing, during drying, all leaves are covered with a cloth or paper.
How to check the readiness of dried herbs?
It is recommended to be sure to check the readiness of the greens so as not to accidentally dry them out. To do this, it is recommended to wrinkle the sheets a little in your hands. If they wrinkle and do not break, then you will have to continue drying. Well-dried grass should break easily with any impact on it.
How to store dried dill?
All dried crops must be properly stored so that they do not deteriorate in winter. To do this, it is placed in small glass jars and tightly closed with lids. All containers with grass should be stored in a dark room.
Conclusion
Many gardeners and lovers of fresh herbs are engaged in the cultivation of dill. To preserve the harvested crop for the winter, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic methods of drying it.
