Dried dill: ways to prepare dill for the winter

How to prepare dill for drying

If you plan to process greens from your own garden, then you need to carefully approach the issue of collecting them.

It is best to use very young plants for drying that have not yet developed a dense tube with a seed umbrella. The collection time is at the beginning of summer.

Cut dill from the garden, preferably in the morning, immediately after the dew has disappeared. If there was rain at night, even a little, then it is better to postpone this procedure to another time, since the greens will be too wet, and this can lead to their premature spoilage. For the same reason, it is better not to wash dill collected from your own garden.

If you purchase greens at the market, and the purity of the product is in doubt, then rinse the dill bunches under running cool water and dry thoroughly. A waffle or paper towel is suitable for this. Also, a bunch of grass can be placed in a glass in a draft so that drops of water from the plant evaporate.

How to dry dill

The best way is to dry the entire branches, and then, once dry, grind the thin leaves from the rough stem. The advantage of this method is that the essential oils in the plant will evaporate less and the seasoning will remain aromatic for a long time.

If you nevertheless decide to dry the plant without stems, in chopped form, then you should not try to chop the dill too finely. It is better to do this just before the cooking process, rubbing a whisper of greenery between your fingers.

Basic methods for drying dill at home

Drying in the fresh air

Prepared greens can be dried in bunches or chopped.

Small bunches of 5-6 branches are fixed with a thread to any canopy, placing them with the foliage facing down. At the same time, the place for drying greens should not be exposed to direct sunlight, and it itself should be well ventilated.

Chopped dill is also dried in the shade, placing it in a small layer on trays or flat plates. The top of the grass can be covered with gauze to prevent dust from settling on the workpiece.

Watch the video recipe from the “Cooking” channel. Video recipes" - How to dry greens for the winter

How to dry dill in the oven

Since dill contains a lot of aromatic oils, this herb should be dried at the lowest possible oven temperature, preferably up to 40 degrees.Too high an oven temperature can also cause the product to change color and lose its beneficial qualities.

Place the whole dill slices and branches on baking sheets lined with wax paper. Keep the oven door slightly open. This will allow air to circulate well. The baking sheets should be removed every 30 - 60 minutes, the greens should be mixed and inspected for readiness.

The total drying time can take from 2 to 4 hours.

Drying greens in an electric dryer

The prepared foliage or twigs are laid out in a loose layer on pallets and the unit is turned on to the “Herbs” mode. If your electric dryer does not have one, then the temperature should be set independently within 40 degrees. The product will be completely ready in 3 – 4 hours.

Watch the video from the “Ezidri Master” channel - How to properly dry dill? Dried herbs. Herbs

Drying dill in the refrigerator

Place a thin layer of chopped herbs or small twigs on a flat plate. The top of the structure is covered with a napkin. The container is placed in the plus compartment of the refrigerator on the bottom shelf, and forgotten about for about 2 - 3 weeks. During this time, all the moisture from the grass will evaporate and the workpiece can be transferred to jars for storage.

How to dry greens in the microwave

Place the slices or sprigs on a paper plate or flat container lined with a paper napkin. The top of the dill is covered with another layer of thin paper. In this form, the greens are sent to the microwave oven for 3 minutes at maximum power. After the specified time, the top napkin is removed, and the greens are inspected and mixed. If necessary, drying continues in the same mode for another 2 - 3 minutes.

How to check the readiness of dried greens

High-quality dried dill easily turns into a fine powder if you try to rub the branches between your fingers. If the greens wrinkle but do not break, drying needs to be continued.

The dried product should be stored in dark glass jars with tight-fitting lids in a dark, dry place. Ziploc coffee bags are also great for storing herbs.