How you can Dry Sage – Sustainable Cooks

April 6, 2023

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Be taught the best way to dry sage 4 methods – in a meals dehydrator, within the oven, within the microwave, or air drying. Drying sage is a straightforward solution to protect this scrumptious pantry staple!

a small metal dish with dried sage in it, and fresh sage leaves on a white board.

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Dried sage is a scrumptious and versatile herb for dwelling cooks. Sage can also be extremely straightforward to develop in a house backyard. In most rising zones, you may plant it as soon as and it’ll come again 12 months after 12 months.

Drying your individual sage is each straightforward and inexpensive, and I’ll present you the way.

From this straightforward sausage stuffing to spicy butternut squash soup to do-it-yourself breakfast sausage, to hasselback butternut squash to Instantaneous Pot stuffing, sage packs a lot taste into numerous unbelievable dishes.

HOW DO YOU DRY FRESH Sage?

There are 4 strategies you need to use to dehydrate recent sage – the dehydrator, the oven, air drying, and the microwave.

I’ll stroll you thru every of the choices within the printable recipe card on the backside of the submit.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DRY FRESH Sage?

Between you and me, my desire is at all times to make use of my dehydrator. It’s energy-efficient, I can dry lots without delay, and I do know it can persistently dry my herbs.

However, when you stay in a heat place with restricted humidity, hanging sage to strive can also be tremendous easy.

SHOULD Sage BE WASHED BEFORE DRYING?

Sure, completely! Particularly whether it is coming in recent from the backyard! The underside of sage leaves are magnets for dust and small bugs.

Rinse the leaves in a bowl of cool clear water and shake to dry. I favor to permit the leaves to completely dry earlier than beginning the precise dehydrating course of.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRY FRESH Sage?

Drying circumstances and technique will decide the full drying time, however on common, it takes 20-24 hours within the dehydrator.

I’ve owned this dehydrator for no less than a dozen years, and it has held up superbly. I’ve added extra trays over time and it’s a workhorse in summer time and fall.

I can dehydrate rosemary, dehydrate garlic, dry peaches, dehydrate basil, dry oregano, dehydrate mint, dehydrate marshmallows, dry limes, dry chives, dehydrate tomatoes, dry pears, dehydrate onions, and dehydrate apples in a flash.

That’s what is named a preserving win. (Issues cool children say).

How Lengthy Does it Take to Air Dry Sage?

The general time for air drying sage will range relying on circumstances. In a heat location with low humidity, it will probably take 1-5 days.

HOW TO STORE DRIED Sage

So long as it’s saved in a cool and dry place, your dehydrated sage will likely be good for a 12 months.

Be certain that the dried sage is totally cooled earlier than placing it into an air-tight container. Because the leaves cool they’ll launch warmth that would end in condensation and finally trigger it to mould.

FOUR WAYS TO DRY Sage

DRYING Sage IN A DEHYDRATOR

Rinse the leaves in a bowl of water, after which fastidiously dry them in a salad spinner or between layers of a tea towel/flour sack.

Prepare the leaves on the drying racks so that they aren’t touching. Set the dehydrator to 95F and dry for 20-24 hours, rotating the racks each few hours if doable.

HANGING Sage TO AIR DRY

Air-drying leaves of sage in a paper bag will work nice in heat locations with out numerous humidity. Droop small quantities of sage leaves in a paper bag with holes punched in it and shut the highest of the bag with string, yarn, or a rubber band.

Cling in a spot the place it will probably get air circulation. Peek within the bag each few days. Drying occasions will range relying on the circumstances.

DRYING Sage IN THE MICROWAVE

Place sage leaves flat between two paper towels and microwave on excessive for 40 seconds.

Transfer the leaves round and microwave in 20-second increments till the sage is dried and crunchy (~1.5-2.5 minutes).

Drying sage leaves in a microwave solely works properly in small portions. Don’t attempt to dry an excessive amount of without delay.

DEHYDRATING Sage IN THE OVEN

Place clear sage leaves on baking drying racks set inside baking sheets. Don’t let the leaves overlap or contact.

Place the trays within the oven on the lowest temperature doable (often 140-170F levels) and prop open the door with the deal with of a wood spoon. This enables condensation to flee as a substitute of simply settling again onto the go away.

Bake for 3-5 hours. Verify each 45 minutes, rotating trays and ensuring leaves will not be touching.

PRO TIPS/RECIPE NOTES

Keep away from the temptation to extend the warmth on the dehydrator or oven to hurry up the method. Low and sluggish wins within the race on this one.
The sage is prepared when items of it break or snap as a substitute of bend. It’ll really feel like dried fall leaves when prepared.
Retailer leaves complete or grind them in a meals processor, mortar and pestle, or a espresso grinder used only for spices. Sage can also be fairly straightforward to crunch up into small items with simply your arms.
Retailer in an air-tight container like a mason jar for as much as a 12 months.

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