Freeze Drying Fresh Herbs: A Quick Reference Guide

This quick reference guide offers tips and tricks to help you be successful at freeze drying your home grown herbs. 

Dill 

• Harvest Notes: Pick green fronds, avoid yellow heads 
• Prep Method: Strip tender tops, avoid thick stems 
• Freeze Dry Notes: Pre-freeze; cheesecloth on top; packs well 
• Storage: Crush lightly into jars; use small jars 

Rosemary 

• Harvest Notes: Use scissors; woody stems 
• Prep Method: Strip needles backward from stems 
• Freeze Dry Notes: Pre-freeze; packs well 
• Storage: Leave whole; store in small jars 

Thyme 

• Harvest Notes: Harvest full stem, before flowering if possible 
• Prep Method: No prep; dry on stem to avoid flying leaves 
• Freeze Dry Notes: Pre-freeze; keep straight and layered 
• Storage: Strip leaves after drying; time-consuming 

Sage 

• Harvest Notes: Harvest tender tops, no washing 
• Prep Method: Pluck leaves at base to avoid woody stems 
• Freeze Dry Notes: Pre-freeze; stack in rows 
• Storage: Crush slightly to fit in jars 

Parsley 

• Harvest Notes: Pick leafy tops only 
• Prep Method: Remove larger stems
• Freeze Dry Notes: Pre-freeze; hard to pack down
• Storage: Crush gently into jars 

Basil 

• Harvest Notes: Harvest large stems to promote regrowth
• Prep Method: Pluck leaves, avoid stems
• Freeze Dry Notes: Pre-freeze; fluffy, doesn't pack well
• Storage: Pre-crush to save space in jars

Cycle times & rehydration for reference only. Your results may vary.