How to Dry Parsley? All You Need To Know

1. Flat-leaf parsley – It is mainly grown in and around Italy, and hence, it is common in Italian and European cuisine. It is said that the flat-leaf parsley has a more intense flavor profile as compared to the rest of the varieties.

2. Curly leaf parsley – The curly leaf parsley is mainly grown in the East Asian and South-Asian countries. It is commonly used in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. Even though this herb’s flavor profile is not that intense, its cultivation process is much easier.

How To Dry Parsley At Home?

Now, since dried herbs are more used than its fresh version, we will learn how to dry parsley differently. Once you learn the various methods to dehydrate parsley, you can easily decide which is the most convenient for you and then start with the process. Let’s start the discussion on how to dry out fresh parsley!

Air Drying Parsley

The first parsley drying method we will be discussing is air-drying. Here, we won’t be using any heat form from the oven or the sun. So, here’s how you can get engaged in drying out parsley in the air only.

• This method is likely to be used if you are using garden-grown parsley. Collect the stems with fresh leaves during the late morning since by this time, the dew will get dried up under the sun.
• Make a group of the stems by tying them collectively using a small rope or a rubber band.
• Hang these groups in an upside-down position from an elevated position and leave them in your shaded balcony or porch, which remains warm and dry.
• Leave this as it is for one or two weeks. This will be enough time to make the leaves crisp and almost brittle.
• Take out the stems and, using a wax paper, separate the leaves. It would be best if you used an airtight container for storing the dried leaves. This is one of the best methods of drying parsley for storage.

Drying Parsley Under The Sun

If you want to learn how to dry parsley quickly in a day without using anything, you need to follow this method.

• You will need a screen or a hard surface to keep the leaves on.
• Collect the stems with fresh, green parsley leaves and then separate them smoothly without tearing them.
• Wash them thoroughly, and then press the leaves between a thin cloth to dry out the water. Once done, place them flat on the screen.
• You have to keep the screen under the sun for the entire day, in a way where the leaves will get both – dry air and the sun’s heat.
• You will have to occasionally turn the leaves to ensure that both sides are getting equal heat throughout the day. The sun’s heat will dehydrate the leaves, and at the end of the day, they will turn brittle and crisp. Thus, you get dried parsley leaves. This is one of the preferred methods to dry fresh parsley.

Oven Dried Parsley

Many people prefer this method of drying parsley in the oven. It requires very little time and seems quite convenient for bulk volumes.

• Wash the herb stalks thoroughly in cold water and then remove the leaves from the stems carefully. It would be best if you chopped down the leaves roughly, without any shape or finesse.
• Next, you need to blanch the leaves for drying parsley in the oven. You need to keep them in hot water only for a couple of seconds, a maximum for twenty-five seconds, and then immediately transfer them to the cold water. Do not leave them into the hot water since the heat can cook the leaves.
• Take out the leaves and then place them on a baking sheet. But, first, you need to put brown paper on the sheet and then place the blanched leaves.
• Put the sheet in the oven and set the temperature setting to the lowest. Leave the tray inside it for two to four hours max. Do not forget to check the leaves occasionally to see the extent of drying.
• Once the leaves get dried, you need to crush down the leaves using a mortar and pestle. This is one of the great ways to turn fresh parsley to dry parsley.

Microwave Oven-Dried Parsley Leaves

If you want to know how to dry parsley in the fastest way, you need to follow these steps carefully.

• Cover the plate either with a towel or a brown paper, depending on the plate’s material.
• After washing the leaves, place them on the towel in a flat position. The larger and thicker leaves must be placed on the sheet’s outer section since it gets the maximum heat.
• Cover these leaves with another towel carefully, without causing the leaves to roll up.
• Set the microwave oven temperature to the highest, and then keep the parsleys for one minute. You have to check the leaves occasionally after every thirty-second interval.

This is how to dry parsley in oven. Isn’t drying parsley in microwave quick? Use this method to get dehydrated parsley.

What Are The Benefits Of Dried Parsley?

Since you now know the various methods of ’how to make dried parsley,’ or how to dehydrate parsley, it will be useful if you also know the dried herb’s benefits. So, let’s have a look.

• It has antibacterial properties – One of the significant benefits of dried parsley is that it contains many antibacterial properties. As a result, it prevents bacteria’s growth in foods like salmonella, streptococci, etc.

• Lowers the blood sugar level – In many middle-east countries, the dried parsley is infused in tea leaves, and then a beverage is made out of them. Surveys have shown that they lower the blood glucose concentration in people who have Type 1 Diabetes.

• Regulates cardiovascular health – The dry parsley is very rich in Vitamin B9 or folic acid. This vitamin is responsible for maintaining the health of the heart as well as the entire cardiovascular system. Folate is an antioxidant that reduces the concentration of a harmful amino acid known as homocysteine in the blood.

• Shows anti-inflammatory property – The various antioxidants present in the parsley herb’s dried leaves help reduce the pain from swells and internal inflammations. Also, the presence of Vitamin A, C, and Vitamin E boosts these antioxidants’ function.

• Good for eyes – Vitamin A and Vitamin E are very beneficial for the eye’s health. Due to Vitamin A deficiency, most people suffer from night blindness or any other eye problem. Since parsley is a rich source of both retinol and tocopherol, the herb is undoubtedly good for your eyes.

• Prevents early aging – If your skin is getting wrinkled too early or if your hair are graying prematurely, it means that the concentration of free radicals in your blood has increased. This is where the dried parsley come into play. The antioxidants present in it help lower the free radical concentration, thereby preventing early signs of aging.

How to Use Dried Parsley in Cooking?

After knowing about how to dry parsley, the last thing you should know is the herb’s uses in the culinary field. So, let’s see!

• Dried parsley seasoning on pizzas.
• parsley to flavor pasta sauces.
• Mixed herbs containing dried parsley in a salad dressing.
• Using the dried herb in a mix with thyme and oregano for seasoning meat.
• Using the dried herb to spice up soups.
• Making sour parsley cream with dried leaves.

Conclusion 

It’s not every day someone will guide you with the methods of how to dry parsley in your home. This is why you can refer to this discussion any time you want to make the fresh, dried herb in your home from your garden plant.