October 15, 2010

Preserving herbs in oil and vinegar

If you're taking some clippings of herbs in before the freeze kills them this winter, you might think about preserving some in oil or in vinegars. Drying herbs if fairly simple if you put them in a paper bag and hang them in a warm dry place. Freezing them when completely dry is a good way to keep the aroma fresh.

However, you can also preserve herbs by collecting them in the morning and washing the dust and/or dirt off and stuffing a canning jar full of which ever herbs you want to use. Then fill the jar with either oil or vinegar. Use a light sented oil, not olive oil. Let the jar sit in a sunny location for a couple of weeks and then strain the oil or vinegar and return the liquid to the bottle. You can fill small jars with the mix, label them and give them as gifts. Or use old wine bottles that have been thoroughly washed and put a cork stopper in the top and you have a perfect container for storing your scented oil and vinegar. This type of preservation is simple and delicious.

This book is a great guide to growing, using and preserving herbs.

At The Complete Illustrated Book to Herbs: Growing, Health and Beauty, Cooking, Crafts