Super Quick Video Tips: How to Dry Fresh Herbs in a Flash
Why wait days, or even weeks, for herbs to dry the old-fashioned way? Rebeccah Marsters demonstrates our microwave method, which takes just minutes to turn fresh herbs into dried.
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Heating any food in a microwave changes the molecular structure and is therefore unrecognizable by the body. Not a good source for drying herbs!!
But wouldn’t all the medicinal properties be destroyed?
Microwave radiation vibrates more than just water. Stating it only targets water is factually incorrect.
Dear ATK: considering the many comments on this method causing fire, could you kindly comment on whether you have looked into this danger and if you have any suggestions on how to avoid the fires. I would like to try this method as it is quick and preserves flavor. Thank you.
I wish I had read the comments before I tried it. My microwave overheated and paper towels burst into flames. Maybe trying at 30 second intervals would be a better idea. Microwave now needs to be replaced. ☹
Will this work with weed?
wouldn’t recommend this technique to anyone
I wouldn't dry anything in a microwave, kills the active ingredients and natural frequency of that plant or food.
How is anything catching on fire in all these microwaves? It literally doesn't make sense unless you have something in there that shouldn't be… like metal. As she says in the video, microwaves only heat water molecules; this is a fact. If you put an empty glass in the microwave and turn it on high for several minutes the glass will not be hot when you take it out. Perhaps if they're already super dry to begin with, heating the small percentage of water into steam that is subsequently trapped in the herbs and starts to build up pressure (the only way you're getting water hotter than 212°F, which is gonna be necessary to burn plant material without a spark) could cause them to combust, but then why are you drying them in the microwave if they're already nearly dry? I mean, I honestly can't even think of a reason you'd need dry herbs in a pinch when fresh are so much better…
One more possibility, I suppose, is if you're already using super dry plant material and the soil they were grown in was high in heavy metals or the herbs were grown with fertilizer that wasn't intended for consumable crops that contains high amounts of heavy metals. I suppose this could cause them to spark in the microwave, but that would also mean they're not safe to consume fresh or dry…
My mint had sparks and then caught on fire!! Luckily I was watching and turned off the microwave and had to remove the turntable and run under water. Thank goodness I was watching it!!!
This just tells me maybe I shouldn't trust your reviews?
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This totally worked on my sage the second time I tried it! The first time, my paper towels burst into flames at about the 1 minute mark. I avoided catastrophe by keeping a close eye on it. They should mention this in the video.
Used this, mine caught fire in 30 seconds!!!! I have a fear of fire so cool
My sage caught on fire… I do not recommend this method
My rosemary, using the exact same method, sparked into flames in 7 seconds. Saw other comments like this too, be careful!
Mine caught fire be careful
Nay. I hate & don't own a microwave. Sure its faster, but not nearly as peacefully fun and satisfying as doing it yourself with time.
My herbs and paper towels burst into flames at about 2 min. Procede with caution…
So bad microwave kills all d nutrients!!!!
Hi thanks for sharing your video; which is a total bull shit one. We need to go closer to nature. Your way is completely the other way round. So pls quit showing such rotten ideas pls. Thanks.
What a jackass. People like you are why there is strife in this world.
@hawaiidispenser It's impossible to get good fresh herbs over where I live at winter, so, this method is really useful and I think that your comment was snide and un-called for.
@GigaBoost I don't grow fresh herbs nor do I buy them in bulk, so I have no need to store them for long.
@hawaiidispenser good luck storing fresh herbs for a long period of time
I like the good eats method with filters and a box fan.
No thanks. I'll keep my herbs fresh.