pathofthegreenwitch: Recently, I came across a post warning against storing your herbs in glass jars
pathofthegreenwitch: Recently, I came across a post warning against storing your herbs in glass jars. “They will mold,” it claimed. I reblogged it, with my owns comments on the subject, explaining to others that simply is not the case.If you have done the homework on the plants you are gathering, learned how each plant needs to be dried, and followed the proper steps, storing your herbs in glass jars will not make them mold. *Herbs in the store can be purchased in glass jars.* *Herbs have been stored in glass jars for hundreds of years.*This is a small sample of my larder, all my herbs are carefully air-dried, and stored in glass jars. (Some are in plastic bags, as I ran out of jars!) None have ever molded.My point is, don’t believe every post you come across, but read up on the subject, and educate yourself well. It’s disappointing to see misinformation being passed around as fact, when in truth, it is not. Some leaves and flowers will need to be air-dried for 3-5 days.Some leaves and plants need to be dried for 7-14 days.Some flowers, (like lilacs) along with any member of the pine/evergreen family will require 3 weeks or more to dry.Some plants with stems attached may need to be dried for 14-21 days, maybe even longer.Air-drying maintains the colour, as well as essential oils/benefits of the plants the best, where oven drying can reduce them, and turns the plants brown.Oven dry fruits like berries, at a very low setting (150°C-200°C) for anywhere from 2-4 hours, checking in between to see if they have completely dried yet. Since oven temps vary, you may have to tweek your drying times. Do extensive reading on plants and drying/storing. You’ll have a far more rewarding and successful results! -- source link