Well, howdy there! You got a whole bunch of that there cilantro, huh? Don’t want it goin’ bad, do ya? We ain’t got money to throw around, no sirree. I’m gonna tell ya how to dry cilantro so you can keep it for later. It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya.
First off, you gotta pick them leaves off the stems. Them stems ain’t no good for dryin’. Just the leaves, you hear? Take your time, ain’t no rush. Make sure you get all the dirt and bugs off ’em too. Nobody wants to eat dirt and bugs, that’s for sure.
Now, there’s a few ways to dry this cilantro stuff. I’m gonna tell ya the easiest ways, the ones that don’t need no fancy equipment. We ain’t got no fancy stuff around here, just good ol’ common sense.
- Oven Dryin’: This is a good way, gets it done quick. You gotta heat up your oven, not too hot though. Somethin’ like 250 or 300 degrees, that’s hot enough. You don’t wanna burn them leaves, just dry ’em out. Take a cookie sheet, the kind you make cookies on, and spray it with a little bit of that cookin’ spray. You know, the stuff that keeps things from stickin’. Then spread them cilantro leaves out on that sheet, nice and even, not all bunched up. Put it in the oven for about 20 or 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it though, you don’t want ’em to burn. Check on ’em after a bit, see how they’re doin’. When they’re all crispy and crumbly, they’re done.
- Air Dryin’: This way takes longer, but it works just fine if you ain’t in a hurry. You just tie them cilantro stems together in little bunches, not too big though. Then you hang them upside down in a dry place, outta the sun. Attic’s good, or maybe a spare room. Just make sure it’s a place where it’s warm and dry. Let ’em hang there for a week or two, maybe even longer. They’ll dry out all on their own, nature’s way, you see.
- Microwave Dryin’: If you need that cilantro dried fast, you can use the microwave. Put the leaves on a paper towel and spread ‘em out so they don’t bunch up. Then put another paper towel on top. Zap ‘em for a minute or two and check. Keep zapping in short bursts till they dry but don’t burn em. This way ain’t my favorite though cause it can be easy to overdo it.
- Dehydrator Dryin’: Now if you’re fancy and have one of them food dehydrators, well you probably don’t need my advice then but I’ll tell ya anyway. Lay out the leaves on the trays and set the dehydrator low and slow, just like the directions say. Takes a few hours but it does a good job.
Now, how do you know when it’s done? Well, them leaves should be all dried up, crispy like. You should be able to crumble ’em up easy in your hand. If they’re still bendy, they ain’t dry enough. Gotta dry ’em some more, or they’ll get moldy, and nobody wants that.
Once it’s all dried, you gotta store it right. Don’t just leave it out on the counter, no sirree. You gotta put it in somethin’ airtight. A jar is good, or a plastic container with a tight lid. Keep it in a cool, dark place. That way, it’ll last a long time, maybe even a couple years. Dried cilantro can last a good long while if you store it right. Saves you money too, not havin’ to buy it all the time.
And lemme tell ya, dried cilantro ain’t quite the same as fresh. It don’t have that same strong flavor, but it’s still good. You can use it in all sorts of things, soups, stews, chili, whatever you like. Just remember, dried cilantro is stronger than fresh, so you don’t need to use as much. A little bit goes a long way, so don’t go overboard.
So there you have it, that’s how you dry cilantro. It ain’t hard, just takes a little time and patience. But it’s worth it, I tell ya. Nothin’ like havin’ a good stash of dried herbs on hand, ready to go whenever you need ’em. And you don’t have to worry about it goin’ bad. Saves you a trip to the store too. So go on, dry that cilantro, you’ll be glad you did. It’s always good to have a little extra on hand. You never know when you might need it. And that’s that. Now get to it!