8 Simple Ways to Preserve Your Herbal Harvest
If you’ve taken the time to grow, forage, or gather high-quality herbs, you don’t want them going to waste before you can use them. Preserving your herbal harvest isn’t just about saving what you have—it’s about making sure you always have potent, ready-to-use herbs at your fingertips.
And the best part? It’s easier than you think. With a few simple methods, you can stock your pantry with dried, frozen, infused, or tinctured herbs that will serve you well for months (or even years) to come. Let’s go over some of the best ways to do it—so you can build your herbal apothecary and feel confident knowing you have exactly what you need, right when you need it.
1. Drying Herbs: The Simple, Classic Method to Preserve Your Herbs
Drying herbs is one of the easiest and most effective ways to preserve them. Once dried, they can be stored for tea, cooking, herbal powders, or homemade remedies.
- Hang them to dry: Bundle herbs in small bundles with string and hang them upside down in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Good airflow is key!
- Use a dehydrator or oven: If you’re short on time or humidity is high, a dehydrator (or an oven on the lowest setting) speeds things up. If you’re oven doesn’t go below 100, just use the oven light as heat.
- Make herb powders: Once dried, you can grind herbs into a fine powder for capsules, homemade spice blends, or herbal remedies for smoothies.
💡 Tracey’s Tip: Store dried herbs in airtight containers away from light and heat—this keeps them fresh and potent longer.
2. Freezing: Lock in Freshness Without the Fuss
If you want to keep that just-picked flavor, freezing is a great option. It’s quick, easy, and lets you grab small amounts of fresh herbs as needed.
- Freeze whole or chopped herbs: Lay them on a baking sheet first to freeze, then transfer to an airtight container.
- Herb-infused ice cubes: Chop fresh herbs, pack them into an ice cube tray, and cover with water, broth, or even tea. Perfect for soups, stews, or drinks.
- Frozen tea cubes: Brew a strong herbal infusion and freeze it in cubes—just pop one into hot water when you need a quick herbal boost.
💡 Tracey’s Tip: Frozen herbs work best for cooking and teas, but not for drying later—so plan accordingly!
3. Making Tinctures: Preserve Your Herbs by Making Potent Herbal Remedies in a Few Simple Steps
Tinctures are one of the best ways to preserve herbs for long-term use. They’re easy to make, highly concentrated, and last for years.
- Alcohol tinctures: Use a high-proof alcohol like vodka or brandy to extract the medicinal compounds from herbs.
- Glycerin tinctures (glycerites): A good alternative if you want to avoid alcohol—though they have a shorter shelf life.
Simply fill a jar with chopped herbs, cover with alcohol or glycerin, and let it steep for 4–6 weeks. Strain and store in a dark glass bottle. That’s it!
💡 Tracey’s Tip: Tinctures are a great way to keep herbs ready to use at a moment’s notice—without taking up much space. Learn more here. And if you’d like to delve deeper into tinctures, check out my self-pased course here.
4. Herbal Oils: Infused Goodness for Cooking and Skincare
Herbal-infused oils are incredibly versatile. Use them in cooking, turn them into salves, or apply them directly to the skin.
- For cooking: Infuse herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil into olive oil for instant flavor.
- For topical use: Infuse skin-nourishing herbs like calendula or lavender into oil to make homemade salves and body butters. (Get my free guide here to decide which oil is best for your skin!)
💡 Important: If you’re using fresh herbs, refrigerate the oil to prevent spoilage (since fresh herbs contain moisture). If using dried herbs, you can strain and store the oil at room temperature. For a more in-depth lesson in herbal oils, check out my course here.
5. Herbal Vinegars: A Simple, Effective Way to Preserve and Use Herbs
Herb-infused vinegars are another easy way to extract and preserve herbal goodness.
- For cooking: Infuse culinary herbs into apple cider or white vinegar for homemade salad dressings and marinades.
- Sage vinegar: A traditional remedy often used for sore throats and skin care. You can find that recipe here.
Simply pack herbs into a jar, cover with vinegar, let sit for a few weeks, then strain. It’s that simple! Learn more about using Apple Cider Vinegar here.
6. Herbal Honey & Syrups: Delicious and Effective
Herbal honeys and syrups are not only delicious but also an excellent way to preserve fresh herbs while creating powerful home remedies.
- Herbal honey: Gently warm raw honey and stir in fresh or dried herbs. Let it sit for a couple of weeks before straining. It’s perfect for soothing sore throats or adding to teas.
- Herbal syrups: Simmer herbs in water to make a strong infusion, then mix it with honey to create a shelf-stable syrup. These are great for homemade cough syrups, immune boosters, or even a flavorful addition to drinks.
💡 Tracey’s Tip: Store herbal honey at room temperature, but keep syrups in the fridge for longer shelf life.
7. Salt & Sugar Preservation: A Forgotten but Effective Method
Salt and sugar can both be used to preserve herbs while adding flavor and versatility to your pantry.
💡 Tracey’s Tip: Store herbal salt and sugar in airtight containers to maintain freshness and potency.
8. Freeze-Drying: The Best of Both Worlds
If you happen to have access to a freeze-dryer (or are considering investing in one), it opens up a whole new level of preserving herbs. Freeze-drying gives you the benefits of both freezing and drying—without using heat, which means you won’t risk damaging delicate compounds.
This is especially helpful for herbs that don’t respond well to heat or air-drying, like plantain, violet leaves, or other more mucilaginous or fragile herbs. The process preserves their shape, color, and potency beautifully—making it feel like you just picked them fresh, even months later.
💡 Tracey’s Tip: If freeze-drying is on your herbal dream list, it’s a great long-term investment for those who preserve a lot of herbs, veggies, or homemade remedies throughout the year.
Build Your Herbal Pantry—One Step at a Time
Preserving your herbs doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, once you start, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
By drying, freezing, tincturing, or infusing herbs into oils, vinegars, honey, or salt, you’re not just saving your harvest—you’re building a well-stocked herbal pantry that gives you control over your health.
No more running out of herbs when you need them. No more wondering what to do with extra fresh herbs before they wilt. Just a steady supply of home-preserved herbs, ready for your next tea, remedy, or meal.
And the best part? Once you try these methods, you’ll realize how easy (and rewarding) it is to make your own herbal preparations—so you always have what you need, when you need it.
