Step by step instructions on how to dry parsley leaves in the microwave in 1 minute. This easy method is perfect for drying herbs quickly!
I love herbs! Don’t you? What starts as a couple small plants quickly turns into a wonderful smelling herb jungle! I’ve talked a lot about preserving herbs on the blog. I’ve showed you how to dry herbs indoors, how to dry oregano in 1 hour, how to dry mint and how to dry basil in the oven, but today I’m talking parsley!
We grow both curly leaf and Italian flat-leaf parsley in our garden bed. Besides smelling great, it’s often used as a garnish or to add flavor to pasta, soups, salad and fish dishes. It also makes a delicous tea (recipe coming soon!). Although I love fresh parsley, I’m usually left with too much parsley from the garden.
I use parsley often in recipes year-round, so whatever parsley I don’t use fresh, I dry to keep in my cabinet. This dried parsley easily lasts me until the next gardening season where we begin this cycle all over again!
Because I’m all about saving time in the kitchen, I wanted to share with you a super fast way to dry parsley in the microwave- it seriously only takes a minute.
How to Dry Parsley in the Microwave
Pick parsley from the garden. I usually just shake my parsley to remove dirt and debris as it’s not very dirty. If yours is dirty though, you’ll want to run it under water and allow to dry completely before moving on to the next step. I recommend letting it sit on a towel overnight to dry.
If your parsley is on the tall side, chop off the stems so it’s mostly just leaves. This will allow it to fit on a plate.
Place paper towel down on plate, laying out parsley in a single layer so they try not to overlap. Add another piece of paper towel on top to cover the parsley.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN THE NEXT STEP. STAY THERE AND WATCH YOUR PARSLEY. DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED IN THE MICROWAVE.
Put your parsley in the microwave and microwave for 1 minute. After 1 minute, check your parsley and see if it’s dried. Most likely it will need more time. If so, do increments of 10 seconds. Microwave for 10 seconds, check. Not done? Do another 10 seconds. My parsley usually takes 1:30-1:50. Repeat until all parsley is dried, changing your paper towel as needed.
Remove parsley from the microwave. Over a bowl, gently rub the stems so the leaves fall off.
Once the bowl is filled with parsley stems, use your fingers (or a spoon) to crush into dried parsley. I often use my mortar and pestle for this. Store dried parsley in glass spice jar.
I hope this method helps you on how to dry parsley quickly next time you have alot of parsley, but not alot of time!
How to Store Dried Herbs
Keep dried herbs in a glass jar in your kitchen cabinet. You want to store them in a cool, dry, dark space. Ideally, you don’t want to store herbs above your stove as when cooking steam can travel up into the cabinets, causing moisture to get into your jars of herbs.
How Long Does Dried Parsley Last?
Dried Parsley when properly stored will easily last for 2 years in your kitchen cabinet. Even after 2 years, it’ll still be usable, it just won’t as strong in flavor.
A tip to see if the herb is still good is to put some in your hand and rub it with your fingers. If it still has a strong smell, then it’s still good to use. If it has a weak smell (but still smells like the herb) you can still use it, but you might need to double the amount the recipe calls for.
parsley recipes
Looking for ways to use parsley in recipe? Here’s some of my favorites:
Parsley Parmesan Pasta
Easy Garlic Knots
The Best Stewed Tomatoes Ever
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
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How to Dry Parsley in the Microwave
PrintIngredients
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Pick parsley from the garden. Wash if needed. If washing, dry overnight on a towel. Don’t move to the next step until parsley is completely dry.
- Place paper towel down on plate, lay out parsley, in a single layer, trying not to overlap.
- Add another piece of paper towel on top to cover the parsley.
- PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN THE NEXT STEP. STAY THERE AND WATCH YOUR PARSLEY. DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED IN THE MICROWAVE. Put your parsley in the microwave and microwave for 1 minute. After 1 minute, check your parsley and see if it’s dried. Most likely it will need more time. If so, do increments of 10 seconds. Microwave for 10 seconds, check. Not done? Do another 10 seconds. My parsley usually takes 1:30-1:50. Repeat until all parsley is dried, changing your paper towel as needed.
- Remove parsley from the microwave. Over a bowl, gently rub the stems so the leaves fall off.
- Once the bowl is filled with parsley stems, use your fingers (or a spoon) to crush into dried parsley. Store dried parsley in glass jar.
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