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herbs – Page 3 – Homesteader Depot

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Tag: herbs

  • How to Make Herb-Infused Oil

    How to Make Herb-Infused Oil

    Simple, homemade herb-infused oils are a very easy, affordable and healthy way to use herbs in your garden for topical use or to add flavor to your cooking. Whether you simply want a fragrant, herbal oil to use as a moisturizer, or you’d like to harness the healing power of your medicinal herbs, it’s a great thing to know how to infuse them into oil. You can use the oils as a base for simple DIY healing balms. There are a number of home remedies you can make with infused oils as a base.

    For topical use and to add to lotions and balms, almond oil works best, and for cooking, olive oil is preferable. But feel free to experiment with different oils and see what you like best!

    There are two ways to make the infused oil:

    The first method, which is more effective at maintaining the healing properties and fragrance of the herb but takes longer, is to take your thoroughly dried herbs and stuff into a jar. Then cover completely with oil and set on a windowsill or shelf, preferably that gets direct or indirect sunlight for at least a portion of the day. Let sit for 2-3 weeks, shaking every day or so.

    The second method is the quicker method, but because it uses heat, you will lose some of the properties of the herbs. There are a number of ways to do this one. The easiest is to place your in a saucepan over low heat and cover with oil. Keep it very low and gently stir frequently so the oil doesn’t burn. Alternatively, you can use a small crock pot, like the ones they make for fondue, by simply adding your herbs and oil and letting it cook for a few hours. This is easier than doing it on the stove.

    Once your oil is properly infused, you can strain the herbs out and keep in a bottle or jar as you would any other oil. They are now free to be applied to your skin as needed, as an ingredient in lotions or balms, or in every day cooking to add flavor.

    If you like this, you might also like:

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  • Five Ways to Preserve Herbs

    Five Ways to Preserve Herbs

    As summer winds down, you may have a garden brimming with herbs just dying to be harvested. One of the biggest downsides of herb gardens is how much work it can be to process all the herbs! A pretty good problem to have, if you ask me. Here are five great ways to make the most of a bulk herb harvest and keep your herbs through the winter, for many months of delicious cooking.

    Freezing 

    This is quite possible the easiest and quickest method of preserving herbs. Simply toss your herbs in a Ziploc bag, squeeze the air out, and stick right in the freezer. You can pull them out whenever you need some and, other than the additional moisture content, they can be used just as you would dried herbs. This might be the best option for space as they can be flattened in the bags and stacked pretty easily in a freezer.

    Freezing in oil 

    This is the best way to preserve herbs if you want to just grab a small amount to toss in a pasta sauce or other dish. Stick small portions of the herbs in each section of an ice tray, then cover with oil and freeze. Once they are frozen you can pop out the cubes and put them in a Ziploc bag for long-term storage in the freezer.

    Drying

    The most classic way to dry herbs, this can be done either in a dehydrator, a very low oven with the door cracked, or hung on a string. If you have a particularly dry cellar or pantry, you can even just put them in a paper bag for a few weeks. Once dried, they can easily be removed from the stem or stalk and put in airtight jars.

    Preserving in salt or sugar

    In an airtight jar with salt or sugar, herbs will keep sometimes for up to two years and flavor the medium you’re preserving them in. The salt or sugar will absorb the flavor of the herb can be used as you regularly would. This might be nice for homemade bath salts or body scrubs too, with herbs like lavender or lemon balm.

    Preserving in oil 

    This is a very delicious way to preserve herbs! The herbs must be completely free of moisture, and are packed in jars, often with garlic as well, and covered with oil. You can use one of those fancy oil bottles as well. Let sit for a few weeks and then just use as regular oil. Also a lovely option for gifts.

    I hope this list has given you some ideas for maximizing your herb harvest this year-at the very least, I bet it’s made you hungry! Happy cooking!

    If you like this, you might also like:

    Advanced Gardening Course To Accelerate Your Food Production…

    Survival Medicine & Wilderness Survival…

    Survival Techniques From Long Ago, Re-purposed For The Modern Era…