Drying Fresh Chives
Summer is over and so is the garden. Before the cold hits I picked the last of my chives and I dehydrated them. I used my Excalibur Dehydrator to do this. Chives can also be dried by hanging them, dried in the oven or even frozen. Once they are dehydrated they should be stored in an airtight container and should stay at their peak for about 6 months although I will use them longer.
Start by picking the chives fresh.
Grab a loose handful of chives.
Cut the chives close to the ground.
Immediately wrap a rubber band
loosely around them.
Cut both ends from the bunches and
pull out any bad or discolored chives.
Rinse the bunches of chives under cold water.
Shake off the water and place the
bundle on paper towel and pat dry.
Using sharp scissors, cut the chives
into about 1/4” long pieces and
place them on your dehydrator shelf.
Place another shelf liner on top (if you have one)
so the dried chives pieces won’t blow all over the place.
Dehydrate around 90 degrees until
the chives pieces are crisp and all
the moisture is removed.
Store in an airtight container.
They should stay at their peak for
about 6 months but I use them longer.
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Dehydrated, Vegetables/Slaws/Salads
Great info. I’ve been trying to dry them just out on a mat thingy I have. I cut them after which I dunno, it doesn’t make them look as green. They turn out all yucky brown. lol
If they turned brown I don’t think I would use them. They probably won’t taste very good. Cutting them in 1/4” pieces green allows them to dry faster which keeps them greener although you lose some of the flavor by cutting them, slightly less potent. I was very pleased with how these turned out. You can also put them chopped up and into ice cube trays with water. That way you can take out small amounts. Just drop the ice cube into soups and other recipes. I have never tried this because I have a dehydrator. Don’t give up!
Yeah I think I will try my dehydrator next time too. It’s not as long and drawn out process. And you’re right, they taste like sticks the way I was processing them. lol
Good luck!
Inspiring!
Thanks I dehydrated all my herbs. Every year I add another one.
I’ve learned a lot about gardening this year. Every year is a new experiment to see how much I can grow. I think I came up a little short in production vs what I’ve put into the garden. But we didn’t have a spring, we had a month of 4 season weather that hurt the plants and then went straight into the dog days of summer…
Good post as usual!
Thank you! We have had those years as well! Makes you appreciate the farmer!
I cannot believe the days where folks farmed and hunted for survival!
Right! I always thought I could live in Alaska until I started watching the shows from there.
Sounds good!
Thanks!
This is timely, thanks!
Your welcome Jacquie! Have a great weekend!
Great timing! I have a bunch to cut. 🙂
Great! I had to get mine done, I was afraid the cold would beat me but it didn’t!
Wow – tastes nice in potato soup.
Oh yes vegetable too!
Thank you for folloing my blog. Very interested in food also. I will check on yours too.
You’re very welcome! Thank you 🥰
Thank you for following my blog! I like this idea and your chives look wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing.
You are very welcome! I look forward to seeing more of your blog. ❤
this was so informative – cheers to chives
They kept so well too. They are growing like crazy again this year. I keep cutting them back but they just don’t slow down. Lol
that is great – I have some onions and I am not sure if they are chives – but they are green onions and just love growing them
I love cooking and garnishing with green onions. My chives get purple flowers on them. I’m thinking green onion flowers are white but that is one thing I have never grown so I’m not positive.
well thanks again Diane, my flowers are white – and so I am sure they are green onions
I love being able to cut a snip anytime I want – so healthy for us too 🙂